HOTELIERS SWAP POURING BEERS FOR DUSTY ROADS AS THIS YEAR’S NSW VARIETY BASH SETS OFF FROM NEWCASTLE

Newcastle and Hunter District hoteliers will once again take to the dirt roads of NSW when the 2021 NSW Variety Bash heads off from Newcastle on Sunday 16 May 2021.

After being cancelled last year due to COVID-19, the annual NSW Variety Bash will see over 300 people in more than 100 cars travel the state for a week – raising money for Variety, the Children’s Charity.

Variety Newcastle Regional Committee Chair, long-term basher and publican of the Stag & Hunter and Customs House hotels Mick Starkey is just one of the local hoteliers taking part in this year’s event.

“This will be the ninth year Australian Hotels Association- Newcastle Hunter has been the major sponsor of the NSW Variety Bash and we couldn’t be prouder,” Starkey said.

“In 2019 the event raised more than $1 million for sick and disadvantaged kids living in regional NSW and to support an event like this and also participate in it is unlike any other experience.”

This year, the Bash travels to Lightning Ridge via small country towns such as Tingha and Boggabilla, visiting small schools where vital monies and resources are presented to thankful students including special needs children. It’s not a race, and the cars aren’t built for speed.

This year alongside Starkey, hoteliers from the Nags Head Hotel, Shortland Hotel, Hunt Hospitality, and the Linga Longa Hotel at Gundy will be participating in the NSW Variety Bash.

For Linga Longa hotelier Dan Bennett, this will be his first Bash and last weekend the pub got things off to a great start, hosting a fundraiser which raised more than $30,000.

“I have always wanted to give the Bash a go and the inspiration hit me this year to just do it,’” Bennett said.

“I have always loved raising money for different organisations and Variety is one of the most amazing in Australia.”

Hotelier Stephen Hunt, a long-time supporter of the event, and whose company Hunt Hospitality includes the Kent Hotel, the Duke of Wellington Hotel, and the Seabreeze Hotel, has also contributed $30,000 in participant sponsorship for the event.