A variety of characters roamed the streets of Eagle Point and Bruthen last Friday driving brightly painted cars and bringing smiles all round.
Variety’ s main motoring event, the famous Variety Bash, has been put on hold for the first time in 30 years, so entrants from the event decided to celebrate the state reopening in the way they know best, hitting the road and bringing support and assistance to towns and kids who need it.
At Eagle Point Primary School, the Variety mini-bash representatives were pleased to hand over a cheque for $6600, which will fund an automatic door on the disabled toilet.
One of the main organisers, Andy Connolly, said while the bathroom could be accessed by people with disabilities, those in wheelchairs
required someone to open and close the door for them.
“Installing an automatic door will allow students and those with disabilities the opportunity to use the bathroom completely independently,” he said.
“The door grant was made possible by large donations from the Queens, Paynesville Motor Cruiser Club, Gary Smith Ship Wright Services, Geoff Mann, Rod and Dianna Campbell and Tom Tully.”
The school kids came out of class to line the inside of the school fence while the presentations were made from the street.
Variety chief executive officer, Mandy Burns, told the school children that at Variety “we care about kids and love schools and we want to make sure you have the best opportunity to
learn and find things to make your school even better”.
Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said the presentation from Variety to the Eagle Point and Bruthen primary schools continued the brilliant work the charity conducted across Australia.
“Variety is making a difference to communities at a grass roots level,” he said.
“It’s a classic example of the good results of fundraising and having fun.”
Another contingent of Variety competitors visited Bruthen Primary School on the same day with a grant for the purchase of Leggo Robotics Teaching and Interactive Equipment.
For many it was a return visit after Variety delivered laptops, bikes, books and sporting equipment to the school in the wake of the
bushfires earlier this year. As well as preparing children for future
careers, robotics promotes fine motor skills, encourages teamwork, stimulates creativity and helps develop problem solving, mathematical and communication skills.
In addition to grants being presented along the way, the Variety crew is encouraged to stop and spend on local tourism along their journey, whether it’s fuel, food or attractions and fun.
The characters of Variety included cavemen, queens, the Cat in the Hat, Elvis, Cool Runnings, Where’s Wally and locals Adele Charlwood and Lucas Wade in the Love Boat.
Earlier in the day they also paid a visit to Neerim District Secondary College with a grant to assist in providing a designated safe space and therapy area.
IMAGE:
Eagle Point Primary School captains, Albie Clarke and Jack Bateson, and principal Anna Duncan, proudly receive a cheque from Variety chief executive officer, Mandy Burns (left) and the Variety crew, for an automated door for one of the school’s bathrooms. K451-3634
