Jet Trek High Flyers & Ring Leaders

Hi Trekkers, Thank YOU for all the hard work you are putting into your fundraising, which means Variety can help many more Aussie kids in need! If you haven t already, make sure you have set up your fundraising page and if you are not sure how, contact us and we can walk you through it. This is one of the most effective ways for you to reach out to your network. Included in this newsletter you ll find all the latest information on our event plans & developments (including the much-discussed start line!), provisions levy details and inclusions, EPIRB Hire information, details on some planned lay day fun and much, much more. As always, if you have any queries at all, please don t hesitate to contact the Variety Queensland team on 07 3907 9300 or via info@varietyqld.org.au. The Variety Queensland Team

Scarlett is 10 years old, and she has autism spectrum disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects, among other things, the way an individual relates to his or her environment and their interaction with other people. The main areas of difficulty for Scarlett can be in social communication and social interaction which means when she is finding a situation or day difficult she can become non-verbal. Thanks to you and our many wonderful supporters like you, Variety was able to present Scarlett with a new laptop which will enable her to access apps to connect with peers who have similar challenges and also to communicate with her parents or teachers when she does become non-verbal. Scarlett is one of four children, three of whom have autism along with their father who was recently diagnosed with autism as an adult. Mum, Jessica wanted to pass on a very emotional THANK YOU for all you do, not just impacting her family but many others who are forever grateful for your support. For regular updates on how your fundraising dollars are helping children who are sick disadvantaged or who have special needs, be sure to Like Variety the Children s Charity of Queensland on Facebook www.facebook.com/varietyqld

Jet Trek High Flyers & Ring Leaders You should have by now heard all about our new fundraising recognition program! The Yamaha Variety Jet Trek High Flyers The Jet Trek High Flyers Club is made up of Trekkers who, when given a goal, will blow right past it. It s not about the minimum wit h them. They are the Jet Trek s highest performing fundraisers who have shown ext raordinary commitment to raising as much as possible to help Aussie kids in nee d. The Jet Trek High Flyers Club is about giving back to these determined fundraisers in a big way and giving them the recognition they deserve. Ho w to Get The High Flyers Treatment When you commit to going above and bey ond in your fundraising, you ll receive some incredible perks including features on our website and Facebook page, as wel as really cool recognition on the Jet Trek. The Yamaha Variety Jet Trek Ringleaders Th e Variety Jet Trek Ringleaders are the dedicated and committed Trekkers who participate year after year. It takes a special person to give up a week every year not to mention all the time spent fun draising and preparing for the Jet Trek year after year, so that more Aussie kids get the help they need. We want to give the Jet Trek Ringleaders the recognition they deserve. These amazing individuals are the backbone of the Jet Trek family and their experience helps the Jet Trek run smoothly each year. How to Get The Ringleaders Treatment When you start to become a regular fixture on the Jet Trek, yo u ll receive some incredible perks. Rin gleaders Levels & Perks 5 Jet Trek events in a row Receive a special 5 year cap 10 of more Jet Trek events You ll be admitted to the Jet Trek Legends and receive your Legends shirt 15 or more Jet Trek events Receive a Jet Trek sports bag 20 or more Jet Trek events Receive an exclusive Jet Trek jacket Any questions? Please contact us and we ll help you get to the next level! The best way is to make sure you have your fundraising page set up, you can get started here: https://everydayhero.com.au/event/2018varietyjettrek Or contact us and we can set it up for you over the phone, call 07 3907 9300.

We ve heard many different rumours regarding the official start ramp for next year so we re pleased to now be able to put those rumours to bed and confirm: The 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek will start out of Sydney s Hawkesbury River However, as a result of Roads & Maritime Services generous support of our event, 15 lucky Jet Trekkers will have the opportunity to start the 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek out of Sydney Harbour* *Exact ramp location pending final Sydney Harbour operational schedules and approvals. In fairness to all entrants we won t be choosing or allocating these places, it will be a random lucky draw and it s up to you to ensure you have the best chance to be one of the lucky riders! To enter the draw all you need to do is continue fundraising and raising as much as possible for the kids! For every $100 raised above your minimum $2,500 fundraising you will receive one (1) entry into the draw. There is no limit on the number of entries each participant can receive and entries will be calculated based on funds deposited/received up to and including Friday 9 th March 2018.

The 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek will kick off in Sydney with Registration & Scrutineering on Sunday 18 th March 2018. Below is a list of exact times and locations to ensure you know where you need to be and that you re all ready to go! New to the Jet Trek? This one s for you! The Virgin s briefing is the perfect opportunity for you to meet the Variety Team and our fantastic Volunteer Officials, hear all the must know information and ask any questions you may have prior to hitting the water on Monday. Sunday 18 th March 9:00am sharp The Heritage Room Novotel Norwest All riders AND road crew must attend Event Registration. All Jet Trek participants and officials will need to attend preevent Registration to sign in, have a Variety team member sight your ID documents, finalise any outstanding accounts and collect your Yamaha Variety Jet Trek Merchandise Pack. Sunday 18 th March 10:00am 2:00pm The Heritage Room Novotel Norwest All PWC must be scrutineered to be able to take part in the Yamaha Variety Jet Trek Participants will need to attend registration before coming to scrutineering to ensure all decal kits have been collected and applied to their vessel and vehicles prior to meeting with our event scrutineers. Sunday 18 th March 10:00am 2:00pm Novotel Norwest Car Park *Look for the Variety marquee* With everyone registered and all PWC scrutineered we ll pack up at Novotel and board Murray s Coaches with Darling Harbour in our sights. Once we arrive, we ll set off on our private charter vessel for the pre-event welcome dinner as we cruise Sydney Harbour at sunset. Important note: final numbers will be given to caterers two weeks prior to the event. If we do not have a Crew Form for you or any member of your team and we are not aware you re attending we will be unable to guarantee you a place on the vessel. Unfortunately, last minute additional guests arriving at Rego & Scrutineering will not be able to attend the pre-event function. To complete your Crew Form go to: www.variety.org.au/qld/events/jet-trek-crew-form/

The provisions levy for the 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek has now been set and is due and payable prior to Friday 23 rd February 2018. ADULT - $795pp CHILD (3-12yrs) - $525pp If paid after Friday 12 th January 2018 The provisions levy covers the following inclusions: Pre-event welcome dinner & Sydney Harbour Cruise (Sunday 18 th March) Lunch & dinner daily (with exception of the lay day on Thursday 22 nd March) Entertainment throughout the event Security monitored trailer parking in Newcastle, Tuncurry, Port Macquarie & Coffs Harbour Coach transfers from Novotel Norwest to Darling Harbour and return Coach transfers from accommodation to evening function in Coffs Harbour Celebratory finish line drinks by the pool in Yamba Ticket to the final night gala dinner in Yamba consisting of a 3-course meal and 5 hour beverage package including beer, wine, soft drink and basic spirits. Official Jet Trek merchandise pack EARLY BIRD PRICE OPTION Adult $755pp ~ Child $500pp if paid before 12 th January 2018 Further details & payment options Children strictly 3-12years. Participants 13 years and over fall under the adult levy. Children 2 and under are free of charge. Parents will be asked to pre-select children s meals prior to the start of the event. These menu selections will be unable to be changed on the day of the function. All provisions levy payments must be finalised before Friday 23 rd February 2018 Payment can be made in full in one transaction or via weekly, fortnightly or monthly payment options (contact the finance team in the Variety office on 07 3907 9300 to set up a regular provisions levy payment) To pay your provisions levy simply fill in the form at the end of this newsletter and forward it to the finance team at the Variety office by email finance@varietyqld.org.au or phone the office on 07 3907 9300 to pay via credit card over the phone.

When you completed your Jet Trek Entry Form & Registration, you will have noticed some key fundraising dates. Due to the high demand for places on the 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek, a cap on numbers and our current waiting list, these fundraising deadlines are extremely important. In fairness to all Variety Jet Trek entrants and supporters, if you haven t met your fundraising targets by the due dates we will be in contact with you to discuss allocating your place to another participant who is patiently waiting on our waiting list. Unfortunately, we will be unable to hold places for those who have not met the fundraising deadlines as set out in the Entry Form. As a reminder, the fundraising instalment dates are as follows: $750 donation/fundraising on or before 29 th September 2017 An additional $750 donation/fundraising on or before 17 th Nov 2017 An additional $1,000 donation/fundraising on or before 2 nd Feb 2018 If you need assistance with your fundraising or have any queries please don t hesitate to contact the Variety office on 07 3907 9300. **REGO & SCRUTINEERING Sunday 18 th March 2018 Sydney** DAY 1 Monday 19 th March Newcastle DAY 2 Tuesday 20 th March Tuncurry DAY 3 Wednesday 21 st March Port Macquarie DAY 4 Thursday 22 nd March Port Macquarie (Lay Day) DAY 5 Friday 23 rd March Coffs Harbour DAY 6 Saturday 24 th March Yamba

EPIRB HIRE You will have noticed in the scrutineering information; all riders are required to have both a PLB and an EPIRB device to pass scrutineering and take part in the Yamaha Variety Jet Trek. For those who don t own these units, they are available for hire from our friends at EPIRBHire.com.au as per the details below: EPIRB units - $78 (includes pre-paid return postage satchel) PLB units - $59 (includes pre-paid return postage satchel) All hire units will be delivered to Variety Queensland for distribution at Registration & Scrutineering on Sunday 18 th March. The return of all hire units is the responsibility of the individual hirer and Variety recommends EPIRBHire.com.au s return postage satchel option. To book your hire unit contact EPIRBHire.com.au directly on 02 4997 8183 or email info@epirbhire.com.au The Lay Day is designed for participants to have an opportunity to do as much, or as little, as they like. Perhaps the idea of a sleep in, a late breakfast and a day by the pool takes your fancy? Maybe you ve got three loads of washing that you d like to get sorted? Or you could be looking for some fun and a bit of an adventure? The lay day is your opportunity to do whatever you please, there s no official event plans, no scheduled lunch stops or dinner functions you re free to do as you please. In saying all that it wouldn t be a Variety event, in particular a Yamaha Variety Jet Trek, without some crazy fun and antics and a good laugh with great mates if this sounds like you, read on! Long term Variety supporter and Jet Trek participant Matt Brown (more affectionately known as Browny) will be organising some unofficial lay day activities. We could call it Olympics, but there s no specific fitness level required. We could call it a pub crawl but there s not necessarily pubs involved. What we can tell you is if wrestling in sumo suits, taping your team mates to a wall, or competing with fellow Trekkers in a trailer reversing competition sounds like your cup of tea then keep an eye out for further information and the online registration link. Note: cups of tea purely optional.

Our first official Jet Trek function will be our pre-event Welcome Dinner on Sunday 18 th March. We won t be kicking off our theme nights tonight though. Dress code is smart casual but we will be heading off-site on a bus or two and out in the elements so be sure to pack a jacket! Is it your first Jet Trek, your 20 th Jet Trek or somewhere in between? Night One is our chance to sort out the oldies from the newies with everyone in their Oldest Jet Trek Shirt. It s also a great opportunity for Virgin Trekkers to see who s been around for a while and ask any questions! Night Two and time to show off your true Variety colours it s Black, Red & White night! The night before the lay day a time to chill out and relax after a big few days on the water. There ll be no theme night tonight but don t forget your dancing shoes as we ll have a great local band for you to dance the night away. Tonight s function will be at the Coffs Harbour Racing Club so it s only fitting we have our very own Fashions On The Field! Perhaps it s your best Jockey outfit, or your very own handmade fascinator whatever takes your fancy! There ll be Prizes for best dressed and most creative! It s the night of nights, our last hurrah after a fabulous week on the water. Night six we ll party the night away at our final night Gala Celebrations. Dress: Formal

Following on from the last few newsletters, we d like to introduce you to some other friendly faces you ll see on the 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek some more of the Variety Team and some of our dedicated Volunteers. Although our team allocations are not finalised until much closer to the event, we ve included some of our On-Water Officials. We hope, for those new to the Jet Trek, this will make it easy to find some familiar faces when you get to Rego & Scrutineering in Sydney. Steve, or Wakkers as he s more affectionately known, has been around Variety as a fundraiser and even Board Member for many, many years and officially joined the team as Chief Executive Officer in 2016. Steve is an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to fundraising and Variety Queensland so be sure to introduce yourself and don t hesitate to ask any questions you may have! Meet Bec! You might see Bec s name pop up in your inbox as the 2018 Jet Trek gets a little closer. Bec is the central point of contact for all things Media & Public Relations and will be your best chance at any sort of stardom during the event. Bec joined the Variety team as Marketing & Communications Officer in 2016 and is looking forward to her first Yamaha Variety Jet Trek! Meet Sam, AKA Sergei. With many years events experience, Sam joined the Variety team as Operations Coordinator in 2016 and many of you will have met him on the 2017 Jet Trek. You won t see a great deal of Sam throughout the day as he often travels ahead to ensure everything is set and ready to go for our evening functions. Of a night you ll find him overseeing all things audio & visual, make sure you say g day! Want to find someone who knows almost all there is to know about the Jet Trek? Find these two! Paul (PoGo) and Peter (Turtle) have been supporting Variety through their involvement in the Yamaha Variety Jet Trek since its inception that s right, they ve done every Variety Jet Trek ever held. During the event you ll find them on the water as On-water Officials for Team Red.

All Personal Watercraft will be Scrutineered prior to the start of the 2018 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek to ensure compliance with the minimum Scrutineering Requirements. Below is the full list of safety equipment you ll need to ensure you re ready to go! PWC REQUIREMENTS PWC is a 2010 model or newer and of the sit down style PWC is in a seaworthy condition Participants hold a current and valid PWC licence PWC is covered by Third Party Public Liability & Property Damage as a minimum level of insurance All appropriate event decals (supplied by Variety) applied as per the scrutineering instructions MINIMUM SAFETY GEAR V Sheet EPIRB (these are available for hire through EPIRBHire.com.au if you d prefer not to purchase one) PLB (these are available for hire through EPIRBHire.com.au if you d prefer not to purchase one) Flares (2 red and 2 orange, hand held, smoke flares) CHECK EXPIRY DATES! Signalling device (mirror or similar) Personal Floatation Device (PFD) Type 2 Sufficient anchor with at least 27 metres of rope (this rope can double as your tow rope) Tow rope at least 17 metres long One fixed or portable compass Minimum 2 x 600ml bottles of drinking water Cyalume Snaplight Stick (these will be provided by Variety at Scrutineering) FURTHER RECOMMENDED GEAR Helmet Wetsuit Floating sunglasses and sunscreen Waterproof tool kit with spare parts (including spare plugs) Waterproof first aid kit GPS device Mobile telephone in waterproof case VHF Marine Radio ROAD CREW VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS UHF Radio Enough jerry cans to refuel your PWC and on-board jerry cans back to capacity All appropriate events decals (supplied by Variety) applied as per the scrutineering instructions Please note: Personal Watercraft with modified exhaust systems are not permitted on the Variety Jet Trek event.

2018 YAMAHA VARIETY JET TREK PROVISIONS LEVY PAYMENT FORM PAYEE DETAILS First Name: Surname: Jet Trek Entry #: Postal Address: Suburb/Town: State: Postcode: Contact Number: Email: 2018 YAMAHA VARIETY JET TREK PROVISIONS LEVY INCLUSIONS - Pre-event welcome dinner & Sydney Harbour Cruise (Sunday 18 th March) - Lunch & dinner daily (with exception of the lay day on Thursday 22 nd March) - Entertainment throughout the event - Security monitored trailer parking in Newcastle, Tuncurry, Port Macquarie & Coffs Harbour - Coach transfers from Novotel Norwest to Darling Harbour - Coach transfers from accommodation venue to evening function in Coffs Harbour - Celebratory finish line drinks by the pool in Yamba - Ticket to the final night gala dinner in Yamba consisting of a 3 course meal and 5 hour beverage package including beer, wine, soft drink & basic spirits - Jet Trek official merchandise pack 2018 YAMAHA VARIETY JET TREK PROVISIONS LEVY PAYMENT OPTIONS By completing this form, I acknowledge I have read and understand the list of provisions levy inclusions for the 2017 Variety Bash and wish to make payment for the below listed participant(s) Provisions Levy(s): Name: Name: Name: Name: Early Bird Levy (if paid in full by January 12 th, 2018): Adults $755, Kids $500 x Adult EB Levy $755 = $ x Child EB Levy $500 = $ Provisions levy (if paid after January 12 th, 2018): Adults $795, Kids $525 x Adult Levy $795 = $ x Child Levy $525 = $ NOTE: Provisions levy payment plan options are available. Please contact Variety Queensland to discuss weekly/fortnightly/monthly payment plan options. CREDIT CARD DETAILS Credit Card Type: Expiry Date: Credit Card Number: Card Holder Name: Signature: Date: Please forward your completed form to: Variety Queensland Inc. Unit 1, 5 Ashtan Place, BANYO QLD 4014 Email: info@varietyqld.org.au or Fax: 07 3907 9399