A taxing time for devils

A proportion of every tax return lodged by ITP – The Income Tax Professionals between July 1 and October 31, 2008 will be donated to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

Steven Page, the managing director of ITP, said the company often receives calls from various charities and community groups, wanting support.

"But we’re Tasmanian owned and operated, so we want to go with something that’s local,” Steven said. “And we think the Tasmanian devil is a great cause."

A portion of the fee that ITP charges for every tax return will be donated to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. Steven said a service may also be provided for clients to donate to the Appeal – but only if interested.

"We’re hoping we might inspire a few other companies to also think up their own, unique ways to support the Tasmanian devil," Steven added.

This initiative applies to Southern Tasmanian offices of ITP – The Income Tax Professionals, which are located at:

• Shop 1, 29 Criterion Street, Hobart (6234 4377)
• Northgate Shopping Centre, Glenorchy (6273 3133)
• 7 Beach Road, Kingston (6229 6699)
• Suite 8, 2 Bayfield Street, Rosny (6244 8410)

For more information on ITP, The Income Tax Professionals, go to: www.itp.com.au

Devils in Paradise

The ‘Devils in Paradise’ art exhibition at Hobart’s Bett Gallery, featuring the work of nine high-profile visual artists, raised $12,826 for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.

Owner of the gallery, Dick Bett, together with Hobart artist David Keeling, presented the donation to the Program in May 2008.

“The ‘Devils in Paradise’ exhibition was an exciting and fascinating look at Tasmania,” said the Tasmanian Minister for the Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn.

“It’s fitting that the funds raised should go towards helping to save our most iconic animal from the devastating and deadly Facial Tumour Disease.”

As well as works by David Keeling, the exhibition featured pieces from Sydney artists Leo Robba, Adrienne Richards, Euan McLeod, Chris O’Doherty, Neil Frazer and Joanna Braithwaite, along with David Usher from Brisbane, and Lucy Culliton from the Blue Mountains.

The artists spent eight days travelling around Tasmania, creating paintings and drawings on location. They then each provided four or more works for the exhibition, and a further work for the fund-raising auction.

“Every artist was incredibly generous in donating their time and talent on behalf of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program,” Mr Llewellyn added. “And we’re equally grateful to Mr Bett, for his energy and vision.”

Were your school colours Black and White?

More than 200 schools and businesses (including three schools from the United States) registered for the second annual Black and White Day on May 16, 2008.

The inspirational idea of 10-year-old Hobart schoolboy Nature Nic, as Nic Bonnitcha prefers to be known, encouraged everyone to wear black and white clothes for the day, and make a gold coin donation to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.

"Whenever anyone hears the story of the devil, they always want to help," said Nature Nic. "This animal doesn’t belong to Tasmania alone. It belongs to all Australians."

As a reflection of the excitement that Black and White Day is generating across Australia, Nature Nic was invited by Terri Irwin to spend the day at Queensland’s Australia Zoo.

"We got a phone call saying that Terri Irwin wanted to speak with us," said Nature Nic’s Mum, Linda. "We thought it was a joke, until we heard the American accent.

"But it turned out to be a fantastic event. Nic did interviews with radio, TV and newspapers, explaining that the devil will die if we don’t all act.

"Terri told Nic how proud she was of him, and that Steve Irwin would have been proud too."

Meanwhile our own Tasmanian devil mascot - Errol - spent Black and White Day making special appearances at schools across Southern Tasmania, kindly chauffeured by the team from radio station HOFM.

For more information on Black and White Day, go to www.naturenic.com.au

Footballers on the mark

AFL Tasmania is determined to raise $10,000 for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, and they kicked off their fundraising with a double-header of footy at York Park on May 17, 2008.

The day featured a crushing win by the Hawthorn Football Club over Port Adelaide, and a courageous struggle by the Tasmanian Devils against Sandringham.

"As a group, we realise that our endeavours can have a positive impact in raising awareness of the plight of the iconic Tasmanian devil," said Darryn Cresswell, Tasmanian Devils head coach.

A portion of all tickets sold in the under-cover Eastern Terrace was pledged in support of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal … and our own mascot, Errol the Devil, was on hand to show his support.

A big thanks also to the ever-wonderful Salvation Army, who leant the use of their collection tins for the day, as well as Ian and Paul from the Rotary Club of North Launceston, who helped with tin rattling.

The art of education

Internationally-renowned nature photographer Darran Leal will promote the cause of the Tasmanian devil with an exhibition at the Cradle Mountain Chateau, starting in November 2008. A percentage of the sale of prints during the exhibition will also be donated to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

Queensland-based Darran was one of 17 world-class photographers invited to Tasmania in April 2008 to ‘road test’ the latest version of Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom 2 photography software. The nine-day Tasmanian Adventure took the photographers to the far corners of the state, where they captured images of everything from wilderness landscapes to cray-fishermen at work to high-art photography.

"While it appears that we haven’t caused this particular disease within devils, we know that humanity in general places a lot of pressure on wildlife,” Darran said. “So if there’s any way that we can help to correct that, then I want to be part of it. And to me, education about wildlife and nature is crucial."

One room of Darran’s exhibition, which is booked to travel to mainland Australia, will be dedicated solely to images of Tasmania. The exhibition is sponsored by Epson and Adobe, and there are plans for it to also tour internationally.

To discover more about Darran’s work, go to: www.wildvisions.com.au and www.safariwise.com.au/gallery

Tasmanian Variety Freak Show

The Tasmanian Variety Freak Show is on at the Polish Hall in Launceston on Saturday 26 April, and at the Brisbane Hotel in Hobart on Sunday 27 April.

The show, which supports the Tasmanian Devil Appeal, promises a night of magical shenanigans and hilarious mayhem, featuring sword swallowing, glass walking, live piercing, dancing girls, jelly wrestling, contortionists, knife throwing, burlesque, comedy, bands, film, theatre and DJs.

Famous Berlin electro-punk band Die Roten Punkte will be there and audiences can look forward to the notorious electric burlesque act The Emma Dilemma Show, which is part of the lineup.

You'll also be able to catch Tasmanian sideshow acts Samora Squid (sword swallower and contortionist - see picture) and The Human Bridge (glass eater, glass walker), and there will be a special guest appearance by Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

The show is for over-18s. More details at www.myspace.com/tasmanianvarietyfreakshow

Devils unleashed in Mardi Gras

The Tasmanian gay and lesbian community was a hit when it entered a ‘Tassie devils’ float in the 30th Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, held in March 2008.

“From the moment our float was announced, the crowd went wild with uncontrollable cheering,” said Mark Howell, Representing the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Community Centre (www.gaytas.com).

“Everyone, including the national media, wanted to know more about our campaign’s devilish twist. And all the people we spoke to after the march mentioned that we got one of the biggest responses.”

The aim of the float was to raise awareness of the Tasmanian gay community in a fun, positive manner, while raising funds for Tasmanian devil research.

The ‘Tassie devils’ theme was chosen because the devil is an iconic species, making the dancers instantly recognisable as proud Tasmanians. The ‘devils’ also added glamour and sass, while drawing attention to the plight of the Tasmanian devil.

The annual Sydney Mardi Gras draws a crowd of more than half a million, while millions more watch it on TV.

One hundred marchers took part in the ‘Tassie devils’ float. It was the first time Tasmania had participated in the parade since 2001, when the "Tassie Gladdies" theme won ‘best out of town’ float.

International bridges for devils

Bridge players from the US, Norway, Denmark, India, New Zealand, Canada and all Australian mainland states are among the first to express their interest in attending the Save the Tasmanian Devil Bridge Congress, to be held in Devonport during October 2008.

The three-day event, which culminates in a presentation evening on October 12, is the highlight of the calendar for the Tasmanian members of the group from Bridge Base Online (BBO) – an on-line bridge site which can have up to 20,000 people playing at any one time.

“It all started as a bright idea, that suddenly went crazy,” laughed Maureen White, the founder of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Bridge Group. “We have many wonderful people from all around the world who have embraced the cause and are actively involved with the running of the group.

“As well as the planned International Congress, we also post daily, on-line tournaments on the BBO website. As the daily tournament is in progress, we post information about the plight of the Tasmanian devil to people around the world.” The inaugural International Bridge Congress aims to raise funds for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, as well as awareness of Tasmania’s unique but endangered marsupial.

For more information on the BBO website, go to: www.freewebs.com/bbotassiedevils

Punk for the Devil

The spirit and energy of Sydney punk band Andorra is being unleashed in support of the Tasmanian devil. Andorra organised Punk for the Devil - an event in which 15 punks bands came together to record versions of ‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’ and ‘We Are the World’.

The bands have made the songs available for purchase online, directing the money toward the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

‘I’m a passionate environmentalist and see the preservation and revival of the Tasmanian devil as the most important ecological concern facing Australia at present,’ said Andorra lead singer, Joel Beasant.

‘We want to do something to continue to raise awareness and support for the organisations our there treating the animals and researching ways to save them.’

Punk for the Devil’ is available for download as songs and music videos through the ‘music forte’ website: www.musicforte.com

I believe I can fly

A seven-metre Tasmanian devil kite was launched in the skies above Hobart on November 4, 2007. Taking 60 hours and thousands of dollars to build, the kite was the inspiration of Orford couple Genevieve and Allan Parish. They hope is will be a useful tool in drawing attention to the fight against the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

The kite was designed by one of Australia's premier kite designers, Phil McConnachie. Errol – our newly-named Tasmanian devil character (whose dashing good looks and suave smile are reminiscent of that other famous Tasmanian, Errol Flynn) – attended the Clarence City Council’s Kite Festival to support the launch, and to spread word about the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

V8 Champs steering devils back on track

Champions from the V8 Supercar Series – drivers who know what it’s like to race against the clock – have thrown their support behind the urgent plight of the Tasmanian devil.

In October, 2007, V8 Supercar drivers John Bowe, Mark Winterbottom and Jack Perkins visited the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s purpose-built quarantine enclosures.

As part of an awareness program, V8 Supercars Australia donated $5000 toward the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, and will dedicate four pages within the Falken Tasmania Challenge Race program to raising the profile of the devil’s plight.

"I’m a bit of an animal lover and have always thought devils are pretty cute – in an only my mother could love me kind of way," said Mark 'Frosty' Winterbottom, who placed third in the 2006 Series. "Being in contact with one first hand, you really get a sense of how precious they are."

Round 13 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, the Falken Tasmania Challenge, is scheduled for November 16-18 at Symmons Plains Raceway.

 

The fight to save the Tasmanian devil is collaboration between the Tasmanian Government, the University of Tasmania and other research institutions, schools, individuals and the corporate community.

A growing number of supporters are taking the initiative to raise money and support the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. To discuss sponsorship and scholarship possibilities please contact the University of Tasmania Foundation on 03 6226 2053 (International +61 3 6226 2053) or email University.Foundation@utas.edu.au

Little Devils Day

Brisbane schoolgirl Ceilidh Bishop has made it her mission to help save the Tasmanian devil after visiting one of our insurance populations at Queensland’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, in January 2008.

One of Ceilidh’s fundraising ideas was to hold a ‘Little Devils Day’ at her school. More than a free-dress day, eight-year-old Ceilidh asked the teachers to make sure that one hour of learning about Tassie devils was included during the day. After giving a presentation to her principal and School Council, the day was held on 30 May, 2008.

"Learning about something means we can do something about it," Ceilidh said.

Steve Smith, the former manager of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, attended Little Devils Day.

Steve thanked all the students at Oxley State School for their wonderful support. He also explained the effect the Devil Disease is having on wild populations throughout Tasmania, and the role that every Australian can play in this important battle.

"Prior to Little Devils Day, some of the students didn’t know much about Tasmanian devils," said Ceilidh’s mother, Lyn Prowse-Bishop. "But afterwards, they commented that learning about the disease had been one of the best parts of the day."

Ceilidh has set up a website about Tasmanian devils (www.tassiedevilcancer.com), featuring a fact sheet on the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

As at June 2008, Ceilidh’s website, combined with Little Devils Day, had raised close to $2,000 for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

A toast for a long and happy life

After learning of the Devil Disease during a 2007 Tasmanian holiday, Skye Walton and Simon Abraham decided to share their joy when they announced their engagement.

“There’s nothing we need,” the Melbourne couple told their family and friends. Instead, they encouraged their guests to make a donation to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal.

This generous act raised more than $1000 for the program. Here’s cheers to a long a happy life for Skye and Simon – and the Tasmanian devil.

Read the full article.

Crikey! It's Mark Webber

A champion both on and off the track, Australian Formula One racer Mark Webber is raising money towards the establishment of a Tasmanian devil breeding enclosure at the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo. The 2007 Mark Webber Pure Tasmanian Challenge featured seven-days and more than 450 kms of grueling physical and mental adventure racing. This was the third year of the annual event, which raises money for the Mark Webber Challenge Foundation, supporting various Australian charities each year (www.markwebberchallenge.com)

Australia Zoo has been actively fundraising to build a devil enclosure. The support of the Mark Webber Challenge Foundation means that this project will soon become a reality. There are close to 100 Tasmanian devils in insurance populations outside Tasmania, managed on behalf of the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Australia Zoo will not only play an important role in the captive-breeding program but, as one of Australia’s premier tourist attractions, it can educate people world-wide concerning the plight of the Tasmanian devil. The annual Mark Webber Challenge is part of a year-round program of fund-raising events. The next will be in March 2008, when Mark comes home for the Australian Grand Prix. Mark will be hosting a dinner at one of Melbourne’s pre-eminent venues in support of The Leukaemia Foundation, and the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

Firies come to the aid of Devils

The Tasmanian devil is one of the latest additions to the lengthy list of those that have been helped by Australasian Firefighters. More than 900 delegates from across the Australasia attended the Australasian Fire Authorities Council/Bushfire CRC dinner at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart, in September, 2007. They donated an amazing $2,310.70 for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Star attractions on the night were the Program’s newest recruit (our character suit), along with four gorgeous baby devils from Bonorong Wildlife Park. As well as the valuable funds raised, the event helped educate people from across Australasia about the plight of the Tasmanian devil.

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