By Sonia Isaacs
EIGHTY-year-old Claude “the Mower Man” Harvey OAM rolled into the hinterland last week, adding Beerwah, Maleny and Kenilworth to a remarkable fundraising journey that has raised more than $2.4 million for child-protection charity Bravehearts.
Mr Harvey spent several days at Beerwah Marketplace, chatting with locals, posing for photos and collecting donations as he continued a 15-year mission to raise awareness about child sexual abuse.
A former lawn-mowing contractor, Mr Harvey earned his nickname during his working days on the Gold Coast and has since become a familiar sight pushing his distinctive fundraising mower fondly called “Moyra” through shopping centres and towns across Australia.
His commitment to the cause stems from his own family’s experience of child sexual abuse, which left a lasting impact and prompted him to help protect other children.
Rather than allowing the experience to overwhelm him, Mr Harvey said he decided he wanted to turn his grief into action.
“I could sit around and be upset for the rest of my life, or I could go out and do something about it,” he told GC&M News during his hinterland visit last week.
Mr Harvey partnered with charity organisation Bravehearts, which works to educate, empower and protect children from sexual abuse through education programs, counselling and advocacy.
He now spends between five and seven months each year on the road, travelling through every Australian state, including Tasmania, raising money and awareness along the way.
At Beerwah, shoppers stopped to hear his story, make donations and thank him for his tireless campaigning.
Mr Harvey said he remained humbled by the generosity shown by communities across the country, and had a simple message for those who supported him during his Beerwah visit: thank you.
From Beerwah, Mr Harvey headed up the range to continue fundraising in Maleny before travelling on to Kenilworth.
Despite turning 80, the veteran fundraiser shows little sign of slowing down. After 15 years and more than $2.4 million raised, Mr Harvey OAM remains determined to keep pushing his mower, supporting Bravehearts and raising awareness about the need to protect Australian children from sexual abuse.
