A group of Pakenham locals is preparing for Australia’s iconic Variety Bash to raise funds for children with illness, disability, or disadvantage.
Known as The McDacks Bash Car 1021 – Wonka, the team includes Louise and Stephen McMahon and Catharine and Peter Dack, who will be taking on their first-ever Bash in a decked-out 1998 Ford Fairlane, complete with a whimsical Willy Wonka theme.
Before they hit the road, the McDacks will join a colourful launch event this Thursday 7 August outside Melbourne’s Crown Casino.
From 10am, the event will feature 12 Bash cars, speeches, grant presentations, and a documentary crew filming the send-off.
The Bash begins Friday 8 August in Hamilton and spans 10 days, travelling through Adelaide, Maree, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, and Mataranka, finishing in Darwin on 17 August.
The 2025 Bash is extra special, marking 50 years of Variety in Australia and 40 years since the original Bash began with Dick Smith’s now-famous motto: “A drive in the outback with a few mates.”
While it’s not a race, the Bash is no small feat. All cars must be at least 25 years old and modified to handle tough terrain, with rookies required to raise at least $5,000 for Variety before hitting the road.
“We get to have an adventure together, seeing the beautiful outback and its people, while raising money for disadvantaged children,” the McDacks said.
Their car has undergone “Bash compliance” upgrades including bash plates, spare parts, fuel, and tyres — all part of the preparation for navigating remote outback roads. As rookies, they’ve already taken part in a trial run through Bunyip State Park to get a taste of Bash life.
Beyond the drive itself, the event delivers wide-reaching benefits.
“The benefits for us are meeting new people, gaining new skills and seeing new places,” the McDacks said.
“The benefits for the communities we visit are a cash injection into the community via fuel purchases, accommodation and food for hundreds of people, plus grant presentations.
“It’s also a fun event that brings people into their community from surrounding areas and it’s particularly fun for kids and families to see a parade of cars going through town.”
Variety – the Children’s Charity has distributed more than $200 million in grants across Australia, supporting everything from mobility equipment and all-abilities playgrounds to educational programs and scholarships for children with disability or disadvantage.
For the McDacks, this is just the beginning.
“We all feel that we will do this again, some participants have been taking part for over 30 years. If you’re thinking about doing the Bash in the future, follow our adventure this year (on Facebook or instagram “The McDacks Bash Car 1021”).”
