NT Bash History

The Bash is our Variety NT icon. It has always been our biggest fundraiser and critical to our ability to continue supporting Territory kids. For those outside of Variety it may look like a week of pure celebration each August/September but we know it is so much more.

The hard work is done every day by people who care enough for children in need across the NT. Those who love to have fun and share the Variety message across the Top End and to the most remote communities across Australia.

Bashes date back to 1985 when adventurer Dick Smith decided to run a charity event which involved a few of his mates ‘bashing’ around the outback. The object of the exercise was for the ‘bashers’ to bribe and cheat their way around the route. It not only proved to be heaps of fun but also raised a lot of month. Each State and Territory has taken on the Bash as a major fundraiser and it’s popularity continues to this day.

The Bash brings economic benefit to small remote communities and mech cheer to children through school visits.

The NT Bash family have contributed in many ways to the sustainability of our organisation 3 decades. Bash devotees have not only fundraised year after year for NT kids, but many have volunteered to support our fundraising event calendar and held Board and Committee positions voluntarily to help carry the load.

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN…

1992 – Heart to Heart – Darwin to Ayers Rock. First National Bash. 12 cars, 4400km – Chair, Trevor Smith

1993 – Finke to Fannie Bay – 18 cars, 2662km – Chair, Trevor Smith

1994 – Tindal to Tennant Creek – 23 cars, 2400km – Chair, Trevor Smith & Peter Herden

1995 – Casuarina to Cable Beach – 50 cars, 1905km – Chair, Trevor Smith & Peter Herden

1996 – Rock to Croc. National Bash. Ayers Rock to Darwin – 50 cars, 1850km – Chair, Trevor Smith & Peter Herden

1997 – Magical Mystery Bash – Darwin to Darwin – 22 cars, 1400km – Chair John Udy

1998 – Katherine to Kuranda – 30 cars, 2500km – Chair, Max Innes

1999 – Leichhardt to Lasseters – Desert Star Trek – 24 cars, 1693km – Chair, Russell Naismith

2000 – The Bay to Birdsville – 28 cars, 1638km – National Bash – Chair, Bruce Caterer

2001 – Great Crossing to the Gold Coast, Federation Bash – 26 cars, 1993km – Chair, Trevor Bleakley

2002 – Outback to Ocean – Katherine to Broome – 26 cars, 1941km – Chair, Trevor Smith

2003 – Ayer to Eyre – Alice Springs to Smokey Bay – 21 cars, 2266km – Chair, Helen Galton

2004 – Kids on Mindil to Kakadu – 22 cars, 1373km – Chair, Damien Gray

2005 – Alice to Adelaide – 16 cars, 1865km – Chair, Trevor Smith

2006 – Port Darwin to Port Douglas – 22 cars, 2523km – Chair, Damien Gray

2007 – Airport to Airport – Alice Springs to Darwin – 32 cars (+1 Cessna airplane!) 1759km – Chair, Helen Galton

2008 – Darwin to Diamonds – Darwin to Kununurra – 23 cars, 1504km – Chair, Peter Grigg

2009 – A Legendary Journey – Alice Springs to Alice Springs – National Bash – 23 cars, 1209km – Chair, Sharon Winks

2010 – A Beach Party – Dundee to Daliwuy – 28 cars, 1653km – Chair, Sharon Winks

2011 – The Pioneering Way – Buffaloes to Brahman – 22 cars, 2471km – Chair, Michelle Meldrum

2012 – Kurranda to Katherine – 29 cars, 2520km – Chair, John Ceiley

2013 – Wine to Vine – Tanunda to Ti-Tree – 32 cars, 2300km – Chair, Ash Winks

2014 – Pennant to Tennant – Tri State/National Bash – 24 cars, 3529km – Chair, Michelle Pedersen

2015 – Annaburroo to Annaburroo – 19 cars, 1841km – Chair, Jimmy Doyle

2016 – Surf to Sunset – Broome to Lake Argyle – 25th Bash Anniversary – 30 cars, 2400km – Chair, Mel Fleming & Patrick Gray

2017 – Variety of Rivers – Mataranka to Katherine – 12 cars, 1584km-  Chair, Peter Duffy

2018 – TnT – Tennant Creek to Townsville – 21 cars, 2417km –  Chair, Damien Pedersen

2019 – Gumtree to Gemtree – Alice Springs to Gemtree – 22 cars, 1902km – Chair, Peter Bourne

2020 – Noony to Nhuly – Noonamah to Nhulunbuy – Cancelled due to COVID 19 worldwide pandemic

2021 – Noony to Nowhere (take 2) – Chair, Aaron Brooks – 20 cars

2022 – Macdonnell to Mindil, 30th Anniversary Bash – Alice Springs to Darwin – Chair, Pete Grigg

2023 – Desert to Dunes – Erldunda to Wallaroo – 20 cars – Chair, Peter Bourne

2024 – Top End Trek – Crab Claw Island to Lake Bennett via Nhulunbuy – 20 cars – Chair, Laura Campbell/Aaron Brooks

WHERE WE ARE GOING…

2025 – NATIONAL BASH! – Coonawarra (SA) to Burra (SA) – Chairs, Aaron Brooks & Luke Nadels