The Tropical Lager Coral’ation (TLC) non-alcoholic beer brewed to support a First Nations women-led environmental initiative has raised $25,000 to help launch the new reef conservation program.
Proceeds from sales of the beer and a Pozible crowd fund campaign that launched it have helped fund the Coral Sea Foundation to recruit the first eight First Nations women from Queensland, Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) and Papua New Guinea to take part in the inaugural Sea Women of the Great Barrier Reef program. Pictured above is Naomi Longa, director of the Sea Women of Melanesia and lead instructor for the new Sea Women Great Barrier Reef training program.
TLC is the brainchild of two Queensland social enterprise beer companies – Sobah Beverages and The Good Beer Co – who joined forces with creative agency ArtDisrupt and the Coral Sea Foundation to champion and fund the Sea Women of the Great Barrier Reef training program and the Foundation’s work to empower First Nations women to protect the coral reefs in their traditional sea-country.
And it’s not just a beer for a good cause. TLC was awarded a silver medal at the Royal Queensland Beer Awards recently.
The first Sea Women of the Great Barrier Reef training program will kick off later this month in the waters around Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), the home base of the Coral Sea Foundation.
Naomi said: “Sea Women of the Great Barrier Reef is designed to connect First Nations women with the Great Barrier Reef and empower them with the skills and knowledge they need to take a lead role in caring for traditional sea country”.
Sobah founder Clinton Schultz added: “Sobah exists to champion First Nations culture, health and well-being so care for country and our oceans is in our DNA and this collaboration was a no-brainer.
“As an Aboriginal owned and led business, and as Sobah grows, we’re providing opportunities not just for local mob where our new brewery will open here on Kombumerri country soon (the Gold Coast) but for First Nations people across Australia. So, it’s deadly to see TLC supporting the first of many First Nations women take part in Sea Women of the Great Barrier Reef training.”
This is an edited version of a media release distributed by Sobah and The Good Beer Co.