Variety Bash generosity spins out Gidgegannup’s Jim

PARTICIPATING in his first Variety Bash last month, Gidgegannup’s Jim Cairns says people’s generosity impressed him most.

Mr Cairns teamed up with York resident Ray Foggerdy plus Rex Baker and Mick Skehan to travel 1300km through the Kimberley in their Crocodiles-themed 1980 Ford XD limited stretch limo.

“One of the highlights for me was just the generosity of the people who were on the bash itself, raising money for the kids,” Mr Cairns said.

He said the seven-day trip from Kununurra to Broome included an auction, and one person bid $10,000 for a video made during the bash, then gave it to a man participating in his 25th bash.

Another crew bought back its auction donation – a signed T-shirt featuring their namesake Captain Underpants – for $3000.

While there were some doubts that the stretch limo would survive the off-road trip, Mr Cairns said they made it.

“We had three flat tyres in the end, put a hole in the exhaust and broke a break line,” he said.

With the Crocodiles raising more than $10,000 in their first bash, Mr Cairns also enjoyed the scenery and social aspect.

“I was the only person in a wheelchair in the bash this year,” he said.

“We won the spirit of the bash award; it was just the attitude of, one, going in the wheelchair, and everyone chipping in to help.”

Other first-time Hills participants included Joe Eggerton, of Toodyay, in the M&Ms-themed 1972 Valiant station wagon, Koongamia’s Matt Mauger in the The Raqueteers’ 1964 Ford Fairlane compact and Dayton’s Mark D’Lima in a Frozen-themed 1977 Holden Kingswood.

Swan View’s David Clark-Murphey did his second in a 1985 Rover SDI called The Bill, while Walliston’s Ben McGuire’s sixth run was in the Hot Wheels 1973 Ford F100.

Darlington’s Dawn Gregson took part in her eighth bash in the Angry Birds’ 1977 Ford Fairlane and Wundowie’s Peter Broad took on his 16th event in the Two and a Half Men-inspired 1969 Ford.