Ray White Toronto owner Paul Wrigley is spending this week driving in his 1966 Holden HR rally car around NSW on his fourth Variety Bush Bash to help raise money for sick children.
Mr Wrigley, who has owned Ray White Toronto/Wangi for more than 18 years, is one of those men who provides an iron clad service guarantee with everything he does in work and in life.
Mr Wrigley, pictured above on the right with his mate and co-driver also called Paul, says this cause was very important to him because all children deserved to have opportunities in life.
“My kids have a great life full of opportunities and I want to be able to make a difference to as many Aussie kids as I can,” said Mr Wrigley who set off yesterday in his 1966 Holden HR sedan on the week long rally from Newcastle to Glen Innes, Narrabri, Forbes, Griffith, Orange then Mudgee and back to Newcastle.
“The Bush Bash is all about the kids but we do get to drive around parts of NSW that we normally wouldn’t do or see so it is a win win for me. I get a week off work driving around the countryside raising money for disadvantaged or disabled kids! Why not hey?!”
Last year, the Variety Bush Bash raised more than $850,000 for local children who are sick, have a disability or experiencing financial hardship.
Mr Wrigley said donations go towards providing iPads/laptops to a remote school or towards sensory lighting to severely disabled kids throughout all parts of NSW.
“There’s sporting grants to disabled kids that have a passion or a talent in their chosen field. A wheelchair helped a disabled kid in Forster who had never been on the sand. They bought an air conditioner for a family who couldn’t afford one for their son has a heart condition where if the temperature of the house isn’t consistent he could die,” he said.
Other donations have bought a 22 seater bus for remote rural community schools so the teacher could drive the school kids to state sporting events where they wouldn’t be able to participate otherwise.
His rally car is basically ready each year as long as nothing breaks on it.
“The Bash route is designed to cover as many dirt tracks as we can so there are the odd parts that break along the way,” he said.
“I try and raise as much money as I can each year for the bash plus I do a few other events throughout the year.”
Over the last three years Mr Wrigley personally helped raise more than $50,000 for this charity.
“In fact last year I was trying to drive up the price at a Variety auction on an $8,000 boat – a tinnie – to help get it to reserve so someone could come in over the top of me and buy it but no-one bid so I ended up buying a boat I didn’t want!”
Paul Wrigley’s Bash Car
- 1966 HR Holden sedan
- 186 engine, modified to a 202
- Airbag rear suspension
- All wiring, brake lines and fuel lines have been run inside the car
- New dash with a push button start
- Racing seats and full roll cage
