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Volume 49, No. 14, August 10, 2006
By Michael Brooke
A Navy team has again successfully participated in the NSW Variety Bash which started at Brookvale in Sydney on July 23 and finished 4,600km later in Bundaberg on August 3.
With the help of its major sponsors the Navy team raised more than $35,000 toward the combined NSW Bash total of $2.1m.
The Navy team was presented with their third half cup for raising more than $33,000, making it nearly $130,000 raised in the four years of participation.
All money raised in Australia by Variety is used to help special needs Australian children.
The Bash is a major fundraising event for Variety, with money raised throughout the year given to Variety during the event through bribes and fines.
The Navy Bash Team consisted of CDRE Geoff Geraghty, LCDR Graeme Wong, LCDR Chris Money, LEUT Sandra Fraser, LSNPC Toby Tobias and ABBM James MacDougall.
Participation in the NSW Variety Bash has been recognised by the Navy as a worthwhile PR/recruiting event and has included it in the Navy Community Engagement Strategy, along with funding to assist with the cost of food, fuel and accommodation.
There were 390 bashers and officials involved in the 2006 NSW Bash.
The two Navy cars, a 1963 EH Holden and a 1967 HR Holden, were part of a contingent of 127 bash cars and official vehicles which made their way through the outback from Brookvale to Bundaberg via Townsville.
The 2006 Bash, which has been declared the best ever, took 11 days to drive the 4,600 kilometres of mostly dirt roads. As well as travelling through many small Australian outback towns, the Bash route took cars over 311 grids and 359 causeways.
Nineteen schools were visited and more than $72,000 worth of equipment was given away. The Navy team distributed Brand Navy merchandise such as rulers, rubbers, pencils and yo-yos to school children as well as ADF posters and interactive DVDs for school principals and career advisers.
One of the major highlights of the 2006 Bash was Armed Services Day on Magnetic Island. Since its inception three years ago, Armed Services Day has become a feature of the Bash. Bashers and officials are divided into four Teams – Navy, Army, Air Force and Police – and compete in a series of challenging but fun events for the Armed Services Day Trophy.
This year, great weather and a fantastic location set the stage for the Bash B Day landing at Horseshoe Bay. Members of the Navy team stormed the beaches from one of the Army’s new LPA Watercraft. Ten FSB then gave a demonstration of the capabilities of the LPAW, LCM8 and LARC V.
Although Navy performed strongly, the event was won by the Police.
