Australian Travel Photography and Writing

The Australian Travel Photography and Writing group has launched a new charity initiative in aid of Australian charity Aussie Helpers.

Darren Stones, 42, originator and host of the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group at art website RedBubble, has called on the group’s 520 members to donate one of their own 2010 calendars to the charity.

“I’ve been most impressed by Aussie Helpers ever since I became aware of them and I see our group as being well placed to assist them,” Stones said.

“Aussie Helpers is a non-profit organisation based in Queensland and their mission is to help fight poverty and lift the spirits of farmers who are severely affected by drought, bushfires and floods in the Australian outback and rural areas.”

Stones said the charity initiative is “off to a good start” and he has received pledges of calendars and music CDs from group members located around the country.

“Our group members are highly talented and dedicated artists who are now working closely together to assist farmers doing it tough,” he said.

“During the year we’ve conducted successful group competitions for members, and as Christmas 2009 draws closer we’ve decided to donate our art and hopefully lift the spirits of Aussie farmers.”

Stones volunteers 6-10 hours per week to the Australian Travel Photography and Writing group where he curates the group’s works, communicates with members and sponsors, creates competitions, and promotes the group’s activities at RedBubble and social networking sites Twitter and Facebook.

“I’m very proud of the group and what it’s achieving. The amount of support we’ve been given to date is inspiring and augurs well for future growth,” Stones said.

“We’re a dedicated group who set out to entertain people with our photography and writing, and we have members who are being published in magazines, newspapers and travel guide books, conducting exhibitions, and winning national awards.

“During 2009 we’ve been able to attract a diverse range of sponsors who kindly donate prizes for our competitions, and we appointed Australian Traveller magazine Editor Greg Barton as group Patron.

“We are most grateful for their support as it provides us with the inspiration to be creative and share our work with a worldwide audience.”

The Australian Travel Photography and Writing group is based at RedBubble and new members are welcome to join the website and participate in the group’s activities. http://www.redbubble.com/groups/australian-travel-photography-and-writing

General enquiries can be directed to group host Darren Stones via email.

Aussie Helpers can be contacted via their website: http://www.aussiehelpers.org.au/