The Variety Club Bashers arrived in Port Douglas on Friday 9th August at around 1pm after a nine day expedition from the Gold Coasts this year retracing the same steps or is it wheels which started 21 years ago.

They have travelled over 2,000km from Sea World on the Gold Coast via Gympie, Biloela, Emerald, Lake Dunn, Charters Towers, Innisfail, Tinnaburra, and finally Port Douglas.

Cars arrived at the Sky Safari airfield out on the Capt Cook Highway to regroup before parading into Port down Macrossan Street and into Wharf Street from about 3.00pm. Whilst out at the Sky Safari airfield all the 'bashers' were booked into the Rendezvous Reef Resort for the night. There is a party at Rex Smeal Park to celebrate the 21st birthday with live music from the Neil Diamond Show's 'Hot August Night'.

A special mention should go to Rendezvous Reef Resort who have generously supplied the accommodation for the Variety Bash. Swish Restaurant & Bar will be providing a hearty breakfast to over 400 bashers on Saturday morning to celebrate their achievement and help those who are going to go straight back on their way. Hopefully some of this crazy people will stay with us in port and enjoy a few days RnR before trekking back home.

Variety is a world wide charitable organisation which began 75 years ago in the United States before coming to Australia 35 years ago with Paul Hogan as its first chairman.

Donations to support the Bash can be made through Variety Queensland.