Variety's big bike giveaway

SQUEALS of delight greeted hundreds of patient parents as over 300 brand new bikes were given out to children from around the West at the Longreach showgrounds on Sunday.

As the primary school-aged kids paraded out of the show pavilion proudly displaying their latest acquisition and rushing to don the added bonus of a viz-vest and helmet, sceptical adults gradually began to believe the giveaway wasn’t a prank.

Queuing in 30-plus degrees did not deter Peta White waiting with baited breath alongside many others for contracted bike-builder extraordinaire John Palmer to unlock the shed containing the pushies.

"I thought I would come down and see whether the giveaway was for real.
"There was such a great excitement building.
"I have never heard of anything like this in Longreach before and the kids just love their new bikes. This really gave them something special to look forward to."

Louise Brown also found it hard to believe that so many bikes were simply being given away but said she was pleased to see it was no joke as she put a shiny new treadlie in the car.

"This has been an absolutely fabulous afternoon. I was driving here thinking there has to be a catch, there just has to be a catch, and there wasn’t.
"Variety has been so generous."

The novelty of the event wasn’t lost on David Searles who, like many parents, couldn’t express enough gratitude to the visiting bashers.

"It is great to see Variety giving away something in a country town. We often see big things like this going on in the city so it is great to see them come out here."

Along with the unmistakable sight of 300 orange and purple bikes hitting the pavements, there was also no missing the 180 cars and 500 wildly-costumed bashers who arrived en masse from Winton on Saturday night.

As well as checking out the rugby union grand final at the showgrounds, all Sunday the streets of Longreach were teeming with decorated cars and drivers as the bashers had a day-off before travelling to Windorah.

Never missing the opportunity to raise a little more cash for their worthy cause, their catch cry of "Do it for the children" saw a small mountain of money thrown into an awaiting Akubra at the Lyceum Hotel that evening.

At stake - for a proper price - were the flowing locks of proprietor Leigh ‘Lethal’ McCracken and the slightly shorter strands of bar manager Larry ‘Bingo’ Smith’s scalp.

After $1,550 was raised in the space of 30 minutes the pair forfeited their heads, beards and moustaches to a clean shave, much to the delight of a cheering, large and generous crowd. Many of the visitors vowed to come back for more Longreach hospitality next year.