A car, a group of friends and a trip through Australia. Sonya Link and her trusty Holden HR have completed the Variety Bash yet again.
Imagine a road. A 6,000-kilometre, 11-day trip across Australia is awaiting. The car, a 1967 Holden HR painted yellow and black, with the radio playing Bernard Fanning’s Wish You Well. And the team in the car, a group of Bashful Bees.
North Narrabeen local Sonya Link can’t contain her excitement. She still feels she is on that road, travelling from Bathurst to Batavia Coast, Western Australia, driving her car – known as the Beehive – as part of the Variety Bash event for the ninth time.
Sonya started her adventures with the Variety Bash almost 20 years ago, in 2006, when her company purchased a car at a charity auction to undertake the event. Sonya was the team captain and instantly fell in love with the experience. She soon decided to get her own car and formed an all-female team.
To her, the Variety Bash is different from your typical charity event. “It involves participants taking on an epic outback road trip, driving across rugged terrains, and making pit stops at schools and communities along the way to distribute grants to those in need. It’s a journey of adventure, camaraderie, and, most importantly, giving back to the community,” she says.
From left to right: Mandy, Sonya, Brendon and Abby Lewis (Team Pink) with kids from Leonora State High School, Western Australia.
Riding with her life-long friend, Mandy Parker, they have made this event a commitment, an annual road trip for the greater good.
“(Mandy and I) have done 17 Bashes between us – nine for me and eight for Mandy. And next year is my 10th anniversary on the 40th anniversary of the Variety Bash. Pretty cool!” she exclaims.
And to them, it’s been far from just a trip. During the last 17 years, the team has raised about $250,000 with their car. This year, the national event raised $1.5 million for underprivileged remote communities, with the Beehive contributing $11,000.
“The fundraising is challenging because you’ve got a goal to get, and you want to make sure that it happens. The other challenge is the day-to-day on the event, getting from A to B. The car is old, and you want to get there in one piece, and outback Australian dirt roads are pretty rough,” she explains.
Even though Sonya has just finished the 2023 Bash, her mind is already planning the 2024 one. Fundraising, car preparation, and getting the team ready are ongoing tasks that start as soon as the new route is announced. And the care goes especially to her beloved 56-year-old Beehive, which requires meticulous attention, often coming back from the event in less-than-perfect condition. “But that’s part of the adventure!” Sonya laughs.
“What makes the Variety Bash unique is its tangible impact on communities. The event’s route is meticulously designed, taking us through areas where Variety has provided grants to local schools, families, or individuals in need. These grants vary from supporting agricultural programs and playground equipment to special needs education equipment and road safety initiatives,” Sonya says.
And she adds that the trip is not just about the funds raised. It’s a journey that touches lives. She vividly recalls the joy of witnessing families whose lives have been transformed by the support of Variety. “That’s the essence of the Bash, making a real difference where it matters most.”
Counting down the days until their next unforgettable adventure, she and her team are already gearing up for it, inviting others to join in.
“(By participating in the trips), you can see firsthand where the funds you raise go and the impact it makes on those local communities. As well as the children who are sick, underprivileged or disadvantaged.
“You see how that money’s being used and how it changes their lives. That’s what keeps you going. And that is incredibly rewarding.”
Find out more about the Variety Bash by visiting variety.org.au. To support the Bashful Bees, search for their page on the Variety NSW website. The page will update once the 2024 event is announced.