SCOOBY Doo’s Mystery Machine, the Wiggles’ Big Red Car, along with an army car and Angry Birds would be enough to turn heads in any street.
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But put them in a convoy with 90-odd other vehicles and you’ll be stopping traffic anywhere you go.
That’s exactly what happened in Manilla yesterday when the Newcastle AHA Variety Bash rolled into town and pulled up stumps for lunch at St Michael’s Primary School.
The pitstop was all in the name of charity and was enough to draw the kids out of class and put a smile on every face.
“There was Where’s Wally, the Blues Brothers, Angry Birds, you name it, we had it,” St Michael’s fundraising organiser, Melissa Bolsom told The Northern Daily Leader.
The Variety Bashers made the trek from Moree yesterday morning as part of their five-day trip around the state to raise money for special needs children.
And they soon made their presence known at the local school.
“They had a magician, it was a big hit. It had the kids screaming,” Mrs Bolsom said.
“They gave them showbags, lollies, toys, an over-sized outdoor chess set and sporting equipment for the school.”
And the icing on the cake?
“It was just amazing, they gave us a $6000 donation to finish off the playground. We just can’t say thank you enough.”
But the gift-giving didn’t stop there.
The Hot Wheels car donated gifts of their own to one of the classes, delivering 50 Hot Wheels matchbox cars to the kids, plus a host of books for the library.
The outpouring of goodies left many at the school lost for words.
Many of the students were heard shouting “this is awesome” and sporting grins from ear to ear.
And it was no mean feat, either.
There were more than 250 mouths to feed from the car convoy, as well as 91 screaming kids.
All it took was a little bit of magic in the kitchen, Mrs Bolsom said.
“We had a bit of a mothers’ cooking bee at my house on the weekend with a few of the mothers, so we made all the quiches, then we had to order the lasagnes.
“We also had 15 McCarthy Catholic College students from the Year 11 hospitality class help us out, too.”
Throw in a sausage sizzle and a coffee van and there was a feast fit for an army.
Mrs Bolsom said a few of the students tried to help the drivers see clearly, even before the rain had come.
“The Year 5 and 6 students washed the windows for a gold-coin donation and they raised over $220 towards their excursion at the end of the year. They were very generous, and I just don’t know how they do it. We were just blown away,” Mrs Bolsom said.
