Variety Bash Cancelled, New Events Launched

0:00The Variety New South Wales Bash, that epic 41-year outback charity rally for kids, just got canceled this year. It's only the second time ever, after 2020 during the pandemic. Fuel shortages and sky-high prices forced the call, as the event was set to roll from Newcastle through northwest New South Wales to spots like Duran Bondi and Lightning Ridge. Variety's chief executive explained they had to prioritize diesel for farmers and families in those hard-hit regional areas. Cost of living crunch is real out there, with folks struggling to reach medical appointments or grab a central gear for children. Demand for help has spiked, and schools along the route were counting on supplies. Now, they're lining up later deliveries to keep promises intact, while swapping the bash for move in May, a push to ditch petrol by walking, cycling, or hitting the gym instead. Meanwhile, other outfits like Aussie hayrunners are feeling the diesel pinch, too. They just dropped over 1,000 haybills to farmers in Bengal, thanks to subsidies covering

1:02fuel for 32 trucks from Victoria. But costs can hit $8,000 per truck, dictating where they head next. Both groups are pivoting to new events and back up plans to stay in the fight, proving community heartbeats louder than any fuel crisis. That's the story for today. Sydney News Today, Driven by AI