It was a busy weekend for members of the Rotary Club of Nhill and the A&P Society with 107 cars and 350 crew from the Variety Bash visiting Nhill.

The Rotary Club has been communicating and planning with event organisers for the past few months in readiness for the arrival of the ‘Bash’.

Variety – The Children’s Charity is celebrating 50 years this year and to mark the occasion it conducted its first “National” Variety Bash in ten years. Each state’s Bash route involved vehicles being in Adelaide on Friday to acknowledge the achievement.

Approximately 650 cars and 1600 participants involved in Variety Bash events which commenced in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria met in Adelaide as part of their respective journeys.

The Queensland Variety Bash originated in St George, Queensland, on Sunday 3 August to travel to Port Macquarie in New South Wales – just 700km away. Their journey, however, is spread over several thousand kilometres.

Having travelled through New South Wales to Wentworth and then via Renmark to Adelaide, the teams headed to Nhill on Saturday with their expected arrivals from midday onwards. Travelling mostly off the main roads, many of the teams found the soft SA Mallee soil tough going and in need of assistance to get out. The last of the teams arrived in Nhill at 3.30am Sunday.

Photos: Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times

The Rotary Club of Nhill provided dinner for the majority of participants on Saturday night at the Community Centre. A two course meal was accompanied by musical entertainment by Andrew Borg of Gordon. The A&P Society ran the bar.

Variety – The Children’s Charity raises significant amounts of money throughout the year as teams fundraise as part of their entry. These funds then provide support for children who are sick, disadvantaged or living with a disability. During their travels they provide support for local schools and children, and whilst in Nhill they supported the family of Chloe and Brayden Stephens whose daughter Ava has endured cancer treatment over the past couple of years.

The family, who were represented by Ava’s uncle and grandparents at the dinner, were presented with bikes and toys for each of the children.

The Rotary members were back at it from 5am on Sunday morning as they cooked a hot breakfast and served toast and cereal at the Nhill Showgrounds.

A procession of colour was enjoyed as the vehicles drove out of the showgrounds, many very excited to have met local radio celebrity, Helen of Nhill.

The Variety Bash participants spoke highly of the catering and hospitality afforded them in Nhill before they headed off towards Deniliquin and eventually Port Macquarie where they conclude this year’s event today.

Sadly, a few cars became bogged in the sandy tracks north of Bordertown, and had to be towed out of ‘trouble’.

See all the pictures in the issue.
This article appeared in Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 13 August 2025.