More than 70 vintage cars arrive in Geraldton for Variety B to B Bash, delivering more than $70k to children

More than 200 travellers dressed in colourful outfits arrived in the Mid West in 75 novelty vehicles this week for the 39th Variety B to B bash. The eye-catching fleet finished their massive fundraising journey in Geraldton, or what they’d like to call the Batavia Coast. Stow Gardens carpark was full of colour on Wednesday afternoon as more than 70 cars arrived in a colourful convoy to Geraldton, passing through 11 towns in four days, handing large cheques to organisations along the way. The convoy passed through Sandstone and Meekatharra on Monday, making their way to Mount Magnet on Tuesday before pulling up to Geraldton’s Multipurpose Centre on Wednesday. Starting in Bathurst and ending on WA’s Batavia Coast, the B to B trip made their final stop at Bluff Point Primary School, providing a $9000 grant for playground resources including picnic tables, basketball backboards and netball rings. Meekatharra District High School were donated a range of bikes, helmets, riding accessories and a first aid kit as part of their health program. Delivering more than $70,000 to kids in need around the nation, the children’s charity will take what they raised on this year’s trip and hand it out on the next adventure. The B to B bash has raised more than $230 million supporting children who are sick, disadvantaged or living with a disability. Variety MC Garth Russell has helped to tell stories along the way, and said some of the older members in the group have been participating in the fundraiser for more than 35 years. “This particular B to B bash is celebrating its 40th anniversary next year,” he said. “It’s a real mix of ages and demographics, but it’s this cohort of more than 200 people that just love spending this time together, but more importantly, just love doing what they do for children.” Mr Russell said the convoy enjoyed the quick-changing landscapes while making their way through the Mid West, with Mr Russell’s highlight being the trip from Meekatharra to Geraldton. “It can be completely dry and arid, and suddenly you’ll come across this countryside that looks almost like farmland in the middle of nowhere,” he said. “We left on the east coast and here we are on the west coast. That last day, the contrast was incredible in a day’s travel.”