With the shock of Saturday’s
bush fires still resonating across the country, this morning I was overwhelmed
by the generous spirit of Australians. In nearly 36 hours Australians have
opened their (cash strapped) wallets and purses to donate over $20 $49 million
dollars to the Red Cross Victorian Bush Fire Appeal. With 5000+ Victorians now
homeless and living in tents, community halls and cars, citizens of blogsphere
I ask you to dig deep and help US rebuild.
Australia is a big space
with a (relatively) small population so it was only a matter of time that one
of our own would be directly affected. Melbourne based blogger, Trish, of ‘Trish
Hunter Finds’ grew up in Marysville (one of area's the media are calling ‘Ground Zero’)
and still has family living in the town. Like so many families in Marysville,
Trish’s family lost their family home on Saturday while her father bravely
battled the fires as a Volunteer Fire Fighter. But in her darkest hour Trish
has opened up and POSTED a heart wrenching account of her loss.
The Despotic Queen’s good
friend, colonic partner and honorary Aussie, Jill, of Trend de la Crème has
lead the charge of international Style Bloggers spreading the word and helping
us call for donations. Like I said yesterday, even if you could spare $5 then
please donate it to the Red Cross Victorian Bush Fire Appeal.
WARNING – This post contains
unsafe levels of toxic goodwill and community spirit.
Yesterday while lounging
poolside I received an email from a friend of the Despotic Queen, Dane.
Attached was a press release regarding Australian canvas / plimsoll brand Gideon
and their charity work with the Ted Noffs Foundation. I thought, so what,
Imelda does (over) charities all the time. Then I remembered that the late Rev
Ted Noffs is considered to be one of Australia’s greatest humanitarians and
pioneered a number of the most important drug and alcohol related initiatives
for young people, including co-founding Lifeline and the Aboriginal Affairs
Foundation. And it got me thinking if I post about this then not only would it
relieve my conscience but perhaps the late Rev could have a few words with the
little baby Jesus in his Christmas crib and maybe, just maybe, next Christmas
I’ll get that Indian Call Centre I asked for.
Not overly familiar with
Australian canvas brand GideonI took a looksee at their website and was horrified to discover that Gideon are
upsetting the apple cart by openly publishing an ‘Ethical Manufactory’ policy.
Unlike most companies, Gideon weren’t just playing cool, the brand had
conducted a comprehensive ‘Ethical Audit’ of the factory and it’s work
practices. Yum Yum, would you pass Imelda her smelling salts!
Then in a shock bigger than
when I was told by Producers I was too old to audition for Philippines Idol, I
read, “NO USE OF CHILD LABOUR WHATSOEVER”, forget the smelling salts, fire up
the defibrillator.
Heart stopping shocks aside,
the collection isn’t huge but it I did find a laceless two tone number called
‘sparrow’ that would look mighty sharp with THIS OUTFIT.
Considering how diametrically
opposed we are on issues like ‘quality management’ and ‘working conditions’, I
figure after this post not only will I get that Call Centre but there’s a gulag
in North Korea that has my name written all over it!
So here’s the skinny - the
brand has teamed with Matt and Rupert Noffs (of the Ted Noffs foundation) to create
an exclusive collection of canvas plimsolls for Australian retailer General
Pants. For every pair sold Gideon will donate $5 of the $39.95 to the HipHoperations
Desert Project, which would be about one fifth of Gideon’s profit margin, and
in the current economic climate a mighty big (albeit tax deductible) chunk of
business.
The HipHoperations Desert
Project runs hip hop workshops for young Indigenous people in remote parts of
Australia and has been operating for four years. Facilitated by Matt and Rupert
Noffs and a dedicated team, the project has nurtured communities by working
with over 1000 young people from the Great Sandy Desert, Torres Strait Island,
Palm Island and Central Australia. With the assistance of the Gideon donations,
HipHoperations continues to roll out its community projects around Australia by
recording hip hop music and producing film clips with disadvantaged youth.
Before you ask, yes Imelda
has offered to breakdown her deadly Krumping moves in any future clips. With my
good deed for the year done, let the karma roll on in.
Lording over the minions really puts ones trotters through their paces, so in the privacy of my palace even a former First Lady needs style and comfort. But comfort for comfort’s sake is a no, no - but for charity it’s acceptable...JUST!
In support of Breast Cancer Research our friends at Maseur have launched a limited edition version of the iconic comfort sandal, and have called it Gentle Pink.
Whilst we don’t actively endorse comfort, Imelda thinks the Maseur initiative should be both applauded and supported. Hopefully we’ll start to see other footwear brands step into line and launch similar projects.
At $38.95 they’re the perfect Christmas present for Aunty (and her bunions), good karma and a tax deduction.
Available in selected Pharmacies nationally for a limited time only. For your nearest stockist call 02 9997 0355
