With the devastation of the bushfires in Southeastern Australia fresh in everyone minds and hearts, people around the world are pitching in however they can to help those affected cope with the losses and help rebuild. While the masses are doing their part by lending their time, talent, and energy into the recovery, Philadelphia Hawk and expat Dan Milbourne is putting his own creative talent to work to join the effort.
Dan and the Australian / New Zealand Society of Philadelphia have joined together to help raise funds for the victims of the Victoria Bushfires. The vehicle for the fundraiser is a t-shirt, designed by Dan, with the proceeds going to the Australian Red Cross to help those who need it most.
Since coming to the Philadelphia six years ago, Dan, a local of Wodonga, Victoria, has spent his time away from his main design job creating t-shirts with Australian themes. The designs include characters and themes unique to his home, such as echidnas, Vegemite, and that down home Australian favorite, “Meat and Three Veg”. The designs were Dan’s way of bringing the memories of everything that he missed about Australia to his new home in the U.S. So naturally, when the appeal came out for help, he went right to work.
The principal character of the shirt is an emu. The emu represents the Australians’ perseverance – standing tall in the face of adversity. The colors, navy and white, are the state colors of Victoria. Underneath the design are the words, “Bringing Australians Together”, which is the heart of the undertaking.
The shirt sells for $15 plus shipping, and the proceeds will go straight to the Australian Red Cross. For information on how you can get your Bushfire Appeal t-shirt and do your part to help, visit www.danmilbourne.com.
