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Christmas Comes Early for Newcastle Families
Variety Star Shape

Christmas came early for more than 1000 children, their families and their carers as they made their way through our 2nd Xmas Toy Drive-Thru in Newcastle.

Over 400 cars took part in the special event which offered a chance for everyone to experience the magic of the festive season – without leaving their vehicle.

The excited kids arrived with windows down to take in the spectacle of roving characters, Newcastle Knights players and cheerleaders, Bash cars and postie bikes before receiving a wave from Santa and Mrs Claus and a free Xmas gift from Variety.

Our Christmas parties for kids who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with a disability are a Variety tradition and one of our favourite events of the year.

Check out the event highlights here:

While our Newcastle parties usually take place inside McDonald Jones Stadium, the Drive-Thru event was introduced due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 to ensure kids in need did not miss out at Christmas time.

It was wonderful to share the joy with local families and great to be able to give back to the Newcastle community who have a long history of supporting Variety events, programs and fundraising initiatives.

We are grateful for the support of our volunteers who helped bring the event to life and for the generosity of our event sponsor, The Wests Group, as well as McDonald Jones Stadium and local Woolworths stores who supplied goodie bags to giveaway.

Variety has been working with The Wests Group for more than 20 years and our valuable partnership enables Variety to provide a continuity of care and support for kids and families in the Hunter region.

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Applications Open for Variety Heart Scholarships

Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT is calling on families to apply for a 2026 Variety Heart Scholarship, offering life-changing support for young people living with disabilities, chronic illness or financial hardship.   The scholarship provides practical, financial assistance to help children aged 8 – 18 years reach their full potential in sport, music and the creative arts, removing barriers and creating opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach.   Whether its funding for specialist equipment, competitions or training programs, the scholarship is designed to empower children to pursue their passions, build their talent and participate fully in their chosen field.  Variety NSW/ACT CEO, Tony Warner, said the program continues to deliver meaningful, long-term impact for families doing it tough.  “Every child deserves the chance to follow their dreams and feel included, regardless of circumstances,” he said.  “The Variety Heart Scholarship is about recognising potential and providing the support needed to help children thrive – on the field, on the stage, and beyond.”  Over the past decade, more than 500 scholarships have been granted with receipients including:  Parents, carers and guardians of eligible children are encouraged to apply now with applications open until Thursday 21 May at 4pm – visit https://nsw.variety.org.au/variety-heart-scholarships/.   Variety Heart Scholarships are made possible by presenting partner, the Grahame Mapp Family Foundation, in honour of the late Gillian Mapp. 

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