Tag Archives: children

How to keep track of the Angels during the 2012 NSW Variety Bash

3 Aug 2012 NSW Variety Bash Logo

We plan to keep a few places on the web updated during the 2012 NSW Variety Bash, but most of that will depend on internet connectivity and reliability of technology! Here are the places which will be updated:

  • Maps:
  • We plan to update our Facebook page with quick status updates. You’ll also be able to see that in the right column of the web site.
  • Those same updates will also go to Twitter. You will also see those Tweets on the right side of the web site.
  • Photos will occasionally go to those places and to Flickr (which will also be seen on the right side of the web site).

So, you have choices! See everything on Facebook, or on Twitter or on the web site.

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We drive for the smiles

31 Jul

Sure, the Variety Bash is a fun drive, with a bunch of great people, but the reason for it all is for the kids who need a bit more help to live, laugh and learn.

Tricycle gift in Blackall, Qld

Every month Variety Australia distributes $1 million in benefits to children, for things such as special wheelchairs and play equipment, prosthetic limbs, Sunshine coaches to help kids with special needs get out in the sun, to children’s hospitals and so on. The money raised through the Variety Bash helps make all of that happen.

Angels after crossing the Pentecost River

The Angels in Car 999A invite you to help these kids by donating online(it’s tax deductible, too!)

Thank you!

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One month until the 2012 NSW Variety Bash!

19 Jul

The NSW Variety Bash 2012The last year has flown by, and the Angels are about to head off in one month on the 2012 NSW Variety Bash, from Balmain, NSW, to Bamaga, at the very tip of Cape York in Queensland.

Well over 100 cars have raised funds (a minimum of $8,500 for each car) for Variety, the Children’s Charity, and we’re just making last-minute adjustments to our cars in readiness for the trip.

Here’s where we’re going:

  • Day 1: Aug 19: Starting in Balmain, going to Narrabrivia Merriwa.
  • Day 2: Aug 20: via Mungindi to Goondiwindi, Qld.
  • Day 3: Aug 21: via Surat to Roma.
  • Day 4: Aug 22: via Arcadia Valley to Emerald.
  • Day 5: Aug 23: to Charters Towers.
  • Day 6: Aug 24: to Cairns.
  • Day 7: Aug 25: going to Kurandafor the day, then back to Cairns.
  • Day 8: Aug 26: via Laura to Archer River Roadhouse(camping out there).
  • Day 9: Aug 27: via Bramwell Station to Bamaga.
  • Day 10: Aug 28: going over to Thursday Island for the day, then back to Bamaga.

For more details see the Route on the web site.

While the drive is fun, the reason we go on the Bash is FOR THE KIDS! Last year’s Bash raised $1.863 million for Variety, the Children’s Charity, with that money going to things such as:

  • Sunshine Coaches, to help schools and support organizations help kids who have previously not been able to get “out and about” in their community.
  • Liberty Swings, giving children in wheelchairs the chance to swing and laugh.
  • Wheelchairsfor special needs children.
  • Equipment such as iPads and computers to help transform the education of kids with special needs, such as autism.
  • Specialized medical equipment and services for children’s health services including hospitals.

Won’t you help us help the kids by donating online? It’s tax deductible (in Australia).
Donate Online Now

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Helping autistic kids with an iPad and app

21 May

A story on A Current Affair of how an iPad is helping kids with autism, funded by Variety:

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Variety NSW grants over $2.24 million, to over 18,000 children, in 2011

16 Dec

Variety, the Children’s Charity, in NSW, Australia, has just had their AGM, releasing these statistics for the year 2011:

As another year wraps up we must say a big thank you to all Variety’s supporters! We have had a busy year with some fantastic events, partnerships and volunteer support which allowed us to grant $2.24 Million on appeals in 2011 and enrich the lives of over 18,000 children.

With thanks to your support we have been able to achieve big things this year…

  • Over $2.1M used to purchase 38 Sunshine Coaches for schools and support organisations, bringing sunshine into the lives of many children who through either disadvantaged circumstances or health issues would have previously not been able to get “out and about” in their community.
  • 34 Walkers and Standers given to help children get out of their wheelchairs, to interact with siblings and friends, take part in fun activities and learn to move about.
  • $253,029 used to purchase 46 Wheelchairs for special needs children across Australia.
  • $519,671 spent on Liberty Swings now installed in 20 more locations across Australia, giving children in wheelchairs the chance to swing and laugh.
  • Over 1,200 Bikes given to children across Australia – the joy of your first bike… priceless!

and so much more… THANK YOU!

Any donation, big or small, helps toward these wonderful kids. You can donate online.

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Stuart’s Preview of The Top End

4 Oct

Variety have posted a video with Stuart Telfer, Bash Director, giving a preview of what we can expect to see on the Cape York part of the 2012 Bash:

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We’re going to Bamaga!

30 Sep

Huh? Where’s that? Why?

The 2012 NSW Variety Bash destination was announced today, going from Balmain in NSW, up through the middle of Queensland, up to the very tip, to Bamaga, on Cape York. You can’t get much further north in Australia than that. Well you can, and that would be on Thursday Island, and we’re going there, too (by boat from Bamaga).

The NSW Variety Bash 2012The trip from Balmain to Bamaga, through the route we’re taking, is about 4,200km.

The Bash next year leaves on Sunday, August 19, going until Tuesday, August 28.

More rough roads, more incredible scenery. We’ll be going through some iconic Queensland outback towns on the way north.

Keep a watch on the 2012 Bash page on our site for more details as planning gets underway.

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NSW Variety Tent 56 Wins International Sunshine Coach Award

4 Aug

Following is a press release from Jack Cannons AM, Chairman Variety International Sunshine Coaches:

Variety the Children’s Charity International Sunshine Coach Program continues to get the kids out into the sunshine with a total of 159 Sunshine Coaches presented around the world in 2010.

Tents (Tents are the Variety organisational area term for geographical areas, coming from Variety’s history in the entertainment/circus industry) are asked to provide the number of seats in each coach as well as the number of coach’s presented. The reason for this; different regions have different size coaches, ranging from 6 seat Sunshine Coaches to 29 seat Sunshine Coaches. When we collate the number of seats made available in the 159 Sunshine Coaches presented in 2010 it tells a powerful story about the work of Variety around the world

  • 2,335 new Variety Sunshine Coaches seats were made available every day (through the 159 Sunshine Coaches presented in 2010 alone) to provide sunshine to the lives of Special Needs Children
  • If each of the 2010 presented Sunshine Coaches are used 5 times a week the number of seats available each week is 11,675.
  • If we multiply the number of seats available each week over the period of one year it shows that 607,100 seats were made available for kids to travel in through these 159 SS Coaches

    We continue to use a spread sheet to decide the 3 equal winners of the VI Sunshine Coach Awards from information from the VI Tent Reports. This formula introduced 3 years ago provides a transparent opportunity for all the Tents who are part of the Sunshine Coach Programme to be eligible for an award and is not based on numbers alone.

    • Category #1. Largest growth in number of Coaches presented in current year.
    • Category #2. Greatest number of Coaches presented in the past 4 years.
    • Category #3. The Tent that demonstrates the most significant commitment to the programme taking into account the size and operational challenges of the Tent.

    The following 15 Variety Tents have presented Sunshine Coaches during 2010.

    • Tent 4 St Louis. 1 SS Coaches total 12 seats
    • Tent 7 Buffalo & Western New York. 1 SS Coach total 15 seats
    • Tent 15 Iowa. 10 SS Coaches total 106 seats
    • Tent 17 Texas. 1 SS Coach total 18 seats
    • Tent 36 Great Britain. 101 SS Coaches total 1414 seats
    • Tent 39 Southern Nevada 1 SS Coach total 12 seats
    • Tent 47 British Columbia. 4 SS Coaches total 69 seats
    • Tent 52 Jersey 2 SS Coach total 32 seats
    • Tent 56 New South Wales. 11 SS Coaches total 247 seats
    • Tent 68 New Zealand. 1 SS Coaches total 12 seats
    • Tent 74 Western Australia. 6 SS Coaches total 112 seats
    • Tent 75 South Australia. 11 SS Coaches total 180 seats
    • Tent 76 Queensland. 3 SS Coaches total 36 seats
    • Tent 77 Victoria. 3 SS Coaches total 36 seats
    • Tent 82 Tasmania 3 SS Coach total 32 seats

    A total of $7,141,199.40 was invested internationally by the 15 Tents in the 2010 Sunshine Coach Program. Congratulations are in order to all Tents who have provided Sunshine Coaches for their special needs kids.

    A special mention to Tent 52 Jersey who almost won the Category #3 Award.

    A Huge Congratulations to Tent 36 who this year presented their 5000th Sunshine Coach as part of their 101 presented Sunshine Coaches for the year.

    The 3 Variety International Sunshine Coach Award Recipients for 2010:

    • Category #1 Tent 56 New South Wales
    • Category #2 Tent 15 Iowa
    • Category #3 Tent 82 Northern Territory

    Please note these are equal awards not 1st 2nd 3rd.

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Stay in touch with Variety NSW on Facebook

3 Mar

Variety NSW has set up a Facebook page to keep followers up to date on all things Variety, share stories of children who we have been able to help, send event invitations, post photos and more.

Please go to the Variety NSW page and click on the Like button to keep in touch with Variety NSW on Facebook

 

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Trekking with Variety: Kokoda Challenge

25 Feb

Trekking on the Kokoda TrailTake the Kokoda Trek, while at the same time raising funds for Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs. Money raised goes towards Variety’s Vision for Life program.

On the Kokoda Trail with VarietyThe Kokoda Challenge is trekking from October 1 to 11, 2011, on the historic Kokoda Trail. A good fitness goal for the year!

See more details on the Kokoda Challenge page.

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