Gallery: Variety Bash visits Belltrees

MORE than 350 people were in Belltrees last Friday for the 2021 Variety Bash, as 109 cars and children’s characters paraded through the streets to raise money for the Belltrees Public School.

See photo gallery below

Belltrees Public School Principal Shane Roberts said nostalgia filled the air when famous Newcastle character ‘Super Hubert’ put on one of his historic magic shows. 

“They [Variety charity] all dressed up in their crazies to come and talk to the kids.We had Shrek and Fiona, Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, Batman, Scooby Doo, the Adams Family,” Mr Roberts said.

“Their philanthropy is something unique and remarkable, the dedication those guys have to providing smiles to children is second to none,” he said.

“Super Hubert came, my God, that was incredible. When I was a kid, he used to come to my school and do these magic shows. He had the kids rolling around on the ground in laughter and they were the same tricks he did when I was a kid,” he said.

“There were some parents around me who remembered him from around 20 or 30 years ago and there he was doing the same stuff. It was probably a bit of a cultural shock for the kids because their parents probably enjoyed it more than them at times,” laughed Mr Roberts.

On top of being thoroughly impressed with the cars and entertainment, Mr Roberts was blown away by the extreme generosity shown by local community groups and the Variety Children’s Charity organisation. He said the Variety Bash visit is something his students will remember for the rest of their lives.

“The community really came together for it. Scone High came on board and helped us cook up all kinds of cakes and slices and biscuits. The Scone Showstoppers also came out and spent the day with us and the local Woolworths donated all of the food and sent out eight staff members to support the catering efforts, that was unbelievable,” Mr Roberts said.

“The Variety’s main goal is supporting children, then supporting small schools. They really love being able to get to small schools and make a big difference,” he said.

“I think one of the biggest focuses for them this year, in my opinion, were drought affected schools. They sort of targeted Moree, Lightning Ridge, Armidale, past us and back towards Newcastle, so areas that were hit fairly hard by the drought. We were just fortunate enough to be chosen as one of those schools,” he said.

“Not only did we get a donation from Variety, which has allowed us to fund out robotics and stem program, they also supported the P&C and paid for their lunch.

“St Mary’s the leagues club in Sydney also came down and they donated a kit bag to every Belltrees child, which included individual favourite sports balls suited to each student. Inside the sports kit was also a St Mary’s League Guernsey and all kinds of other little sporting trinkets.

“On top of the present for the kids, they also donated the school a bag full of tennis rackets and cricket bats. It was at at least six bats and even more tennis rackets, such a significant donation for us,” he said

“It was just unbelievable, the generosity of these people. For our seven kids, the day will live on in their memories for such a long time,” said Mr Roberts.

Photo Gallery

Courtesy of Belltrees Public School