In 2015, during Danette Wallace’s first Variety Bash, the principal of Young Public School made a poignant comment: “giving people are happy people, and you sure are a happy bunch of people”.
This statement resonated deeply with Danette, an impassioned educator at The Yellow Cottage, Scone Grammar School’s Preschool.
For Danette, this perfectly captured the essence of the Variety Bash.
Danette’s involvement in the Variety Bash allowed her to merge two of her greatest passions: educating children and giving to others.
This year’s Bash was particularly special as her entire family participated.
Initially, Danette and her husband Will joined the Bash as ‘The Simpsons’.
After completing five Bashes, Will chose to contribute differently, becoming part of the Mobile Workshop team.
The Mobile Workshops (MW) are crucial to the Bash, staffed by skilled mechanics who maintain the fleet of old cars involved in the event.
Joining Will in the MW crew was their eldest son, Liam, a former student of Scone Grammar School.
Their younger son, Braeden, currently in Year 12 and a student leader at the school, took on driving and photography duties for his first Bash. Together, the Wallace family worked tirelessly for this remarkable charity event.
Danette incorporated the Variety Bash into the preschool curriculum, turning it into a valuable educational experience.
She explained to the children what Variety – the Children’s Charity, does and its impact.
With the help of Braeden, she illustrated the concept of charity as a group effort to help others, especially children in need.
The Variety Bash began when entrepreneur and adventurer Dick Smith organised a journey from Bourke, NSW, to Bourketown, Queensland, in old cars, raising $250,000 for charity.
Smith’s friends from diverse backgrounds participated, making the event a great equaliser.
The tradition continues today, with all cars required to be over 30 years old and non-performance modified.
The preschoolers were thrilled to explore the actual Hot Wheels Bash Car when Danette drove it to work.
Weekly, they learned more about the Bash through videos of past events, featuring various characters, cars, and rugged outback roads.
Danette emphasised the Bash’s primary mission: raising funds for disadvantaged, sick, and disabled children in the community.
The children at The Yellow Cottage eagerly prepared for a real-life charity event, helping to plan and organise for 16 Bash cars to visit on the last day of the Bash.
They demonstrated remarkable understanding of the Variety charity and showed genuine enthusiasm to be part of the project alongside Danette and her family.
This experience fostered empathy, kindness, and respect among the preschoolers while strengthening community bonds. The joy and excitement on the day the cars all arrived in the carpark was simply magic.
The Wallace family’s involvement in the Variety Bash has made them a cherished part of the school community. Their journey serves as a powerful reminder of the values of service and giving, illustrating how charitable efforts can enrich lives and create lasting impacts.
At Scone Grammar School, the lesson is clear: giving people truly are happy people.
Read more stories like this in our new edition of Encounter | Our People.
