2009 Regional Media Award

Bill Jayet and Roel Ten Cate, Parkes Champion Post

Variety Club Car Bash comes to Parkes

The Champion Post ensures widespread coverage of all schools in the Parkes area as the newspaper strives to give a voice to young people and their achievements. This is appreciated by all schools and particularly Parkes East Public School. The Champion Post, through journalists Bill Jayet and Roel ten Cate, supported the Parkes East Public School who had the privilege of hosting the Variety Club “Bennelong to Broken Hill” Bash for breakfast, an event that brought great kudos to the school. Students and their parents were particularly pleased with the very positive coverage that the school received. This is indicative of the Champion Post and how it supports the whole community as well as Parkes East Public School. This local newspaper is a most supportive media outlet of Parkes East Public School. They regularly showcase the positive achievements of the students as well as supporting school events such as the annual school fete, school NAIDOC Week celebrations, and sporting carnivals.

Variety Bash – Visit to Parkes East Public School

Parkes first stopover on famous bash

12 August  2009 10:26:00 AM

The 2009 NRMA NSW Variety Bash – arriving in Parkes this Sunday – will mark the 25th Anniversary of the famous event.

The bash is taking place from the 16 – 26 August from the Sydney Opera House at Bennelong Point to outback Broken Hill.

The event raises money for the Variety Children’s Charity which is dedicated to improving the quality of life of special needs children.

The Bash is not a race or a rally but rather a drive in the outback with like-minded fund raisers driving miles for the smiles, enjoying travelling to parts of Australia that they may not otherwise see, at the same time raising money to support kids in need.

Parkes will be the first stop out of Sydney on Sunday and Monday with more than 105 cars and 375 participants staying overnight.

Over the past 25 years the Variety Bash has included some well known Australian Identities including John Farnham, Ian Moss and Peter Brock.

This year will see the return of 70s and 80s music sensation John Paul Young in a 1953 F100.

During their stay in Parkes, Bashers will be involved in a number of activities in the community on Sunday evening and Monday morning.

Cars will converge on Parkes from 4pm on Sunday and that evening, a ‘Dinner with the Stars’ will be held for the Bashers at the Parkes Leagues Club.

As 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, guest speaker and world renowned astronomer, Fred Watson will deliver a presentation at the dinner function. Bashers will also enjoy a hip-swivelling Elvis performance from local entertainers.

Parkes East Public School, one of the lucky beneficiaries of the 2009 Variety Bash, will receive $15,000 of new play equipment which will be erected before the Variety Bash arrives in Parkes.

On Monday morning Parkes East School will host a barbecue breakfast for participants from 7am before they depart for their next stop, Hillston, passing by Bushman’s Dam Reserve to highlight the disabled swing that was the charity’s previous contribution to Parkes Shire.

http://www.parkeschampionpost.com.au/news/local/news/general/parkes-first-stopover-on-famous-bash/1593571.aspx