With every cent now counted, Hands Across Canberra has announced that its 2023 Canberra Day Appeal has raised more than $850,000, all of which goes to help local charities and organisations around the ACT region.

One of the final donations to the appeal came from popular local burger joint Grease Monkey, who handed over the cheque today, Thursday 30 March, at their Braddon eatery. The burger creation team concocted a special offering for the appeal, the Steak Burley Griffin, using ingredients from local Canberra business. Between the buns was Canberra Gin pickled beetroot, Pialligo bacon, and Bentspoke Crankshaft tempura pickles and caramelised onions.

With over 1,100 Steak Burley Griffins sold and 10 per cent of the sale price of each going to the appeal, the initiative raised $2,652.50. Grease Monkey managing director Nick Tuckwell says Canberra really got behind the appeal and the burger, devouring them in great numbers in a two-week period. Regularly introducing new burgers on the menu, Mr Tuckwell says the Burley Griffin might make a comeback.

“Fantastic result, awesome burger special, people loved it, it really served a purpose … It’s always good to work with local charities and give something back to Canberra,” he says.

This year’s Canberra Day Appeal set a record with 114 charities and community organisations signing up to participate, more than double the previous year’s number.

Hands Across Canberra CEO Peter Gordon says they couldn’t be prouder of the outpouring of support from the Canberra community during these tough economic times. He applauded the creative way the burger joint got onboard with the appeal.

“They’ve lived in Canberra, they created a Canberra burger and they’re giving to the appeal,” he says. “If all businesses did, that we would be great.”

Being the platform that encourages Canberrans to “give where you live”, Mr Gordon says Hands Across Canberra wants to provide a space for these local charities to be able to help our most vulnerable. He says what the charities will be able to do with these funds – something that goes well beyond their budgets – will be felt by many across our community.

“The average per charity was about $15,000. What they can do with that is phenomenal. What small charities can do is incredible,” Mr Gordon says.

Find out more about the work of Hands Across Canberra at handsacrosscanberra.org.au

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