Bushnud
09-11-2009, 12:12 AM
Stripping off to save town
Article from: The Courier-Mail, Queensland, Australia
Leanne Edmistone
September 10, 2009 12:01pm
SICK of rattling tins and holding raffles, the people of Muttaburra have bared all and posed for a calendar to help their struggling township.
Local residents have posed naked for a calendar in a ``discreet'' tribute to their town, its dinosaur and their outback spirit to raise money for ambulance equipment and the local school.
In recent months, the tiny town of 100 people in the centre of Queensland has been hard hit by the Russian decision to cease kangaroo meat importation, floods, agricultural market downturn and the loss of their only shop to fire - meaning no fuel and no groceries.
The town _ 124km north of Longreach, 85km west of Aramac and 220km south of Hughenden _ is famous for the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni _ a large four-legged herbivore, discovered by local Doug Langdon in 1963.
Residents' resilience in the face of adversity earned them this year's Australia Post Bush Spirit Award, as part of the Ergon Energy Tidy Towns awards scheme.
Community Development Association secretary Kerry Robinson said locals had long aog learnt to be resourceful and imaginative to raise funds for much-needed equipment _ in this case a $26,500 defibrillator and the school. Donations have already raised $6200 towards the defibrillator.
Mrs Robinson, who shared photography duties with husband Robbo, said it was not hard to convince locals to take part - particularly the blokes.
``A lot of our fundraising has been based on whatever event is coming up, so we wanted to do something a bit different and get our town out there,'' she said.
Mr Langdon and his wife Pearl posed naked with their dinosaur, while the local firies, school swimming mums, campdrafters, race club members and longtime annual tourists posed with a variety of props and complimented by a humorous caption.
Mrs Robinson said the calendars have been well received, selling 200 of the 500 printed in the first month _ with orders coming as far away as Townsville and Brisbane.
The $20 calendar (plus $2 postage) is available online at http://www.muttaburra.com or by calling Mrs Robinson on (07) 4658 7107 or (07) 4658 7191.
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CALENDAR ... the people of Muttaburra have bared all to help their struggling township.
Article from: The Courier-Mail, Queensland, Australia
Leanne Edmistone
September 10, 2009 12:01pm
SICK of rattling tins and holding raffles, the people of Muttaburra have bared all and posed for a calendar to help their struggling township.
Local residents have posed naked for a calendar in a ``discreet'' tribute to their town, its dinosaur and their outback spirit to raise money for ambulance equipment and the local school.
In recent months, the tiny town of 100 people in the centre of Queensland has been hard hit by the Russian decision to cease kangaroo meat importation, floods, agricultural market downturn and the loss of their only shop to fire - meaning no fuel and no groceries.
The town _ 124km north of Longreach, 85km west of Aramac and 220km south of Hughenden _ is famous for the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni _ a large four-legged herbivore, discovered by local Doug Langdon in 1963.
Residents' resilience in the face of adversity earned them this year's Australia Post Bush Spirit Award, as part of the Ergon Energy Tidy Towns awards scheme.
Community Development Association secretary Kerry Robinson said locals had long aog learnt to be resourceful and imaginative to raise funds for much-needed equipment _ in this case a $26,500 defibrillator and the school. Donations have already raised $6200 towards the defibrillator.
Mrs Robinson, who shared photography duties with husband Robbo, said it was not hard to convince locals to take part - particularly the blokes.
``A lot of our fundraising has been based on whatever event is coming up, so we wanted to do something a bit different and get our town out there,'' she said.
Mr Langdon and his wife Pearl posed naked with their dinosaur, while the local firies, school swimming mums, campdrafters, race club members and longtime annual tourists posed with a variety of props and complimented by a humorous caption.
Mrs Robinson said the calendars have been well received, selling 200 of the 500 printed in the first month _ with orders coming as far away as Townsville and Brisbane.
The $20 calendar (plus $2 postage) is available online at http://www.muttaburra.com or by calling Mrs Robinson on (07) 4658 7107 or (07) 4658 7191.
.
CALENDAR ... the people of Muttaburra have bared all to help their struggling township.