More than 50 bikies will be dashing to Tamworth in November, as the Variety Postie Dash gives a nod to the New England.
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While the Variety Bash has been running for more than 30 years, the Postie Dash will be celebrating its fifth birthday in Tamworth – the first time either have started or finished anywhere other than Newcastle.
Variety regional motoring events manager Victor Shiel said that moving the start and finish to Tamworth made sense for a variety of reasons, the main one being the large support base in the New England region.
“We get a lot of support out of the region, so we thought we would put it back to where the support is,” he said.
“We have also exhausted a lot of the loops and routes in and around Newcastle and wanted to keep making it a new and different adventure each year.”
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Last year Tamworth provided a team of six riders, the Tamworth Postie Dogs, who raised more than $26,000 between them.
This year the wolfpack has grown to 15 dogs doing the miles for smiles with big bushy tails under Top Dog, Peter Brazel, according to fellow canine crusader Dave Doherty.
“Over the four years it has run there has been an overwhelming response from participants and sponsors from the New England, so it is great to have it starting and finishing in Tamworth where that support is this year,” Mr Doherty said.
“Ideally we need riders on back roads, so coming to Tamworth opens up a haven of new roads and routes.
“Once again the Postie Dogs will be doing the miles for smiles with our big bushy tails.”
The seven-day trip will see the gang of do-gooders crossing the range twice on the Honda CT110 hogs, leaving from Peel Street on November 4, and heading to Bundarra, Glen Innes, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Taree and Walcha, with plenty of other stops in between.
Every year the team stops at small schools along the way, taking their cheque books to grant the schools funds, equipment or services that will help disadvantaged children.
Last year they chipped in $3000 for a dedicated sensory room at Attunga Public, among other donations, while the schools also make money out of providing food, and sometimes accommodation, as well.
“We are hoping to have about $20,000 for schools on the trip this year, and aiming for an overall fundraising target of $160,000, which will help kids all over NSW and the ACT,” Mr Shiel said.