Wild Turkey Creative Director and Academy Award Winner Matthew McConaughey has unveiled a new initiative as part of Wild Turkey With Thanks, shining a light on Australian Local Legends who have supported their environment and communities throughout the crises of 2020.
McConaughey visited Australia in November 2019 (pictured) to launch the Wild Turkey With Thanks platform, an initiative designed to protect and preserve the wilderness for future generations.
On his visit, he witnessed first hand the challenges being faced by communities with the catastrophic bushfires and floods. McConaughey spoke to locals and listened to their stories of resilience, conducting video calls with three Australian Local Legends to have a yarn about the inspirational tales he had heard across the world.
McConaughey said, “Australians are a rare breed. When adversity hits them, they come back twice as strong. I know from personal experience, they get their grit from the land. These Local Legends drew strength from nature in order to protect it from one of the worst bushfire seasons on record, and I want everyone to know their stories. It’s thanks to them that the Aussie wilderness and their communities remain for us all to connect with. From their mission to mine, I want to give thanks and support these Legends in my work with Wild Turkey.”
McConaughey has also recorded a message for all Australians, encouraging that we explore all corners of our country and reconnect with the great outdoors. From sleeping under the stars in a swag, to exploring Australia’s rugged coastlines and bush, these messages crafted by McConaughey himself are designed to motivate Australians to discover more – while supporting the regeneration of the wilderness and bushfire-affected communities.
Dana and Sam Mitchell rescued more than 600 koalas on Kangaroo Island (South Australia), Linda and Matthew Rudd saved their 100-year-old pub from the bushfires while being the lifeline for the town of Batlow (New South Wales), and Lin Baird navigated a difficult year to once again help Australians reconnect with the wilderness on horseback in Mount Bogong (Victoria).
McConaughey said he believes in community above all else and wants to urge Australians to not only explore the outdoors but visit, volunteer, say ‘hello’ or stay a night or two in fire-affected regions.
“When Mother Nature hit us with her worst, we saw humanity at its best. Now is a prominent time in our history where we can explore our own place to restore the wilderness that restores us.”
Helping preserve and regenerate the wilderness for future generations is a central part of Wild Turkey’s ongoing work on the With Thanks initiative. A percentage of proceeds from Wild Turkey’s cabin, The Reserve, and Wild Turkey bottles sold in November and December will be donated to the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife in support of bushfire regeneration.
The charity partner of Australia’s National Parks, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife is working towards a five-year plan to plant one million trees in bushfire-affected regions around Australia to restore the habitat that was lost in the catastrophic bushfires.
Paolo Marinoni, Marketing Director, Campari Australia and New Zealand said, “Through all that 2020 has thrown at us, from bushfire-ravaged parks, droughts, floods and a pandemic – it has shown that Australia is a nation of resilience. Through the With Thanks initiative this year, we are thanking the Local Legends who have stood with conviction and sheer determination throughout the crises of 2020. We often turn to nature in times of adversity and we hope that by giving thanks and shining a light on these people and regions it encourages Australians to support the regeneration of the wilderness and visit fire-affected regions.”
