LEAD BY EXAMPLE
As devastating fires sweep across the nation, I wanted to mark a record of the good that has come from the unthinkably bad. Group together a posse of women who are leading by example.
Australians are a unique breed that epitomise the slogan “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Some of the nation’s, and even world’s toughest, most fearless female leaders have rallied their troops to create a snowball of good deed in the form of donations. Plain, honest help, both financial and goodwill, pledged to our trusted bodies in support of all fire victims - human and furry.
Personally, I can’t go passed helping the animals for they have no choices. The horrifying images of burned furry friends have chilled me to the core.
But these kind, generous, unstoppable #bossbabes are using their social media platform for good.
For awareness.
For action.
For change.
And so I wanted to set the bar high, for leading by example is the only way. May we emulate their bold determination, grit and admirable patriotism long after the fires have been replaced in the news. That day can’t come soon enough.
Margot Robbie took to Instagram TV this morning to share unusually candid photos from her childhood on a farm in rural Australia, urging people to donate however they can to help save our beautiful country.
Nicole Kidman has donated $500,000 to our rural fire services.
Celeste Barber has raised a staggering $30million in just 3 days via a Facebook fundraiser. The nation is equal parts speechless and grateful.
English actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge revealed at the Golden Globes that she would auction her red-carpet outfit to aid the Australian bushfire crisis support relief.
Australian beauty mogul Eleanor Pendleton has used her platform to raise awareness for all the beauty brands contributing to relief efforts, urging her audience to buy their regular items this week from these forward-thinking businesses.
The British model and actress has used her platform to share the best ways for her international audience to donate to the Australian bushfire relief, posting one of the most disturbing images to emerge from the crisis.
Australian media icon Lisa Messenger has launched an all-out assault, forming a united front with @foodbankaus to collect all manner of practical items for families who have lost everything.
During a moment where social media seems frivolous at best, these extraordinary women have lead the way by contributing in their own way. It shows the diversity of action from across the world as we face a situation like never, ever before. None of them would want any kudos. But I simply couldn’t ignore the incredible example these women are setting for 2020 and beyond.
Again, the animals just get to me, the forests will regenerate but these native species can’t come back from the dead, and so I have donated three times to various animal specific relief centres.
As a small business owner, I too feel for those who have lost their livelihoods. One of the best actions to take that I have read is to plan a road to trip to these small seaside and country towns in the near future; buy from their stores, eat in their restaurants and fill up on fuel as you leave.
This is a national calling for every single person to do whatever they can, however they can.
We are one, we are many, we are Australian.