Birdies get set for bash with variety

On Saturday, August 2, more than 100 pre-1970 cars and approximately 400 ‘bashers’ will depart Sydney on the 18th annual Variety Bash. Among them will be the “Birdies Bash Team” from HMAS Albatross in their 1966 HR Holden “helicopter” car.

The team consists of LCDR Graeme Wong (HQ COMAUSNAVAIRGRP), LSATA Dave Janszen (816 Squadron), ABATA Richard Van Huisstede (ASU) and ABATA Jimmy Vella (817 Squadron).

Navy HQ has supported entry in the Variety Bash and HMAS Albatross is getting behind the team in its fundraising efforts. The team hopes to find $8500 from fundraising and sponsorship to enter the event, although they hope to collect more than that to pay for “fines and bribes” on the 10-day Bash.

The 2003 Blue Mountains to Barrier Reef Bash will leave from the St Mary’s Leagues Club and travel to Cairns via the back roads of central NSW and QLD with overnight stops at Moree, Charleville, Longreach, Cloncurry, Burketown, Undara, Karumba and Port Douglas.

The finish will be at HMAS Cairns on August 11. The 5000km trip will be pretty hard on the car, however the ‘techos’ Dave, Richard and Jimmy believe that they will have sufficiently prepared it to make the journey and get back afterwards.

The Birdies have set a target of $20,000 and so far they have been offered sponsorship by KAMAN, Serco Sodexho and Defence Maritime Services with Hunter Aerospace offering substantial support in preparation of the car. However LCDR Wong says there is still a long way to go to reach the target.

Anyone wishing to donate to this worthwhile cause can do so at any Australian Defence Credit Union by depositing a contribution into “The Bash” account, making sure that they give a surname and initials and their base so that the team can acknowledge their support.

.