Thu Jul 17 2008
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help co-ordinate the second annual Animal Action Day (AA Day!) on the Gold Coast.
A meeting will be held at a private location in Southport on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 7pm for anyone interested in being involved.
The event will be held at the Gold Coast Rugby League Club (Eagles) at James Overell Park, Brighton Parade, on Sunday, October 5, 2008, from 10am to 4pm. The park is an off-leash dog exercise area on the river.
Sponsors, stall holders, entertainers and raffle prizes are currently being sought for the charity fun family event, which aims to raise awareness, appreciation and respect for all animals.
The event ties in with World Animal Week, promoted by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) from October 4-10 this year.
Last year's event, created by animal lover and AA Xpose Media Director/ Photojournalist Aldwyn Altuney, was an indoors party event at the Southport Tigers Junior Rugby League Club on August 26, 2007.
The day included a packed entertainment line-up including bands Don't Panic (playing rock covers), Loose Enz (doing an Eagles and John Denver tribute), world's best Elvis tribute artist Dean Vegas, Tamborine Mountain opera/ celtic singer Kathleen Proctor-Moore, Roger Davy (doing Pavarotti), Gold Coast country singer Allison Forner and Raymond Symes (doing Neil Diamond) on stage.
Cr Dawn Crichlow launched the event from 10am. There were over $3000 in raffle prizes, at least 20 stalls and animal face painting by Smiley the Clown, among plenty of other entertainment.
Author Lynn Santer did a reading and giveaways from her Magical Scarecrows book.
All proceeds from raffles and stall donations went to the Animal Welfare League of Qld (AWL) on the Gold Coast, amounting to about $1000.
After seeing the graphic Earthlings film (about people's abuse of animals over time) earlier in the year, Aldwyn was inspired to take action for our animal friends by instigating the world's first Animal Action Day.
The free, fun, community day aims to raise awareness, appreciation and respect of all animals.
"Recent news reports of an increase in thefts of siberian huskies for organised dog fights on the Gold Coast are absolutely heart-breaking," Aldwyn said.
"It's absolutely atrocious that so many cases of animal cruelty are still happening on the Gold Coast and around the world.
"The whole idea of Animal Action Day is to encourage people to take action for the animals – whether it be reporting cases of animal cruelty to animal welfare organisations, having your pet desexed, buying free range eggs or signing petitions against inhumane practices such as whaling. If we all just do something, the world will be a better place for it," said Aldwyn.
"Animal Action Day is also about celebrating animals as great companions in our lives and fellow 'Earthlings' that deserve respect."
She hopes the exciting event will be held annually worldwide.
"I strongly encourage everyone in the community to take some action for the animals, whether it be having your pet desexed, buying free range eggs or signing petitions against whaling," Aldwyn said.
"The idea is to encourage responsible pet ownership and take positive steps towards protecting animals across the planet.
"We look forward to a huge day of fun and action for the animals again this year."
Volunteers are needed to coordinate the stalls, entertainment schedule and raffle prizes.
For the address of next Thursday's meeting, to offer giveaways for the raffle, have a stall, volunteer for the Animal Action Day, call Aldwyn on (07) 5571 0233/ 0409 895 055 or email: aldwyn@aaxpose.com. For updates, visit www.aaxpose.com
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