PERHAPS it was the colourful costumes or the musical soundtrack to the procession of cars, but Leslie Park resembled a scene from a cartoon on Saturday morning.

About 400 Variety Bash participants, in a fleet of 153 cars, converged on Warwick’s CBD as part of this year’s trek from Hervey Bay to Gympie.

The nine-day trip will see them travel west to Miles, stopping along the way at towns like Goondiwindi, Lightning Ridge and Nindi Gully, before finishing in Gympie for the Music Muster. But before they left Warwick, the group made an important donation.

A temporary Liberty Swing – a special swing designed to hold children in wheelchairs – was unveiled at the playground.

A permanent swing will be installed when the Southern Downs Regional Council revamps the playground later this year.

The Liberty Swing was the result of fundraising by a number of clubs and organisations, including both Rotary Clubs, Apex, Variety Bashers and council.

The Glennie Heights Scout Group and Apex were also beneficiaries from the fundraising, and will acquire a shed, to be built by members of Apex.

Variety director Rob Goodwin said donations such as these were an important facet of each tour.

“What’s so special about these tours is we get to stop at communities and schools to do presentations of equipment,” he said.

“That way the Bashers get to see where their money goes.”

Organisers are hoping this year’s Bash will raise $1.2 million. Much of this will come from the participants themselves, who each raise a minimum of $7500.