Smoky Bay Progress Association has found a winner with its fishing shirts as a passive ongoing fundraiser.
Spokesperson Jo Pocock said the organisation had raised tens of thousands of dollars with the clothing – which would all continue to go back into the community.
The “It’s a cracking day in Smoky Bay” was designed by EP’s Slinky Designs and had the names of all those who sponsored the first batch of 200 shirts written on them.
Importantly, the fundraiser is ongoing to take the onus off a small community regularly being asked to help the association with cooking or manning stalls.
“We didn’t really know what to expect,” she said.
“It is more of a positive fundraiser. We are a fishing community. It was something we thought was a good way of raising funds.
“We have probably sold over 1000.”
A second batch has recently been bought, updated with current sponsors’ names.
Shirts cost $60 for children and $70 for adults and can be bought from Smoky Bay General Store or by contacting the progress association directly.
Postage is extra, but that has not stopped them becoming widespread, with people putting up photos of themselves in Smoky Bay shirts in many different places.
“Some have been posted internationally. It has been really good,” Jo said.
Jo said when travelling in Western Australia, there was a man unknown to her that was wearing one on a fishing charter.
