An 11-year-old entrepreneur has used his sandboard business to give back to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and help others in the community.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Clay Bertram started his business 'Squids Sandboards' late last year with the help of his family, making sandboards which have gone across the state and even the country.
What started as a way to raise money for a guitar has grown and decided to auction off the 100th gold coloured sandboard and donate the money to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The auction was held earlier this year with Max Crowhurst, 75, the successful bidder with the $620 raised from the sale donated to the RFDS Port Lincoln Auxiliary.
Clay had another opportunity to reach people with a family trip to the Big Red Bash music festival in Birdsville, Queensland, selling more sandboards and managing to contribute to more fundraising for the RFDS.
One of his boards was signed by artists at the festival, including Thirsty Merc and Busby Marou, which was then donated as a prize to a raffle.
Altogether the event managed to raise $100,000 for the RFDS through the raffle, merchandise sales and other sources.
Clay said Birdsville was an amazing experience and felt "really good" to be able to give back to an organisation that helped so many in his community and across Australia.
RFDS Port Lincoln Auxiliary president Cathy Sandland said they were thankful for the donation from Clay and credited him on his initiative and entrepreneurship.
"It's fantastic that he's thought wider than himself to include others," she said.
"In my opinion it's the start of a very good business person."
Ms Sandland said since October the auxiliary had raised $77,000, which she described as a "phenomenal result" considering the limited fundraising opportunities in the past year.
Mr Crowhurst, who successfully bid on the gold board, has his own experience with RFDS when he was living in Rockhampton, Queensland where he was flown to Brisbane due to heart issues.
He and his wife Julie Crowhurst have been supporters of the RFDS since then and donate to the organisation twice a year.
Now living in Port Lincoln Mr and Mrs Crowhurst said they were amazed with Clay's initiative and to see a young member of the community give to an important, life saving organisation.
Also amazed is musician Jeremy Marou of the duo Busby Marou, who provided their signatures on the sandboard from the Big Red Bash.
Mr Marou said six years ago he had a heart attack and was flown to Brisbane through the RFDS for surgery.
Together with Thomas Busby they are ambassadors for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and said he was happy to contribute to something that raised money for the organisation, and amazed at the contribution of such a young person.
"When I found out (Clay) was only 11-years-old, I was blown away that someone that young to have an entrepreneurial mind and do something like this for a charity," he said.
"Clay's a legend, he's going to go places."
