Nearly 300 participants arrive in Darwin from Victoria as Variety Bash wrap up at Waterfront
It’s not every day you get to see Batman, The Joker, Bluey and a fleet of astronauts on the streets of Darwin – yet that’s exactly what Top End residents were treated to on Sunday. SEE THE PHOTOS
It’s not every day you get to see Batman, The Joker, Bluey and a fleet of astronauts on the streets of Darwin – yet that’s exactly what Top End residents were treated to on Sunday.
Just shy of 300 participants – comprised of about 70 cars – pulled up at Forts Hill Waterfront to cross the finish line, raising more than $1.9 million for children in need.
This year’s colourful convoy – which marked the 33rd Variety Victoria Bash – started off in Victoria, looped through South Australia, where they celebrated 50 years of Variety, and then finished in Darwin.
Along the way, the convoy contributed more than $100,000 to local economies and delivered more than $140,000 in grants to schools and regional communities, Variety said in a statement.
It was a staggered arrival on Sunday, with some cars coming past the finish line hours later.
But no matter the time of arrival, everyone was treated to the same warm welcome.
Shane and Glen, two of four astronauts who arrived in their car dubbed Apollo 11, said this year’s Bash was their fifth as a group.
Originally chosen in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, Shane said the astronaut theme ended up sticking.
“It was pretty successful with everybody, so as a result we’ve continued to carry that through,” he said.
“It’s still popular with the kids – they love the uniforms and spacemen.”
Glen said there was “absolutely” times when it seemed like they wouldn’t make it to the finish line – particularly in Alice Springs – but they pulled through in the end.
“We spent 11 hours in the workshop just north of Alice Springs, and it seemed like a pipe dream to get anywhere near Darwin,” he said.
Shane said it was meeting new people, travelling to new places and raising money for a “great cause” was what kept the group coming back each year.
“It’s a great event and I recommend that everybody does it. It’s fantastic,” he said.
VARIETY BASH 2025
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