A local 1967 Holden, Car Number 3453 (Harcourt’s postcode), recently journeyed through the Great Australian Outback, successfully raising $7045 for the Variety Club Charity.
Gary Jamieson and Cliff Owen (aka The Blacksmiths) travelled in a 58-year-old Holden, which was prepared specifically for the 4800km trek, which largely consisted of dirt roads and tracks.
After a presentation of cars on the forecourt at Crown Casino on August 8, the Harcourt duo, joined by the Victorian entourage, headed to Hamilton for a very frosty and cold send-off and the Variety’s first grant presentation to Hamilton North Primary School.
Gary told the Express that the cars wound their way through the dusty Wimmera roads and tracks to arrive at Adelaide, along with Variety Bash events from all other Australian states.
“It was the 50-year National Bash Celebration and it was full of colourful costumes, big laughs, and the perfect launch for 10 epic days on the road,” he said.
After some emergency work into the late hours of Friday night, on the brakes of the trusty 1967 Holden, ‘The Blacksmiths’ and the Victorian bash left Adelaide Saturday morning, winding its way through the Barossa Valley to spend Saturday night at Rawnsley Park Station in the Flinders Ranges.
Following an interesting and picturesque trek through the Flinders Ranges, the 115-vehicle Bash convoy rolled into Maree, where they took over the main street of the town for a Sunday night celebration.
An early start along the Oodnadatta Track to Williams Creek for lunch and Coober Pedy, overnight where the local Greek Association provided a traditional Greek feast. Coober Pedy to Alice Springs via the breathtaking Painted Desert was one of the roughest treks during the event.
A two-day rest break was needed for most crews to repair their cars for the next stages.
Gary said that searching for a brake power booster for a 58-year-old Holden proved a bridge too far in Alice Springs.
“So, with some improvisation and great assistance from local mechanics, we managed to keep the car on the road,” he said.
Leaving Alice Springs Thursday morning, the bash wound its way to Tennant Creek where the local primary school was the centrepiece before Friday morning’s departure to Mataranka.
Saturday provided interesting travel to Adelaide River, then travelling through Litchfield National Park to the finish in Darwin on Sunday night.
And the trusty 1967 Holden HR made the return journey to Harcourt in five days.
The 2025 Victorian Variety Bash raised a total of $1.83 million dollars to be allocated through grants to needy and disadvantaged children.
In 2024, the Variety Club of Victoria distributed $1,290,122 to help 17,010 Victorian Children. The Variety Bash is a significant contributor to the funds raised.
