Variety Bash gives in Deni

A sizeable donation was made to Deniliquin South School as part of the official schedule, and Mayrung students stopped by to participate in some rally fun before the drivers left for their next destination.

It was at their Sunday night dinner at the Muster site - where rally participants were also treated to a live band performance - that a grant of $9,988 was announced for Deni South.

The grant will fund new equipment for the school’s Wellbeing Warrior program, art supplies for their art program and new lawn bowls kits, fishing rods and tackle boxes as part of the Chaplaincy program.

South School assistant principal and head of curriculum and instruction, Barb Cox, attended Sunday’s dinner to accept the donation.

“I was made aware the grants were available, and applied earlier this year under the Variety banner of wellbeing,” Ms Cox said.

“I went on Sunday night and gave a speech about inclusion being one of the core values at our school.

“In my role it is important to manage attendance and wellbeing, so when the opportunity for the grant came up we thought let’s go for it.

“The grant will have a massive impact and bolsters what we already do.”

Ms Cox said she was honoured to be invited to attend the dinner at the Muster site, and learn more about the charity initiative.

“Myself and my partner Justin sat with some of the paramedics on the Variety Bash and learned about how Variety raise money, and that registering for the Bash is about $8000 or something of that affect.

“They finish up in Port Macquarie but were excited to be in Deni and really happy to support.

“I feel like I made a number of friends on Sunday and hope to keep in touch with them, and keep them up to date with how the kids are going.”

After leaving Deniliquin, the bash headed toward Jerilderie.

The route was to pass by Mayrung Public School, but well before the children would be in the playground to see them.

So this year, they arranged a trip to see the Bashers off from the Muster site instead.

“It was lovely, the kids really enjoyed it they were overwhelmed, it was a really nice morning,” Mayrung Public School teacher Teena Irwin said.

“The people were so generous and gave gift bags with pencils and bubbles.

“We watched them leave, bubbles and water squirting out the sides, which was really great, and the kids loved it.”

The Bash started in St George on Sunday, August 3, visiting Adelaide, Nhill, Parkes and Tamworth before concluding in Port Macquarie on Wednesday.