Country pub's creative fundraiser attracts global attention
In an effort to raise money to complete the "finishing touches" on a recent renovation, the Tatura Hotel near Shepparton launched a quirky online fundraising campaign inviting people to donate money to the pub in exchange for a "pub honour".
Everything is negotiable says Tatura pub co-owner Peter Ryan ( - Campaign video)
The online video; posted a week ago, features one of the pub's owners Peter Ryan, inviting people to donate money to the pub to complete its renovations in exchange for a variety of "pub-honours".
"In return for your generosity we will shamelessly name things in your honour!" proclaims Ryan in the video.
The "pub honours" on offer include getting a "chicken parma" named after you, getting your name on a pool cue or on a bar stool or getting a framed oil painting of yourself on the pub wall.
Ryan said his nephew and his mates came up with the fundraising campaign.
"He and a few of his mates are involved in advertising in Melbourne and came up with the idea and they basically pushed me in front of the camera as the face of the pub."
He said he was overwhelmed with the national and international media attention the fundraiser had received including a mention in the UK's Mirror newspaper.
In the last 24 hours he said he had received overseas interest from people in Philadelphia, Switzerland and Canada.
"It's all a bit of a novelty but the main idea is to promote the town and the region and have a bit of fun with it.
"We have had contacts from Switzerland who are looking forward to coming to Tatura to have a beer with me - If we are getting coverage that far and wide I'm sure there are people who will want to come and have a look at the town and have a look at the pub."
Source: ABC News, Bronwen O'Shea and Allison Jess, June 18th 2015
