Ponder this … think about your average protester or person struggling to raise awareness about a community issue, what would they look like … what did you come up with?
Under 30, dreadlocks, oversized faded t shirt, clunky chains hanging from their back pocket, just incase they develop a strong attachment to a tree, and baggy jeans rapidly parting ways with a perfectly formed torso or protruding hip bones, both crafted from a diet rich in foliage. Or so the stereotype goes. A few weeks ago however I came across a group taking another approach.
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© The Ponder Room
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One warm Sunday afternoon cruising around Fremantle I turned around and saw three people decked out in vintage clothing. Not unusual in the art infused, cosmopolitan space of Fremantle. However it’s not often the socially conscious come equipped with a penny-fathering. Obviously I had to ask …
Turns out the group were promoting something called Push 4 Moore.
According to their flyer this was a fundraiser to help promote a more cycle-friendly Fremantle. The fundraiser ran on one night from 5.30 – 11pm at Moore Café.
The evening included live music, a live interactive art show, silent auctions, a raffle (that had run for 4 weeks), a vintage penny-farthing bike parade and free drink on arrival.
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| Moore Cafe Fremantle |
So the outcome …
After just 6 weeks of frantic planning the group had presale tickets from 75 people … hmm.
5.30pm came and people started arriving.
At the end of the night 300 people had passed through the door and they’d raised over $10,000 in one night! A fantastic effort!
What’s more talking to one of the organisers last night, she said the whole night had a fun positive vibe, and as people left they were full of praise, saying how much fun they’d had.
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The money goes to the Fremantle Foundation charity and they’re already looking at establishing a bike shelter near the Fremantle Markets. To find out more about the outcome and have input into the shelter design check out the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/mooreandmoorecafe
Now that’s got to be more comfortable than chaining yourself to a tree … although judging by the padding on the penny-farthing seat, maybe not.
2 Comments
Haha, great piece and great idea. Well done to all those involved.
Thanks Chris. Yes sounds like it was a great success