“When you think TONI&GUY, you think international hairdressing brand & high paced fashion capitals of the world! Never would you think Jilkminggan – a remote Northern Territory Aboriginal community! “
TONI&GUY Bondi Beach Salon Owner, Kelly Wright aligned the two when she embarked on a charity drive with long time friend & Enterprise Coordinator of Enterprise Learning Projects, Tanya Egerton. The initial idea was just to get a few clothing donations together to go towards the opening a Jilkminggan Op Shop. The idea was so that the women in the community could learn about enterprising, sustainability and raise money for their Art Gallery.
Both Kelly & Tanya were most definitely not ready for what was coming when they shared the offical artwork/ drive on social media for the very first time. Approximately 25K shares within the first 48 hours! The post went viral, and within no time the press were all over the story with media coverages on ABC News, Channel 9 and more!
Donations were getting dropped off at the TONI&GUY Bondi Beach like hot cakes – eventually needing a storage unit. Eventually TONI&GUY Australia jumped on board the drive, with all 33 TONI&GUY salons across Australia becoming a collection point. The donations became too overwhelming that sponsors like Kennards Self Storage, Toll and McCarroll’s Renault Artamon jumped on board to make storage and transportation of goods seamless.
All this was worth it when the faces of the women at the Jilkminggan community lit up with joy and shock at the generosity of the people of Australia in responding to their small request for donations. The overwhelming support brought the women to tears knowing that their dreams were so close to coming true. Images below depict Kelly’s journey from the start of the drive to the end at Jilkminggan.
We sit down with Kelly to ask her about this life changing experience, what it’s taught her and more…
Q: How do you feel after that massive drive, response, and journey there and back?
A: I feel privileged to have been involved in such an amazing project! To see not only Australia’s response to helping our Aboriginal communities, but working within Jilkminggan and seeing first hand the positive effect it has had.
Q: What drove you to undertake the clothing drive?
A: When my friend Tanya called me and told me about ELP’s work with the women of the Jilkminggan, about their dreams and aspirations. Also, knowing that a pop up op shop could potentially set them up to achieve just a few of their dreams and to give them hope, I was sold!
Q: Tell us a little about the support you’ve received from your clients, family/ friends & other businesses?
A: It’s been a very humbling experience and the support has been overwhelming. Everyone has wanted to help, be involved and know what else he or she can do. The support was across the board, from every part of Australia.
Q: So where to now – we hear you have a new goal/drive in the pipeline?
Being in Jilkminggan and seeing the community first hand made me realize how beautiful and supportive the country we live in is. However, it filled me with immense sadness that the conditions in some of our Aboriginal Communities are like living in a third world country. Deciding on the plane home that I can’t unsee what I had seen, so I’m going to make a change. I’m starting a social driven campaign that will give all 300 people of Jilkminggan new, sustainable, culturally suitable and affordable housing.
Q: How can people be involved in the NEW drive?
A: We will be asking one million people for $1! So sharing will be the biggest thing people can do to help.
Q: How has this experience changed you as a whole?
A: Firstly, it made me appreciate how hard life is for some, and how beautiful the human soul can be. Secondly, what an amazing industry I have chosen to be in, not only my TONI&GUY family, but other salons that were involved too didn’t hesitate to help. The skill set I have attained over the last 20 years as a TONI&GUY employee and employer have been invaluable in creating an extensive network, skill set and passion that has allowed me to facilitate and logistically help drive the op shop project. I now get to change course once again to another passion, helping those less fortunate than myself while maintaining my position in my salon with the best team an employer could ask for. My new goal is to have NO THIRD WORLD HOUSING in any Aboriginal community in Australia by 2020!
There you have it!
Email Kelly Wright from TONI&GUY Bondi Beach on how you can get involved and realise her NEW charity goal, or simply pop by for an amazing hairdressing experience and chat about Kelly’s journey with the woman herself.
TONI&GUY Bondi Beach is situated at 70 Hall Street.
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