Buy calendar for important cause
A CALENDAR featuring hunky firefighters from across the country is back for another year, this time featuring one of our own.
Toowoomba firefighter Josh Praeger has his photo on one of the first bonus pages of the calendar for 2018.
But the calendar is more than just about looks, it raises money for worthwhile causes including Mates 4 Mates which helps wounded, injured or ill current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families.
Proudly selling the calendars in Toowoomba this week was another Toowoomba local, who was just named as Australia’s first community ambassador for Mates 4 Mates, Justin Bygrave.
Mr Bygrave got the role through his work with the calendar, with the position established through its sales.
“Having personally experienced PTSD myself, I can emphasise with the families who have used the facilities of their recovery
centres,” Mr Bygrave said.
He said Mates 4 Mates had recovery centres in Brisbane, Townsville and Hobart, but he hoped to one day to establish one in Toowoomba.
Mr Bygrave suffered PTSD for about six months, but said the experience it stemmed from always stayed with you.
“Now I am in a position where, through Mates 4 Mates, I can give back to the broader community through my experience,” he said.
He is calling on Toowoomba residents to give back by buying a calendar.
“A lot of the guys who are in the firefighters calendar have also been ex-military, or ex-navy, ex-RAFF guys and they have got the experience of working under pressure,” he said.
“So knowing we can give back to them and their families in a way that I have seen personally benefit individuals is incredible.”