Port Lincoln war vets bare all for fundraiser

MELBOURNE - Eleven war veterans from South Australia ripped off their shirts and dropped their strides for their most unconventional fundraiser yet - a nude calendar to raise money for their local RSL in Port Lincoln.

The coordinator, Jo Utting, said she was inspired by Helen Mirren film Calendar Girls.

“You really have to think outside the box these days when you’re trying to raise money - there are only so many cake sales one RSL club can have,” News.com.au quoted her as saying.

Although the idea ruffled a few feathers, no one was more surprised than photographer Tom McNab.

“I was just shooting away and then Jo came in and said ‘what are you doing, they need to take their clothes off’. I thought she was just kidding at first,” he said.

“I didn’t know where to look. There were bums and guns everywhere,” he added.

Club President Gary Johnston said that a barbecue and a few beers were all it took to ease the vets’ nerves on set.

The club hopes to raise enough from the sale of the calendar - to be sold for 15 dollars each - to put towards new decking and toilets, but buyers will have to be quick - the print run is limited to just 1000.

Utting said that depending on the popularity of the calendars, she might order more. Asked if the fundraising event would be held annually, she said, “Well, obviously there are restrictions with the age of some of the boys. I’d love to do another one next year, but who knows, we could have a few funerals during the year and then I’ll need to find new boys.” (ANI)