Ovation Across the Nation for Essential Workers - Giving Tuesday Australia

1 May 2020 12:27 PM

An Ovation Across the Nation for Australia’s Essential Workers

Tim Costello, Puppies, footballers, workmates join the Ovation Tuesday May 5

Australians will gather in person and online Tuesday May 5 to give our essential workers the ovation they deserve for going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ovation Across the Nation helps launch Giving Tuesday in Australia which begins May 5 and continues all month. Giving Tuesday began in the US in 2012 and is a day to celebrate and encourage giving in all its forms – donating, giving thanks, performing a kind act or volunteering. Traditionally Giving Tuesday is in December but COVID-19 has inspired an impromptu global campaign. Thousands of Australia’s community groups and nonprofits will use Giving Tuesday as a catalyst to raise money, recruit volunteers and thank supporters.

“This pandemic revealed that everybody - from doctors to check out operators and delivery drivers - are essential to daily life,” says Giving Tuesday Ambassador Rev. Tim Costello. “It’s shown that together we can rise to a challenge and achieve more than we can individually. It’s time to say thanks.”

People can perform their ovation solo, as a family, with a group they belong to such as a sporting club or with workmates. Most ovations are expected to last a minute or two. Already athletes, performers, workplaces have begun recording their ovations which range from the conventional to the theatrical. A pack of Seeing Eye Dog puppies (along with their hoomans) have recorded an ovation.

“From hospitals to supermarkets, couriers, educators and age care workers – people have put themselves at risk to do more than their job and help others,” continued Rev. Costello. “Giving Tuesday is about generosity - if you can’t give financially, give your time. If you can’t give time you can always give thanks.”

The Ovation Across the Nation isn’t a fundraiser – it’s about gratitude. No registration is required. People are encouraged to share their ovations with the hashtag: #GivingTuesdayNOW and to visit www.givingtuesday.org.au for more ways to give.

Beyond the Ovation, Giving Tuesday will launch a Giving Register matching community groups with potential supporters, release results of a survey investigating the impact of COVID-19 on community groups and even help give podcasters new listeners.

More details on the Ovation Across the Nation:  https://www.givingtuesday.org.au/ovation-across-the-nation

Media: interviews and ovation video available via Giving Tuesday publicist Brett de Hoedt of Hootville Communications on 0414 713 802 / brett@hootville.com

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