REX - Regional Express

eventhighlight Everyday heroes Emma Wheaton catches up with the Bash Busters in the lead-up to this year's NSW Variety Bash, which sees hundreds of people take their cars on an outback drive to raise money for kids in need. Just one of many clever ideas conjured up by Australia's favourite entrepreneur, Dick Smith, the Variety Bash is one of those legendary, enduring events that's all for a wonderful cause. Expecting stories of hotted-up cars, dusty breakdowns, beers, bush barbecues and other blokey moments, I hear instead a different kind of enthusiasm from two of the guys behind the Bash Busters car, David 'Beaver' O'Reilly and Jack Cannons, COO of Variety International. Their excitement comes from recalling the touching moment a child sang the national anthem to them ("I swear Beaver had tears in his eyes", says Jack); from proudly stating the amount of money they've raised; and from the stories of Australia's less-fortunate children in regional and remote parts of Australia, where the gift of a shade shelter or interactive whiteboard can mean so much. "Variety bashes are held around Australia annually and have netted in excess of $165 million since they began XVI in 1985 – money that all goes to help improve the lives of Australia's specialneeds children," says Jack. Each year, the event sees hundreds of people and their decked-out veteran and vintage cars – none built after 1974 – take a 10-day outback drive, hosted by regional and remote towns each evening. In return, equipment. Sometimes as the cars arrive, people are flying their own light planes into town from outback properties for the event, such is the remoteness of these rural outposts. The event not only brings communities together – each of them applying up to three years in advance to have the bash "Variety bashes are held around Australia annually and have netted in excess of $165 million since they began in 1985." the participants bring money to the towns, often spending up to $70,000 in a night as they stop to refuel, fix their vehicles, and visit schools and community centres to see where their charitable donations are going. The focus is on the kids, all of whom are incredibly polite, says Beaver, as they stage special shows for the visitors and accept gifts such as sporting and school come through their town – it generates an extraordinary amount of money. Each driver has to pay to enter the event, and all who participate (the 'Bashers') then raise funds and sponsorship for their cars. The Bash Busters are quick to point out that all the money raised goes straight to Variety, not to funding their trip. All expenses along the way, including accommodation, meals

• Cover