Naki Boys Roll Out Yellow Welcome to Help Kiwi Kids

Naki Boys Roll Out Yellow Welcome to Help Kiwi Kids

Taranaki gets behind Variety Trillian Bash

Nigel Williams knows a lot of soft-hearted Taranaki blokes. He runs the Naki Boys, a loose-knit group of Kiwi mates who run fund-raisers in aid of Variety – The Children’s Charity, and each year form a team to run the bright yellow Naki fire engine in the Variety Trillian Bash.

Touring the country raising funds and delivering grants “Seemed like a good cause at the start, and making a difference to underprivileged kids – and helping bring smiles to backblocks roads that may never usually see a parade, is just a bonus,” he says.

Team regular Barry Evans says his standout memory is of a presentation at Ngunguru school, and meeting a four-year-old boy who was blind. “He had motivational and activity requirements and Variety donated a trampoline. During the presentation I asked him what was wrong, and he said “My eyes are broke.” There are tear-jerk moments on every Bash, and that was definitely one.”

This year is likely to see more of those moments. The 25th anniversary Bash starts off in New Plymouth on March 7, with several grants in the local area, including a change table for a kindergarten in an economically-challenged suburb, and a tablet to help a teenager with Aspergers and kidney failure with communication and schoolwork.

Nigel says there’ll be some regulars along to help raise funds and hand out grants this year, “ Barry ‘Bazza’ Evans of course, John ‘Tools’ Connell and Mike Thompson, and others, this year’s team has clocked up a total of 106 years of Bashing in the fire tender between them.”

The 1961 TK Bedford sits atop a Nissan chassis and used to ‘Bash’ in Coca Cola colours, taking on its eyeball-searing yellow hue back in 2006, with the team in black and yellow overalls to suit. The tender doesn’t have working water tanks, and so doesn't take part in the regular Bash water fights – though the team are experts at handing goodies out to kids at the schools through which they pass, assisted by the plentiful storage aboard.

“We’ve got a staunch crew of sponsors too, all keen to give back to the community, Swire Shipping’s on board again along with Budget Rentals, Oilfields Engineering Services, TIL Freighting Ltd, Taranaki RV, and Automotive Service Professionals.”

“The Naki Boys truck has been fettled, and is ready to take the Naki brand of help and humour around the North Island from March 7.”

ENDS

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