Students at a West Coast school will get new sensory and hands-on learning equipment through a Variety grant, after the charity’s TasBash convoy visited Queenstown on Monday.
The 24 cars in the Variety Federal Hospitality TasBash arrived at Mountain Heights School on day one of a six-day journey around Tasmania, bringing costumes and themed vehicles to students.
Teams from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia are among those taking part this year. Variety Tasmania said the Bashers were aiming to raise more than $300,000 for Tasmanian children.
Mountain Heights School teacher Jan Venter said the grant would provide practical resources for students.
“Being a regional school on the West Coast, our students don’t always have the same opportunities to access sensory experiences and resources, so this support from Variety is really valuable to our school,” he said.
“The new sensory and hands-on equipment will strengthen our STEM and hands-on learning programs as well as our occupational therapy space, giving students more opportunities to engage, explore and learn in ways that work for them.”
Venter said around 100 students would benefit from the equipment each year.
Variety Tasmania chief executive Mohammad Aldergham said school visits were at the heart of the event.
“Bash is certainly about colourful cars, crazy costumes and having a lot of fun, but days like today remind everyone why we do it,” he said.
For participant Bruno Palermo, the school visits are one of the most rewarding parts of being involved in the TasBash.
“You spend months getting the car ready and raising as much money as you can, but when you roll into a school and see the kids waiting for you, that’s when it all comes together,” he said.
TasBash is not a race or rally. Teams fundraise throughout the year and pay their own vehicle, fuel, accommodation and meal costs.
Variety said the event had raised more than $5.5 million since it began in 1991. The money funds grants, programs and experiences for Tasmanian children living with disability, disadvantage or serious illness.
The convoy will finish at Wrest Point in Hobart on Thursday.
