Peter Cochrane’s extraordinary commitment, contribution and service to Variety has been recognised with him being awarded the Catherine Variety Sheridan Award.
Peter has been a constant and passionate supporter of Variety SA for the past 29 years. In a completely voluntary capacity he has empowered and motivated hundreds of individuals to raise funds for sick, disadvantaged and special needs children, leading by example.
Peter’s involvement first began in 1989 as a fundraising entrant in the Variety Bash. After 4 years as a Basher, he took on the role of Variety Bash Chairman – a role that continued for an unprecedented six years. Over this time, Peter motivated and guided the Bash entrants in raising the enormous amount of $5.2 million dollars net and to date the event has raised over $40m.
In 1993 Peter joined the Board of Variety and remains a member 25 years later. In that same year he also took on the Chairmanship of a new event, the Variety 4WD Challenge, an event that continues to this day engaging a new audience and generating over $500k annually.
The role of a motoring event Chair involves great commitment and the donation of hundreds of hours of time and significant personal resources. A key part of the role is to survey and reconnoitre the entire route, negotiating with the many private property owners in the outback to facilitate access for participating vehicles, support teams and the media, as well as gaining their support to the participants. Route planning also entails organising extensive logistic infrastructure such as catering and accommodation facilities along the track for up to 350 participants.
Over all these years Peter has made substantial personal financial donations, and through his business, Peter Cochrane Transport he has been a constant corporate sponsor and has donated the use of his vehicles. Cochrane’s trucks are still an integral part of the success of the Bash today transporting 300+ swags, tyres and spare parts for the entrants and their vehicles.
Peter continued with his work for SA's children in need and in 2002 and 2003 took on the roles of Variety SA Vice-Chairman and Corporate Membership Chairman.
This led to Peter taking the reins as Variety Board Chairman from 2003 to 2005.
Peter was instrumental in the building of Variety’s new South Australian office and warehouse facilities in 2004, organizing building materials and volunteer labour, and he continues to contribute financially to this building, twelve years on.
For Peter, 2005 was the most difficult year of his life as he lost his beloved wife Christine to cancer. It only goes to show the great strength and humility of this man's character that he should continue with his Variety commitments during this terrible time.
Peter continues as a Board member of Variety SA and serves on Variety’s Grants committee specialising in sunshine coach and vehicle placement. Peter visits homes and interviews families to evaluate each case, spending hours with each family to fully understand their requirements and makes recommendations back to the Variety Board.
Peter manages the purchasing of vehicles and oversees their transformation into Sunshine Coaches and wheelchair accessible vehicles that are provided to families and schools. Most of the mechanical and bodywork is carried out at Peter’s own personal cost.
In the past three years alone, Variety SA has donated 15 Sunshine Coaches and over 100 family cars were purchased and transformed to give wheelchair access. Peter was at the helm of all these projects.
In 1996 Peter received a Presidential Citation from Variety International and was made a life member of Tent 75 in 2007. He will attend his 27th Bash this year and his 12th 4wd Challenge.
During his 29 years volunteering for Variety he has not only encouraged and empowered other volunteers to give of their best for sick, disadvantaged and special needs children but has also empowered many thousands of children with special needs to be the best they can be.
Beyond Peter’s incredible contribution to Variety he holds another close to his heart. Operation Flinders provides opportunities and support for young men and women who have either breached the law, or who are at risk of doing so. Through engaging in demanding outdoor challenges, Operation Flinders seeks to help them develop their personal attitudes and attributes whilst learning the importance of self-esteem, motivation, teamwork and responsibility. In this way, the organisation hopes to assist them in growing into valued members of the community.
Peter has provided great service to this charity, and has demonstrated great passion for it, serving the Operation Flinders Board for a number of years. Acting in the belief that young people possess the ability to overcome great adversity given the appropriate opportunity, guidance and support, he has again donated his time and resources to ensure the ongoing success of this charity. In addition to the provision of his transport companies vehicles, labour, fuel and facilities, he has also sourced and donated a significant amount of the camping, heating and catering equipment that enable the programs conducted in the Flinders Ranges.
Peter has been a leading driver of major fundraisers in the outback including the Year of the Outback Ball, the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive and The Back of Beyond at Marree for the direct benefit of the Marree Hospital and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
He does not seek any recognition for his achievements and is very discreet in his personal donations, which total well over $3 million.
Beyond his financial commitment Peter Cochrane is authentic. His drive, energy and enthusiasm to do the job, any job, are legendary. He is at home sitting atop the ladder on the bag truck passing out swags or meeting families in their homes to assess their needs.
Peter epitomises the spirit of the Catherine Variety Sheridan Award and is certainly a very deserving recipient, having made a significant, devoted contribution to enhance the lives of tens of thousands of children over three decades.
