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Six EnergyAustralia employees from the Yallourn power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley set off this morning on the Variety Bash from Melbourne to Darwin, raising $30,500 for Variety – the Children’s Charity.
The 10-day Variety Bash adventure is Australia’s largest motoring event. It’s the fourth year in a row a team from the power station has taken part, bringing the employees’ total donations to $124,000.
This year Bash Car 24 & 242 team comprises eight people in two cars. The team will ride in the ‘Pink Panther’ – a 1967 Holden HR Wagon – and the ‘Black Panther’ – a 1985 Mercedes Benz 380 SEL. Last year the Black Panther took out the ‘Top Rookie Trophy’ in a field of more than 300 participants.
Paul Koopmans, Maintenance Leader at EnergyAustralia’s Yallourn power station, said the event was really about raising funds to help sick, disadvantaged or special-needs children; the drive or “Bash” is the showpiece to promote the charity.
“The one thing every parent wants is for their children to be healthy, able and happy. But the sad reality is that there are many families who aren’t so fortunate and they need our help,” Paul said.
“One of the great things about Variety is that all the money we raise goes straight to the kids and their families. The funds may go to a mobility device, a learning aid or even an assistance dog for a child with autism.”
Paul said the EnergyAustralia team members personally fund the cars, accommodation and all the provisions needed along the way. “It’s great that every cent donated goes directly to the charity,” he said.
The Yallourn team includes EnergyAustralia employees Paul Koopmans, David Burt, David Bloomfield, Steve Allison, Adrian Zwagerman and Manny Borg, along with Latrobe Valley locals Nigel Bell and Duane Clarke.
The Bash Car 24 & 242 team will raise funds throughout the Bash, which concludes 20 August in Darwin via Kings Canyon.
Donations can be made via: https://varietyvicbash2016.everydayhero.com/au/cars-24-242
Track the bash team each day via the GPS: http://bash-24.com/
About the Variety Bash
The annual Variety Bash is Australia's most successful charity motoring event. It is the focus of fund the raising efforts of hundreds of Variety supporters. Since 1992 the Variety Bash has covered more than 100,000 kilometres and has raised in excess of $21 million for children in Victoria.