Day 10: Freycinet to Launceston

After leaving the coast line of the Freycinet Peninsula our teams make their way to Tasmnaia's second largest city Launceston which will cover 379kms. A casual dinner will be taken at Country Club.

Day 9: Hobar to Freycinet Peninsula

Today our teams are back on the road and leaving Hobart early heading to Port Arthur for lunch and take some times to export its rich history. From there they'll travel halfway up the eat coast to the stunning Freycinet Peninsula, which includes Coles Bay, Wineglass Bay and the Freycinet Nation Park. The region is renowned for its produce which our teams will get to have for dinner.

Today's drive will take our teams across 355kms.

Day 8: Day Trip #3

Now that our teams are in the capital of Hobart, they take the day off for a trip around town. They'll travel south to witness the beautiful Channel Country, before visiting Mount Nelson. In evening they'll take their meal at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania which is the finishing place for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.

Day 7: Straham to Hobart

Well it's day 7 and out teams are back on the road traveling from Staham to Hobart which is 301kms. After leaving Straham our teams travel through the hills outside of Queenstown, through National Parks and visit the 3m high wall carving at Huon. After lunch in Hamilton they make their way into Hobart the capital of Tasmania for an evening of dinner and entertainment at the Wrest Point Casino.

Day 6: Day Trip #2

Our teams take another short break from driving today to take advantage of two unique local transport experiences. Splitting into two groups one group will take a trip on the West Coat Wilderness Railway and the other will take a cruise along the Gordon river.

Day 5: Back on the Road

Day 5 sees our team back on the road. This time traveling from Smithton to Strahan which is 268kms. On the way they'll continue their journey down the West Explorer and have lunch at Corinna. From there they'll cross the Pieman River on a barge known as The Fatman. This'll take awhile because the ferry only takes two cars at a time. Once safely across they'll travel to Strahan for a two night stop over.

Day 4: Day Trip #1

Day 4 is the first non driving day for this years bash. Instead the teams will be taking the opportunity to visit Tasmania's largest wind farm - Woolnorth and Cape Grim.
In the evening they'll have dinner at Tall Timbers in Smithton.

Day 3: Where are they going today + Robert's Text

So day 3 arrives with our teams safely in Tasmania. Today's trip is Davenport to Stanley & Smithton which is 318kms. Arriving in Devenport early our teams will make their way to Sheffield for breakfast before traveling to beautiful Cradle Mountain, which is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area for lunch.
After lunch they';; travel onto the north west coat of Tasmania where they'll be spendingthe text two days. In the evening they'll be staying at the historic Highfield House which was built in 1860 by The Van Diemen's Land Company and overlooks Stanley, The Nut and the Bass Strait.

Robert sent this text today
24th 11:51am
Phone died last night lol
Boat trip was smooth.
Went through Cradle Mountain, now traversing Hellyer Gorge - absolutely gorgeous..!
Teletubbies gained extra (sewn on) heads on the boat across LOL
Robert

Day 2: Where they're going + Roberts Texts

Well it's day 2 for the 2011 Victoria Variety Club Bash, and where are teams going today? Today is Warragul to Station Pier Port Melbourne which is 318kms. On the way they'll travel along winding road towards the coat, through places like Leongatha and Inverloch. They'll stop to see the Desalination Plant in Wonthaggi before traveling to Philip Island for lunch. After which they'll begin the treck back to Melbourne. But they're not done with the bash yet, they're only back in Melbourne so they can catch the boat that will take them to Tasmania, yes cars and all!

My cousin Robert sent me this text this morning,
23rd 7:09am
Foggy, foggy FOGGY this morning as we leave Yarragon hotel! :-)
Robert

Day 1: Robert's Texts

My Cousin Robert Graf is participating in the Bash this year in car 100, and has agreed to send me update texts of whats going on. I will transcribe them here for your interest, minor changes will be made to correct spelling etc. Depending on mobile phone range there may be days with no report.

22nd 10am
Car 693(Fairlamb) won't stop bleating ((referring to the Fairlamb cars speaker system making sheep sounds)) in the traffic in the city lol
Robert

22nd 4:37pm
Chugging along - drove through Marysville and Warbuton and bushland between. Pretty eerie still in the mountains, some of it still burnt out. The rest was gorgeous in the mountain though :-). The 'Teletubbies' team is a hit at the pubs lol
Robert

Day 1: The Teams Assemble Part 6

Car 977: Storm
Theme: Melbourne Storm
Crew: Phil Dent, Joe Allen, Colin "Cool Dog" Hill
No Photo's yet

Car 978: Scottish Bulldog
Crew: gilbert "Gibb" McKay, Simon "Axe" Atkins, John "Snowy" Carol
No Photo's Yet

Car 1069:
Crew: Peter "Chubby" Hodgson, Tom "Dr Demento" Tully, Steve "Rodda" Rodda
No Photo's yet

Car 1234: The Hula Express
Crew: Kerryn Nette, Caroline "Caz" Decent, Nicole "Nic" Porritt

Yeah about this picture. Right after the announcement ceremony as everyone was returning to their cars to finish preparations before leaving the people of car 1234 found they'd locked themselves out of their car. This is them trying to get back in.

Car 1717: Highway Patrol
Crew: Steve "Overland" Donnellon, Greg "Mullet" Fisher, Chris "Sir Chris" Kost.

These are pictures of the Highway Patrol 'arresting' a member of car 95. They were kind enough to pose for me. Unfortunately they lost the handcuff keys.

Car 1967: The Ball Boys
Theme: AFL Footballer
Crew: Michael "Flash" Aldridge, Andrew "Cocka" Allcock
No Photo's Yet

Card 1968:
Theme: Wog Boys
Crew: Mick "Whitey" Whiteside, Julian "Jules" Whiteside, Ken "Hock" Hosken, Alan "Al" Salton
No Photo's yet

Car 1975:
Crew: Mark "Jeffsy", Gavan "Fat Boy" Heritage, Peter "Bradders" Bradbury

Car 2020: Bob the Basher
Theme: Bob the Builder
Crew: Steve "Bob" Smith, Billy "Bob" Geko

Car 2222:O'Connors Case IH
Theme: Mellee Mob
Crew: Dennis "Doc" O'Connor, Colin "Pug" Cullen, Danny Murray
No Photo's yet

Car 3500: Blues Mobile
Theme: Blues Brothers
Crew: Brett "Thunder" Pickering, Greg "Gerg" Herrick, Brian "Mirra" White, Philip "Smasher" Nash

Caught these guys in transit so this isn't their car in the background.

Card 3610: The Hob Knobs
Crew: John "Sambo" Sanderson, Jack "Jacko" Frewin, Darren Martin, Graham "Darky" Travaskis
No Photo's yet

Car 3823: Baw Baw Bash Boy's II
Theme: Train Drivers
Crew: Kevin "Kev" McLaren, Kevin "Arnie" Arnold, Bill Harrington
No Photo's yet

Car 3840: Beagle Van
Theme: Beagle Boys
Crew: Andy "Tap Tap" Connolly, John "Johno" Tomkins
No Photo's Yet

Car 3844: Timber Communities Australia
Theme: Queens x 3
Crew: Helen "H" Hoppner, Heather "Not H" Allen, Glenda "Glenny" Stone
No Photo's Yet

Day 1: The Teams Assemble Part 5

Car 141:
Theme: Elvis
Crew: David "Hobbo" Hobbs, Martin "Marty" Hills, Chris Bagot

Car 152: 6 Pack Racing
Theme: The Stig
Crew: Dean "Snack" Stoddart, Janet Stoddart
Some say The Stig goes on the bash every year, and that he likes wearing fuzzy Ugg boots.

Car 166: The Red Bull
Crew: Glen "Stinger" Turnbull, Lee "Larny" Turnbull, Brett "Gino" Stammers, Jeane Stammers.
No Photo's Yet

Car 167: The Beast
Crew: Mary "Petal" Weerdenburg, Frank "Weeds" Weerdenburg, Neil "Nelly" Townley,
Wendy "Lovie" Townley
No Photo's yet

Car 188: Coastal Crusiers
Theme: Cruisin' the Kids
Crew: Jim "Jimmy" McKenzie, John "Parky" Parkinson, Barry "Baz" Brown, Steve "Stek" McKenzie.
No Photo's Yet

Car 191:
Crew: Norm "Stormin Norman" Brash, Gabrielle "Gabbie" Harvey.
No Photo's Yet

Car 201: The Pride of Lions
Theme: Lions
Crew: Phil Wensley, Lorna Wensley, Neil Guscott, Delice Guscott
No Photo's Yet

Car 247: Wild Oats
Theme: Uncle Toby's
Crew: Heath "Nutsy" Peebles, Steve "Screamen" Seamer
No Photo's Yet

Car 253: Team Maccas
Crew: Andrew "Dicko" Dickins, Peter Dickins, Greg "Bart" Dickins.

 Car 280: The 3 Pointed Star
Theme: Popeye & Brutus
Crew: Neville "Popeye" Colenso, Andy "Brutus" Avaro
No Photo's Yet

Car 302: Deep Purple
Theme: Purple
Crew: Stephen "Steve" Guild, Julie Guild

Car 321:
Theme: Freemasonry
Crew: Eddie koene, Alan Shaw, Bruce Bartrop
No Photo's Yet

Car 327:
Crew: Leigh "Leeroy" Rankin, Kerry "Kezza" Rankin, John "Johno" McCarroll, Bob Scheuffele
No Photo's Yet


Car 398:
Theme: Pink
Crew: Garry "Marcho" Marchant, David "Emu" Marshall

No Photo's Yet

Car 420: Hippies
Theme: The Orange People
Crew: Mick "Ralph Malph" Kirwan, John "Stetlor" Willianson, Ross "Marbles" Gamble,
Rick "Insomniac" Johnson

These guys won or maybe lost(?) the Day 1 wig auction. The wigs are auctioned and then the winner can give the wig to someone to wear for the day. The money of course goes to the children's charity. In this case one of car 420's team member bought both wigs and gave them to his team mates. Wow, that car ride just got a little bit more tense.


Car 444: Ywllo 1/2 Car
Theme: Bag Pipes 7 Fun
Crew: Phil "Molly" Millison, John "Big John" Houghton
No Photo's Yet

Car 666: Still Together, Still Lost
Crew: John "Bwana" Castle, Pam "P2" Castle, Paul "Kahuna" Murphy, Pam "P1" Murphy.
No Photo's Yet

Car 693: Fairlamb
Theme: Sheep Assist
Crew: Lachie "Save Ewe" Pitman, Mike "Baa Baa" Brady, Wilbur "Will Bah" Wilde

Car 734: Alpine Truss
Theme: Who Can You Truss?
Crew: George "Big Fella" Prothero, Allan "Farka" Jewell, Neville "Princess" Johnson
No Photo's Yet

Car 808: The Magic Bus
Theme: The Hippies
Crew: Don "Mezzmo" Hailes, John "Johnny Vans" Evans, Susi "Trailer Trash" Hailes, Alan "Big Foot" White

Car 888: RBA Financial
Crew: Keith "Warnie" Warne, Richard "Byrnesey" Byrnes, Allan "Jerry" Chambers, Todd "Ted" Coppin
No Photo's yet

Day 1: The Teams Assemble Part 4

Car 93: SS Minow
Crew: John "Skipper" McRae, Trevor "Gilligan" Wallace, Carolyn "Caz" McRae.
No Photo's Yet

Car 95: Peter Built
Theme: Convicts
Crew: David "Dave" Boxshall, Jeff Maloney, Michael "Micky" Milardovic, Simon Minton-Connell

Car 100: Gen 3
Theme: 3 Generations
Crew: Kristof "Graffy 1" Graf, Stephen "Graffy 2" Graf, Robert "Graffy 3" Graf

Robert Graf has kindly agree to keep in text contact about the goings on during the bash. Therefore I will be posting his texts as they come in later posts. Incidentally  Robert is my cousin, making Stephen my Uncle, and Kris my Great Uncle.

Car 109: Stealth
Crew: John "Shep" Shepheard, Pam "Pamy" Shepheard
No Photo's Yet

Car 110: Reddas & Demisses
Crew: Bill "Reddas" Redpath, Heather "Demisses" Redpath
No Photo's yet

Car 114: Pork Chop Express
Crew: Craig "Tucker Bag" Tucker, Steve Phelan, Charlie Scarcella
No Photo's Yet

Car 119: Bisley Bashers
Crew: Glenn "Jonesy" Murdoch, Paul "Sully" Sullivan, Stephen "Robbo" Robinson, Craig "Rupert" Murdoch, Wayne "Silverback" Drayton, Wayne "Slossy" Sloss.
No Photo's Yet

Car 120: The Flinstones
Crew: Hugh "Fred" Ibbotson, Sue "Wilma" Ibbotson, Jenny "Betty" Flynn, Denis "Barney" Flynn.

Car 123: Sunraysia Stompers
Crew: Vikki Moors, Debra Hedwards
No Photo's Yet

Car 128:
Crew: Kevin "Kev" Largue, Jason "Big Jase" Dean

Excuse my thumb shadow.

Day 1: The Teams Assemble Part 3

Car 45: Fire Truck
Theme: Fire Men
Crew: Paul "No Neck" Herbet, Anthony "Anto" Herbert, Mick "Beer Sponse" Cronin, Albert "Alby" O'Neil, Stewart "Stewie" Longhurst

Car 46: L.A. Fire Department
Theme" Firey's
Crew: Ross "Rossco" Wallis, Rob "Mouth" Vrymoet, John "Filbilly" Filbay, Hugh "Huggy" Parsons
No Photo's Yet

Car 48: Men "not" at Work
Theme: Construction
Crew: Nick "Big Nick" Psaltis, Graham "G Dog" Jolly, Michael "Happy" Boek

Car 54: Ethel
Theme: Car 54 "Where are you?"
Crew: Kevin "KB" Burns, Jim Cook, Andrew "Andy" Burns, Brian Rea

Car 55: Sheen Machine
Crew: Martin "Flint" Stone, Peter "Sav" Savage, Andrew "Cramo" Crammond.
No Photo's Yet

Car 58: Beach Buoys
Crew: Brian "T" Townsend, Peter "Pierre" Southham, Gavan "Hoges" Hogan.
No Photo's Yet

Car 59: Inferno
Crew: Scott "Scotty" Watson, Robert "Chicken" Carruthers
No Photo's Yet

Car 60: Sodastream
Crew: 14 people in this team you make my hands hurt.
No Photo's Yet

Car 64: The Melbourne - Hobarters
Theme: Nautical
Crew: John "Stewie" Stewart, Margaret "Blossom" Stewart, Duncan "Skipper" Cole, Tina "Ginger" Cirelli

Car 72: United Kingdom Hotel Bendigo
Crew: Ivar Hunt, Tanya Hunt
No Photo's Yet

Car 80: Bannockburn Tigers
Crew: Garry "Sparky" Cooper, Merv Giddings, John "Spanner" Troy
No Photo's Yet

Car 84:
Theme: Fairies
Crew: Julie "Jools" Arnott, Di "Lady Di" Archer, Melissa "Tigermel" McKenzie

Car 86: Kippanookahs
Theme: Three Feathered Friends
Crew: John "Bubba" Mackie, John "Snake" Crossin, Geoff "Nisso" Adshead.
No Photo's Yet

Car 90: Homicide
Theme: Wok Detectives
Crew: Gerrard "Gezza" Parkinson, Keith "Evo" Evans, John "Percy" Evans.

Day 1: The Teams Assemble Part 2

Car 17:
Crew: Ken Pryor, Len Thrower, Peter Crawford

Car 24: Babemobile
Theme: Blues (Sisters) Brothers
Crew: Jill "Babe" Lewis, Eunice "Mum" Mathews, Marg "Precious" Rae

Car 25: PJ Party
Theme:  Pyjama Party
Crew: Gayle "Babe" McAllister, Pam "Pammy" Kemp

Car 28: The Taxitubbie
Theme: The Tassie Tubbies
Crew: Mathew "Po" Madge, Barry "Dipsy" Williams, Robert "Tinky Winky" Norris, Steven "La La" Ansaldi

Car 29: Merc Muncher
Crew: Merv "Roxy" Roxburgh, Lee "Leroy" Murnane, Greg "Pedro" Day, Eric "Hec" George
No Photo's Yet

Car 36: Robot
Crew: Lance "Com" Hammond, Paul Landman
No Photo's Yet

Car 37:
Crew: John Knowles, Philip "Lucky" Ould
No Photo's Yet

Car 38:
Theme: Super Heroes
Crew: Scot "Frosty" Beveridge, Neville "Nifty" Huggett, David "Horey" Hore.

 Car 43: God Squad
Theme: Religious
Crew: Wayne "Shirl" Dalton, Jane "Sister Act" Dalton, David "Monk Key" Wright,
Jill "Nun the Better" Wright

Car 44: Taxi
Theme: Cabbies
Crew: Gary Caddy, Peter Pearce, Dominic Walsh
No Photo's Yet

Car 44.5:
Theme: The Three Stooges
Crew: Mathew "Moe" Wood, Glenn "Curly" Bromley, Rod "Larry" Summers.
No Photo's Yet

Day 1: The Teams Assemble Part 1

This year 77 teams left from the Shrine of Remembrance. Having been there to see them off, I have complied a selection of photo's from some of the more colorful teams and their cars. Sadly as it was early morning some photo's have a slight case of bloom, but I tried to avoid photo's where the amount of bloom made in impossible to see what the photo was of, but even so some bloom remains. These are not professional photo's and have all been taken on my iphone4.
That said if you were present at the send off and took some nice photo's feel free to send them to me and I will post them.

We'll go in order of numbers, sadly I don't have photo's for everyone. I'm sorry but there just so many of you, and I was focusing on those in costumes or who had an interestingly decorated car. However as I said earlier if you have some nice photo's of your cars and team send them to me if you can while you're away, or wait for your return and I will happily edit these posts to include you.

Car 4:
Crew: Ross Wootton, Robyn Wootton, Kay Bradley, Rob Siemensma
Theme: Come to Life Ballarat
No Photo's Yet

Car 5: The Rat Pack
Crew: Graeme "Captain Kaos" Giddings, Ray "Fordy" Ford, Bruse "Bonsa" Bonsema,
Richard "Richie" Breitkreuz, Graeme McDonald, Joe Cannatelli.

Car 8: Karate Kids
Crew: Darran "Hogg" Hoggan, Steve "Val" Vella, Jason "Jace" McKenzie, Axel "Ax" Bendix

Car 14: Dynamic Demons
Theme: Holden Racing Team
Crew: Peter "Macca" McKenna, Deane "Deano" Simpson, Paul "Barx" Barker.
No Photo's Yet.

Car 15: Colour Me
Theme: Colourful Cartoon Characters
Crew: Peter Benjamin, Bruce Peddlesden, Philip "Phil" Bennel

Car 16: Black Pearl
Theme: Pirates
Crew: Ross "Rosco" Mackitosh, David "Pughie" Pugh, Geoff "Smitty" Smith, Kevin "Dubba" Winterton

Day 1: The Variety Club

And so yet again the Variety Club, has left for twelve days of fun and fund-raising on this years Victoria Bash.
This morning at around 10am over 70 teams left from the Shrine of Remembrance to start the first leg of their journey, that will take them around Victoria and Tasmania. The Bash will from today the 22nd and finish in Tasmania on the 2nd of September.
For information about the Variety Club charity and how they've helped children around the world with disabilities strive for new heights since 1928 visit http://www.variety.org.au/

I'd like to thank our crack team of officials, traveling mechanics, route scouts, medical support members, photographers and radio guys for all the work they put in over the bash supporting out teams and making everything possible. Without you guys we'd all be lost broken down in a ditch fifty million miles from civilization and for that we cyber-salute you!

So where are they going today? Well day 1 is Melbourne to Warragul which is 280kms. On the way they'll stop at some country town like Marrysville, a sad victim of the recent Victoria bushfires and Buxton, home of the Buxton Burger, which can be found at the Igloo Roadhouse in Buxton. There last stop will be Warragul for the day.