Year in Review - Variety

Year in Review
Variety the Children’s Charity Tent 78 Tasmania Inc.

2009-2010 1 October 2009 – 30 September 2010
Our Patron
Variety the Children’s Charity
Tasmania is delighted to have
the support of the Premier of
Tasmania, the Honourable David
Bartlett, as Patron.
Despite his hectic schedule,
Premier Bartlett is always willing to
lend a hand and attend Variety
events when time permits.
“There are many worthy charities
in Tasmania and one of those
is Variety. Although only a small
operation in our State, Variety’s
work is valued by the community,
giving hope to children with special
needs,” says Premier Bartlett.
“It’s a privilege to be associated
with an organisation which is so
highly respected throughout
the world.”
Hon. David Bartlett
Premier of Tasmania
Cover photo:
Lily Kelly general appeal recipient
Photo courtesy of Lucid Photography
Board of Directors
Chief Barker (Chairman)
Mike Wisby
Vice-Chairman
Anna Grant
Vice-Chairman
Sandra Rodman
Treasurer
Jeremy Williams
Secretary
Ted Best AM
Patrick Barlow
Jo Bean
Toni Sydes
Martin Thorpe
Loretta Tongs
Sue Rees (until March 2010)
Life Member
Variety Tasmania awarded its
inaugural Life Membership of Tent
78 in October 2010
Bob Thorpe OAM
Elder Statesmen
Variety Tasmania recognises the
work undertaken by individuals
who have a long history with the
organisation by granting Elder
Statesmanship.
Brendan Blomeley
Doone Kennedy AO
Heinz Voss
Michael Kent AM
Mike Speakman
Tony Pedder
Ambassadors
The following individuals act as
Ambassadors and willingly give
their time to assist Variety.
National
David Boon
Debra Byrne
State
Wendy Kennedy
Kim Napier
David Noonan
John X
2 Variety Tasmania Year in Review

Welcome
To the wonderful world of Variety the Children’s Charity…
Variety the Children’s Charity is described as
‘the heart of show business’ as it was founded
by a group of theatre owners and show men in
Pittsburgh USA in 1927.
The Variety Club was founded in Australia in
1975 with Paul Hogan as the first Chief Barker
(Chairman) and is now represented in all states
and territories of Australia, helping thousands of
children every year.
Variety the Children’s Charity Tasmania is one of
seven Tents around Australia and commenced
operation in 1991. In 1998 at the International
Convention in Toronto, Variety in Tasmania
became a fully fledged Tent in its own right.
In 2004, Variety changed its name
from Variety Club to Variety, the
Children’s Charity.
Today we continue with many traditions of our
past including our Tent (organisation) name and
our pledge to maintain a high degree of FUN in
our fundraising.
Distribution of Appeals 2009-2010
59%
33%
Variety Future Kids Program 59%
Variety Freedom Program 33%
Variety Caring for Kids 4%
Liberty Swings 2%
Scholarships 2%
Variety Tasmania Year in Review 3
4%
2%
2%

From the Chief Barker
The future looks bright for Tent 78.
We had a better year financially and
recorded a significant increase in profit
before appeals which enabled us
to almost triple the value of appeals
granted compared to the previous year.
Money raised in Tasmania by Variety is
used to support Tasmanian children who
are sick, disadvantaged or have special
needs. We receive no government support
and as such rely on the generosity of
sponsors, supporters, volunteers and the
general public. In this regard I would like
to thank all our sponsors for their support.
Special mention should be made of our
major sponsor the Federal Group for its very
generous ongoing support. Federal is a
long time supporter of Variety in Tasmania
and we are extremely appreciative of that
support.
Variety’s most recognized fund raising
event each year is Tasbash and we extend
our sincere thanks to all the participants,
officials and sponsors for making this event so
successful. Next year’s Bash will be the 21st
and we are anticipating that it will be the
biggest and best ever.
The proceeds from the sale of last year’s
House of Hope were received this year and
we extend our sincere thanks to Andrew
Clifford, Craig Rogerson, Andrew Lyden, and
Scott Crawford and everyone else associated
with this project. This is the second House of
Hope to have been built and the proceeds
have assisted both Variety and the Rachel
and Jye Foundation.
For the past two years we have enjoyed
an association with the Tasmanian Theatre
Unit Trust and The Theatre Royal and have
generously been allowed to conduct fund
raising events at the performances of Miss
Saigon and Spamalot. We hope that this
association will continue. We appreciate the
assistance of Craig Wellington, Tim Munro and
all the tremendously talented cast and crew
members of the respective productions who
4 Variety Tasmania Year in Review

have been so generous with their time. For
some years now we have been the partner
charity of an AFL Ladies night at Launceston
and an AFL Ladies Lunch in Hobart in grand
final week. We thank AFL Tasmania for its
ongoing support at these functions. We were
also charity of choice for Run the Bridge,
a new event held in February this year. This
event has great promise and we thank
the organizers for their support and look
forward to a long and mutually beneficial
association.
In late October this year, I had the honor, on
behalf of the Board, to present Bob Thorpe
OAM with Life Membership of Tent 78 at this
year’s Tasbash Awards Dinner. Bob, who was
instrumental in bringing Variety and Tasbash
to Tasmania, received a standing ovation
when the award was announced.
During the year we said farewell to Nancy
Hoskinson and Robyn Martin. Both gave
Variety excellent service during their periods
of employment and we thank them for
their efforts and wish them well for the
future. Jacquie Dalton and Ashlea Hey
have subsequently been appointed and
we welcome them to the office of Tent
78. We were delighted when Alison O’Neill
accepted our invitation to fill the vacant
State Manager role. Alison commenced in
that position in June this year and is already
making her mark.
Earlier this year Sue Rees reluctantly
stepped down as a director for family
reasons. Sadly Sue’s husband passed away
during the year and we extend our sincere
condolences to her.
Variety could not operate without a strong
volunteer base and we thank all those people
who have given up their time to assist at the
various functions and events during the year.
Thanks also to my fellow directors for their
support during the year and to State Manager
Alison O’Neill and the staff for their dedication,
commitment and effort.
I would also like to acknowledge the support
Tent 78 has received from Variety Australia
over the past year. Chairman Jack Cannon
and his fellow directors, along with the
Executive team from each Tent, have freely
offered advice and assistance and this has
been much appreciated.
There are some exciting possibilities in the
year ahead which I will not pre-empt but I
am confident that the future is indeed bright
for Tent 78.
Mike Wisby, Chairman.
Variety could not operate without a strong
volunteer base and we thank all those people
who have given up their time to assist at the
various functions and events during the year.
Variety Tasmania Year in Review 5

Our Programs
Variety the Children’s Charity works directly with individual families
and organisations to empower Tasmanian children who are sick,
disadvantaged or have special needs to live, laugh and learn.
Funds are spent on goods and services
through our three core programs –
Freedom Program, Caring for Kids
Program and Future Kids Program.
Variety Freedom Program
Giving children the freedom to move
The Variety Freedom Program provides funding for
mobility equipment such as manual and power
wheelchairs, walking frames and customised tricycles
so children can get out and about.
Liberty Swings are donated to communities so children
in wheelchairs or with various physical impairments
can feel the joy of swinging – a simple pleasure that
other children can often take for granted. Variety
also puts Sunshine Coaches on the road and across
Australia special schools and other organisations have
been the grateful recipients of coaches transporting
children with physical disability, regional or social
disadvantage out into the community.
6 Variety Tasmania Year in Review

Variety Future Kids Program
Helping special children reach their full
potential, realise their dreams and shine
The Variety Future Kids Program provides children with
intellectual or physical disabilities access to equipment
to positively transform their classroom experience
and academic performance. For children with
autism and other learning difficulties, this equipment
can help a child speak their first word, or write down
their own thoughts independently. We also help with
educational camps, scholarships and other items that
help children with various special needs improve their
potential to learn, participate in the community and
enjoy life.
Variety is also an active supporter of special
education and regionally disadvantaged schools,
providing funds for books, educational and play
equipment, school camps, educational outings and
other urgently needed equipment.
Variety Caring for Kids Program
Providing essential medical and health
equipment to care for kids at home, in
the community and in hospital
The Variety Caring for Kids Program helps parents care
for their seriously ill children at home with nebulisers,
insulin pumps, electric hospital beds and more.
We also work in conjunction with regional hospitals and
other children’s organisations to fund major projects.
Variety Tasmania Year in Review 7

How We Helped
Grants Summary 2009-2010
Freedom Program
Description Amount
$42,892.30 Bathroom Modifications $5181.90
Future Kids
Freedom Communication Aids $1,645.63
Hoists & Positioning Systems $953.50
Vehicle Modifications $8,500.00
Walk & Stand $253.00
Mobility Aids $6,661.77
Postural Splints $5,250.00
Bikes $14,446.50
$57,095.39 Future Communication Aids $558.47
Caring for Kids
Group computers, educational equipment $20,909.10
Group toys, parties $500.00
Individual computers, educational equipment $8,583.20
Individual toys, parties $2,837.80
School Modifications $23,227.27
Playground Equipment $479.55
$11,885 Hospital Equipment $11,885.00
Liberty Swings
$20,201.50 Liberty Swing $20,201.50
Scholarships
$1,650.00 Scholarship Program $1,650.00
Total Grants $133,724.19
8 Variety Tasmania Year in Review

Who We Helped
Variety acknowledges and thanks the following
families for sharing their story.
Lily
Lily needed $11,000 to help her breathe.
Lily Kelly is only 11 years old; an age where
most children are getting excited about
starting high school and making big
transitions in their lives.
However while trying to maintain as
normal a life as possible, Lily’s primary
years have required frequent hospital
admissions for antibiotics and intensive
chest physiotherapy. You see, Lily has spinal
muscle atrophy (SMA) type 2. SMA is a
neuromuscular disease characterised by
degeneration of motor neurons resulting in
progressive muscle wasting and weakness.
As well as affecting Lily’s ability to move,
SMA has a significant impact on her
respiratory system. Her breathing and
coughing muscles are significantly weaker
and she has a tracheostomy (a tube
inserted into her windpipe) and depends
on a ventilator to help with her breathing.
To improve Lily’s health and also reduce her
hospital admissions, her treatment team at
the Royal Hobart Hospital decided that a
cough assist machine was needed.
At a cost of $11,000 though, this was a tall
order for Lily’s Dad, Mark, who is her
full-time carer, so Variety the Children’s
Charity Tasmania was approached and
were more than happy to fund this vital
piece of equipment.
Lily receives her new
cough assist machine,
helped by a special
Variety Bear
Variety Tasmania Year in Review 9

Micael
Micael needed a helping hand.
Micael is eleven years old and was
diagnosed with Reactive attachment
Disorder as well as Post Traumatic
Syndrome. It was identified at a young
age that Micael was in need of additional
support due to challenging behaviours
connected to early childhood trauma and
developmental attachment disruptions.
Variety’s financial assistance allowed
Micael to complete Phase 2 of an Equine
Therapy program, a unique structured
program aimed to specifically assist Micael
to refocus through working with horses.
As Micael’s mother says “Micael’s
medical condition has put a strain on us
financially over the years seeking medical
intervention. Micael’s transformation since
starting this new unconventional therapy
has been extraordinary.
This therapy has been our
saviour, having not only an
effect on Micael but our family
as a whole. He’s learning
to manage his disorder and
emotions and the results are
promising.
It has given us some normality as our
lives previously were far from normal.
Micael it seems has found his niche and
has connected with the horses and his
therapists in a special way. They too are
truly amazing. We are beginning to win the
battle and look forward to the future.”
10 Variety Tasmania Year in Review

Alexander
Alexander has Joubert Syndrome.
“It is so hard to put into writing the wide-ranging
impact wearing the second skin body splint
has had for Alexander. The smile on his face
says so much that words alone can’t say. He
is constantly astounding us, his teachers, his
therapists and his friends.”
This is a rare autosomal recessive
genetic condition resulting in underdevelopment
of the cerebellum. This
results in developmental delays, speech
dyspraxia, motor ataxia, delayed
language and cognitive development,
sensory modulation difficulties and a
visual disability. Alexander also has a renal
disease and Retinitis Pigmentosa (loss
of visual field) associated with Joubert
Syndrome. Alexander’s older sister Nicole
also has Jourbert Syndrome.
Variety’s help has
made an enormous
difference
Variety provided funding for a second
skin body splint. The increased quality of
life for Alexander since wearing the body
splint has been above and beyond all our
expectations. The second skin body splint
provides Alexander support in his trunk.
It prevents him from using larger muscles
and therefore makes him use smaller, core
stability muscles which are already
growing stronger.
The impact for Alexander has been reaching
across all areas of confidence, self help,
continence, social interactions, academic
development and motor development.
The muscles in his growing body are more
aligned helping prevent later muscle and
joint difficulties. The support for his trunk has
improved his breath control which in turn has
improved his expressive language. Thank
you so much.
Variety Tasmania Year in Review 11

Events & Fundraising
Variety’s work is serious, although staff, volunteers, supporters and sponsors
are constantly reminded to never forget the importance of having fun!
Each year Variety conducts a number of events and is supported by a
broad range of the community through other fundraising initiatives.
The Variety Oasis Tasbash
Variety Tasmania has been synonymous
with motoring events for 20 years. Since the
inaugural Tasbash hundreds of Tasmanians
and interstate visitors have participated in
our motoring flagship and along the way,
these ordinary people in their extraordinary
cars, have engaged the community, visited
hundreds of locations, and connected with
thousands of children all for the common
purpose of raising funds for Tasmanian
children in need.
This iconic event remains the flagship
fundraising event for Variety and although
the Bash is held in October each year (the
start of the new financial year), it makes
sense to share the most recent Bash held - in
this case from 16th – 23rd October 2010.
Commencing in Ulverstone and concluding
in Kingston this year’s Bash saw around 100
volunteers en route visiting schools and
community groups, presenting cheques
to purchase items beneficial for regionally
disadvantaged children.
The field was waved off at the start by
the Acting Mayor of the Central Coast
Council, Councillor Jan Bonde. Fortunately
Councillor Bonde was in the spirit of the
event as she was promptly ‘borrowed’ and
dressed in bedtime attire before the official
start! Adding to the excitement, a number
of horses accompanied the first cars,
representing the local rodeo who are active
supporters of North-West coast entrants
Dumb and Dumber.
Of course along the way, travelling the
length and breadth of Tasmania, the field
had eight days of merriment, mayhem and
major fun. A support fleet is required to
safely conduct an event of this type, and
Officials act voluntarily, taking time from their
daily lives to support Variety.
This year’s highest fundraiser was
Car D&D with a total of $21,485
and while less cars participated
than 2009, the average income
per car increased from $7,552 to
$8,341 which is testament to the
hard work and determination of
our Bash community.
We thank all of our Bash participants, who
while taking their fundraising seriously,
commit to this annual event with a high
emphasis on fun and entertainment!
12 Variety Tasmania Year in Review

The House of Hope 2
Commenced in 2009, challenging weather
saw the second House of Hope to raise
funds for Variety the Children’s Charity and
Cancer Council Tasmania’s Rachel & Jye
Fund charities delayed until completion in
early 2010.
Following the amazing success of the
first project in 2007, House of Hope 2 was
launched in April 2009, the initiative of four
Hobart business mates, Andrew Lyden,
Andrew Clifford, Craig Rogerson and Scott
Crawford.
The building and construction community
together with associated suppliers,
again lent a helping hand to support this
remarkable project.
We sincerely thank all our sponsors,
suppliers, tradesmen and individuals who
have contributed so generously to make
this dream a reality. The net result of
proceeds from sale of the house of $67,476
was received in early 2010.
part of Cancer Council Tasmania children’s cancer program, Cancer PLUS
Run the Bridge
Photograph:
Tourism Tasmania by
George Apostolidis
February 7, 2010 saw the inaugural B&E Hobart
Run the Bridge by event promotions t3 Events
in a watershed decision for the community of
Hobart and Tasmania, permission was granted
by the State Government and local councils
to allow a point to point fun run from Bellerive
Oval in the Clarence City Council region to
Salamanca in the Hobart City Council region.
Variety the Children’s Charity was honoured
to be chosen as the Charity of Choice for
this amazing event, and is looking forward to
many years of this outstanding partnership
opportunity.
The first year had 1200 participants for the
event, led off by Variety Ambassador David
Boon and David Foster and introduced a
10km fun run course that took in the iconic
areas of Hobart with the Tasman Bridge
being the focal point of the run.
So successful was the event in 2010 that
organisers t3 Events are confident of attracting
a field of some 2,500 participants in 2011 and
will add a 5km fun run, providing the Tasmanian
community with an opportunity to run on one
of Australia’ iconic fun run courses. Participants
are encouraged to build an online fundraising
page, raising money for Variety Tasmania as the
key charity partner to this unique event.
Variety Tasmania Year in Review 13

Thank you
Platinum Sponsor
Major Corporate & Event Supporters
Other Supporters
And Special Thanks to …
The Estate of the late James A Richards
And with particular thanks to
the supporters of our individual Tasbash
participants, the generous sponsors of
our raffles and promotions and
members of our community who
give so charitably
to Variety.
Hobart City Council Butler McIntyre and Butler Enormity Inc.
Tyres 4U B&E Personal Banking Cadbury
Kmart Oceana Health and Fitness CarePark
Aurora Tasmanian Community Fund Network Gaming
CPA Australia Barilla Holiday Park Lucid Photography
Theatre Royal Trust Craig Wellington Productions Woolworths
Monotone Printers Co-Op Toyota Holiday Inn Hotels
Motors Foundation
The long and extensive list of contributors to the House of Hope 2 project
14 Variety Tasmania Year in Review

Get involved
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but
most importantly you’ll put
a smile on a very special
child’s face.
Every week, Variety touches the lives of
Tasmanian children in need, helping them to live,
laugh and learn.
Our donors, members, volunteers and sponsors
are the ones who make this happen.
Without your support and generosity, none of this
would be possible.
It doesn’t take much to make a big difference.
Variety Tasmania Year in Review 15

Variety the Children’s Charity Tent 78 Tasmania Inc.
1/57 King Street, Sandy Bay Tas 7005 (PO Box 893, Sandy Bay Tas 7006)
Ph: 03 62231886 Fax: 03 62240333 Email: info@variety.tas.org.au Website: www.variety.org.au/tas