Variety Tasbash visits Glenora District School during tour of Tasmania

Variety TasBash cars and crews visited Glenora District School on Tuesday as part of their charity tour through Tasmania.

Variety TasBash supports several Tasmanian schools and has contributed over $ 5,500 to the Glenora District School's breakfast club, helping students start their day positively.

The Variety School Breakfast Club, which began in 2022 as a four-school pilot, has since grown to 76 schools, providing 18,872 children with breakfast every school day. The venture's success helped secure a major State Government commitment to deliver daily breakfast to every child in every government school by 2028.

Part of a statement released by the Glenora School on Facebook said: "This year, we were also fortunate to receive funding towards our new outdoor chess tables, creating another wonderful space for students to connect, play and learn together".
 
"These are real opportunities and experiences made possible through the generosity of an organisation committed to supporting Tassie kids".

"Our students had an absolute blast exploring the wonderfully decorated cars, meeting the crews and soaking up the excitement. There was plenty of laughter, a whole lot of noise and memories made".

TasBash is Variety Tasmania’s major annual motoring event, bringing together teams that fundraise throughout the year before taking their colourful, creatively themed cars on a six-day journey around Tasmania. Funds raised help Variety Tasmania provide grants, programs and experiences for Tasmanian children living with disability, disadvantage or serious illness. Since starting in 1991, Tasbash has raised more than $5.5 million for children's charities in Tasmania.

Twenty-four "Tasbash" cars and crews set off last Saturday morning from the National Automobile Museum in Launceston. On Tuesday morning, teams travelled the long journey through Tasmania's scenic West Coast, stopping at schools in Rosebery, Zeehan and Queenstown before heading to the Derwent Valley to visit Glenora District School for lunch and laughs with the children, then on to Kangaroo Bay at Bellerive.

Each year the Tasbash travelling route changes, taking teams through regional and remote communities and visiting schools and community organisations along the way. These visits allow participants to see firsthand the difference their fundraising makes.

A Variety Charity spokesperson stated, "It was fantastic to see the difference our support is making, from equipment helping children with additional needs to the Variety School Breakfast Club and outdoor chess, which has really taken off with the school students".

Tasbash Teams fundraise throughout the year and cover their own vehicle, fuel, accommodation, meals and participation costs, ensuring funds raised support Variety Tasmania’s work.

Variety Tasmania CEO Mohammad Aldergham said, “Every team spends months fundraising before they even get to the start line, and together we’re aiming to raise more than $300,000 to help Tassie kids. The cars and costumes are a lot of fun, but what really matters is what those fundraising dollars make possible for children and families across our state.”

“Federal Hospitality has stood alongside Variety and the TasBash community for many years, and we are incredibly grateful for their ongoing commitment,” Mr Aldergham said.

The generosity of Tasmanians and the bashers has smashed the initial target of $ 300,000 and, along the way, delivered more than $12,000 in Variety grants to schools and communities.

Variety TasBash Director Dave Flower said seeing the impact of the grants firsthand was one of the most important parts of the TasBash journey.

“When the Bashers roll into a school, there’s plenty of excitement around the cars and costumes, but there’s a much bigger purpose behind every visit,” Mr Flower said.
“These grants will help schools create better learning environments, provide sensory and quiet spaces and give children more opportunities to learn, participate and thrive.

After six long days on the road, the Tasbash cars and crews are due to finish their fundraising journey on Thursday afternoon at Wrest Point Casino in Hobart.