Variety’s Big Electric Adventure takes off soon!
Variety, the children’s charity, is excited to introduce a brand-new motoring event called Variety’s Big Electric Adventure, which embraces the future of electric vehicles (EV). In a celebration of the charities impact across regional towns in WA, the NT and SA, the new EV event will put a Model Y and Highland Model 3 Tesla to the test as the CEO Chris Chatterton embarks on a cross country trek taking in some of the most remote parts of Australia.
Variety’s Big Electric Adventure launches in Forrest Place on Friday 9 August and will cover more than 10,000 kilometres of Australia in less than two weeks, stopping off to power up and take a moment to recognise the local impact the charity has on kids who live with disability, serious illness or disadvantage, empowering them to live, laugh and learn.
The cars will travel north up the coast of Western Australia, head east into the Northern Territory and then travel back down through the red centre to Adelaide before making the long crossing back into WA.
Variety is a national charity and supports kids and communities all over Australia and the tour will highlight the impacts of Variety in each region.
Along for mentorship and advice is accomplished EV proponent, champion of the shortest lap around Australia in an EV, and Secretary of the Tesla Owners Club of Western Australia, Harald Murphy. “It’s great that Variety will be looking at including some EV fundraising events in the future, it opens up a new supporter base and evolves the ways fundraisers can support the charity.
“I was the 6th person to do the lap around Australia in a Tesla and I currently own a Model Y. I have completed five total circumnavigations of Australia, with my fastest lap being more than 13,000kms in 10 days.
“The biggest challenge for this trip will be not knowing exactly what you might find when you arrive at the next charging station. If the next planned charge point isn’t viable, the worst-case scenario would be a standard power point charge, which could add a day to the itinerary.
“However, that’s the fun of the trip – the need to think on your feet and adapt. The unknowns of such a long trip mean the most useful commodity to have is flexibility.
“I’m extremely pleased to participate in the inaugural Variety’s Big Electric Adventure and I’m happy to apply my expertise to help Chris on this lap,” he said.
Variety WA CEO, Chris Chatterton is excited to visit some of the communities that Variety has supported over the past few years. “Each region has unique challenges for kids who have disability or who may be experiencing disadvantage.
“I have been fortunate enough to visit many of these communities and I am really looking forward to catching up with them again.
“Variety provides support Australia-wide and next year we will be celebrating 50 years of Variety in Australia.
“Variety’s Big Electric Adventure is the first of its kind by Variety, and we will be covering about 2/3 of the country this time, with more to come later in the year.
“The trek starts in Perth, travels north to Broome, east into the Northern Territory before heading south to Uluru.
“We head south through South Australia before turning west and heading along the Nullarbor back to Perth, and all things going to plan, we arrive back at Forrest Place on Friday 23 August.
“I’m really looking forward to doing something different for Variety and taking the time to recognise how widespread our impact has been. The distance between charge points and road conditions could be challenging, unexpected encounters with wildlife and unpredictable weather conditions will all be a major factor in determining the success of the trip.
“Along the way I’ll be attempting the Nullarbor Links Golf Course challenge; the world’s largest golf course.
“I am so grateful to our sponsors and partners as well as TOCWA and Harald for supporting this national first for Variety,” he said. “I do hope, as we create awareness for Variety in the regions, we will encourage the community to donate so that our children can gain further support, benefits and lead a better life.”
To find out more about where Variety funds go or to donate to Variety the children’s charity visit https://www.variety.org.au/wa/
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