Lord Howe Island residents and visitors raised more than $28,000 for the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and Australian Red Cross during a recent fundraiser.
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Local businesses donated $17,500 in prizes for a concert hosted by residents and featuring a number of local acts who performed on stage, cut hair and sold food.
Limited edition 'Money for a Mate' t-shirts, produced by local artist, were also sold as part of the event..
Lord Howe Island sits some 600 kilometres east from Port Macquarie. It is World Heritage listed for its natural beauty and endangered species and is considered a true slice of Australian paradise.
While separate enough from the mainland to not be at any risk of a bushfire, the residents of Lord Howe Island organised a fundraiser to support their local Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, who are seeing a heavy influx of injured Koalas in their wards, and Australian Red Cross.
The Money for a Mate concert featured local music acts, hair cuts, food stalls, face painting and a limited edition, locally designed t-shirt for sale.
The community spirit was strong and locals and tourist alike dug deep to support the course with over $28,000 raised.
Coordinator and local musician Lossy Thompson helped organise the $17,500 in prizes.
"This is not the first time our community has come together to support those in need and certainly won't be the last," she said.
"We all know someone who has been directly impacted by these fires and it\'s just great to be able to come together to help out in some way.
"It can be hard to imagine the extent of the devastation on the mainland, when you are on an idyllic piece of paradise 600 nautical miles off shore.
"However unprecedented smoke clouds have reached the island during this bush fire season. They have become a timely reminder of the intensity and severity of these devastating fires."
The Money for a Mate event was held on January 18 2020.
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