More than $480,000 was handed out as the colourful convoy made its way across SA
The colourful cars have rolled out of town and the dust has settled on another SA Variety Bash.
But scattered across the route of this year’s eight-day adventure are some pretty impressive reminders of what the Bash is actually about.
More than $480,000 in grants was delivered to children, families and communities along the way, while the 2026 Bash itself raised a whopping $2.055 million for Variety SA.
For the hundreds of Bashers who spend months raising that money, the annual road trip gives them the chance to see where some of it goes.
And this year, plenty of that impact was felt in country communities right across the state.
A Pretty Special Delivery
At Booborowie Primary School, with just 20 students, the Bash arrived with a pretty special delivery.
The school received a new Variety Sunshine Coach, sponsored by Vili’s.
For a small country school, transport costs can mean missing out on swimming lessons, excursions and other opportunities, but now with their own set of wheels, those opportunities are a whole lot closer.
Further west came two of the biggest grants of the trip, with Penong and Port Lincoln primary schools each receiving $150,000 towards new all-abilities playgrounds.
Grants Across The State
In Wirrulla, a $30,960 grant will fund new play equipment, while Kimba Football & Netball Club received $5,000 for new sporting equipment.
There was also some pretty special support for seven-year-old Easton and his family.
Easton lives with significant developmental delays and complex support needs, and his family received $10,000 towards modifications for a safer, more accessible bathroom at home.
Behind The Colourful Cars
The colourful cars and costumes might be what get people out onto the roadside when the Variety Bash rolls into town, but behind the fun is a year of fundraising by the crews who take part.
For many, it’s a commitment they’ve made year after year, with some Bashers supporting Variety and hitting the road for decades.
The grant presentations along the route give them the chance to see where all those months of fundraising end up, and to meet some of the kids, families and communities they’re doing it for.
It’s a lot of time, a lot of kilometres and hell of a lot of dedication, all in the name of helping South Australian kids.
And while the convoy has wrapped up for another year, what it has left behind will make a difference for years to come.
