Entertainment
7 September, 2025
Variety bash marks 50 years
ROBERT Kopp, Alf Gullotta and Sam Corica from Innisfail went off the beaten track in Car 409 for a worthy cause, taking part in this year’s Variety Bash raising funds for Variety - The Children’s Charity of Queensland.
Madonna and Chubb Stevens from Mackay, along with Tony Grant (formerly of Innisfail) drove the AW 409, in a Chevy Silverado (Auxiliary Workshop).
The local trio along with their Mackay team mates, participated in the 10-day Variety Bash from St George to Port Macquarie via Adelaide last month.
Their Neverland Jolly Rodger themed 1970 VF Valiant station wagon stood out from the 119 other Bash vehicles, decked out with a plywood pirate boat with sails complete with flashing lights, designed and built by Robert Kopp and the Innisfail team.
This year’s route which started in St George, included stopovers in Brewarrina, White Cliffs, Wentworth, Adelaide, Nhill, Deniliquin, Parks, Tamworth and finished with a bang in Port Macquarie with 50th anniversary celebrations of Variety, the Children’s Charity in Australia.
Robert Kopp (Captain Hook) was one of four recognised with a special award for 20 Variety Bashes while fellow team members Alf Gullotta (John), 10, Sam Corica (Peter Pan), 15, Chubb (Smee) and Madonna Stevens (Tinkerbell) 15 and Tony Grant (Croc) 5.
Funds raised enables Variety - the Children’s Charity to provide grants of equipment, services and scholarships to assist sick, disadvantaged or children with a disability to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.
This year’s Bash raised a phenomenal $1,680,430. Next year’s adventure will start in Innisfail on August 17 and finish in Gladstone on August 27.
A special mention goes to Bash sponsors Innisfail Skip Bin Hire, Topcon Builders, Dynamic Timbers, Raine & Horne, Micale Cabinets, Goodyear Autocare Innisfail, Hurney & Partners, Cairns Hardware, Maurice Grasso Motors, FNQ Roofing Solutions, Meyer Timber, North Coast Machinery, Burson’s and Repco, as well as a range of sponsors still to come onboard for this year’s golf day.
An All Trades and Public Charity Golf Day for all Trades is on Friday, September 26 at Innisfail Golf Club with a 9.30am shotgun start. Cost is $40 per player for the 4-ball Ambrose, which includes breakfast from 8.00am onwards, and a fun day of golf and lunch. Please contact Robert Kopp on 0418 755 424 to nominate a team.
The crew hope to see a great roll up of golfers and supporters to take part in the major fundraiser for participation in the 2026 Variety Bash starting in Innisfail on August 17. Over a three-day lead-up to the event, between 300-400 Bashers are expected to arrive in Innisfail, which will be a fantastic boost to the local economy.
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