This is a story about Tonka - The 2019 Mt Isa Rodeo Charity Queen, the man who raised a huge amount of money, broke all the records and is a massive reason why TIACS exists today!
Why is now the time to tell the story? Because this legend of a bloke is featured in our latest print - Stop, Croc ‘n’ Roll. That’s him wrestling a croc wearing his beloved Coight shirt and a nice shiny sash awarded to the charity fundraising queen.
Tonka was, and still is, a legendary TradeMutter, but in 2019, he decided to do something that only one other man had dared to do before him - he became only the second bloke in history to enter this prestigious charity fundraising event and he rewrote the history books becoming the first man ever to be crowned the Charity Queen.
Not only did Tonka pour his heart and soul into his fundraising efforts hosting events all over Mt Isa, wearing his heart on his sleeve and getting the whole town talking, but in doing so, he smashed all the previous records for the amount of money he raised.
Now at the time, TIACS was just an idea that Ed and I believed in, but there was one other person who believed in it too and that man was Tonka.
Donating over $100k to TIACS, this cash was used to get TIACS up and off the ground, hiring our first few staff and counsellors which ultimately lead to TIACS to taking it’s first ever call. Today, TIACS has proudly supported thousands and thousands of Aussie blue collar workers and their mental health and wellbeing and is now known as Australia’s home of blue collar counseling.
Thanks to Tonka, the croc wrestling legend, his belief in me and Ed along with the TradeMutt and TIACS teams, we reckon there might have been a life or two saved along the way.
This shirt commemorates Tonka, the powerhouse of a man who did what no one else could, to help build an organisation that is changing the lives of Aussie tradies, truckies, farmers and their families every day.
When you wear this shirt and start a conversation, make sure you tell ‘em the legendary story of Tonka, the croc wrestling, conversation starting legend who didn’t know it at the time, but has helped change more lives than anyone could have ever imagined!
Stop Croc & Roll was inspired by the famous John Williamson song “Crocodile Roll” and is an instant classic featuring a TradeMutt hall of famer, Tonka!
