Outlandish cars and crazy costumes were complemented with billy cart races when a Variety Club car rally and media personality Macca took over Blackall on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Some 270 people taking part in the 33rd Bash descended on the town as they made their way from Sydney’s Belmore to Darwin’s Buffalo Creek, handing out dollars and happiness along the way.
In honour of the occasion, and to see what the rally drivers were made of, the Bluelight billy cart racing normally held as part of Blackall’s annual Heartland Festival was rescheduled for Saturday night.
The community also showcased one of its young champions when it served up a fragrant goat curry from Clay Armstrong’s Boer goat breeding enterprise for the rally participants.
Hit hard by drought, the opportunity to sell some of his stock for catering is helping keep the bank balance in check.
Bashers also had the chance to meet Clay, his Boer goats and purchase a key ring to remember their first encounter with Barcoo Boer Goats and the young entrepreneur who recently attended a conference in Adelaide.
The local state school’s eight certificate II hospitality students undertook all the Saturday night meal preparation, cooking and serving as their final assessment, while St Joseph’s made breakfast and the local CWA branch packed lunches for the Bashers as they made their way to Winton on Sunday.
The visit was complemented by an outside broadcast by popular ABC Radio personality, Ian Macnamara, who accepted the invitation of Lisa Alexander, then-journalist, now-teacher, who knew the drought-stricken community was in need of media attention.
Since its beginning the Variety Bash has raised $223 million for children.