Follow the Beary Big Trail!!
Sometimes life has a funny way of coming full circle and our involvement in LifeFlight’s Beary Big Trail in Toowoomba is a perfect example!
We’re thrilled to announce that Tambo Teddies is proudly sponsoring a bear in Toowoomba’s Beary Big Trail, a wonderful public art initiative supporting the lifesaving work of LifeFlight.
And, of course, when there’s a trail full of bears, you can bet Tambo Teddies wants to be involved!
Our contribution will be Outback Ted, a bear celebrating our rural roots, our love of the Australian bush and the remarkable resilience of outback communities.
But it’s the story of our chosen artist, Sandy McLean, that makes our involvement particularly special.
Let’s rewind to the early 1990s, when Tambo Teddies was just getting started. Like so many families across western Queensland, Sandy and her family were doing it tough. Living on a sheep property at Augathella, they were battling the double blow of persistent drought and crashed wool prices.
Off-farm income was becoming increasingly important, and a little business over in Tambo was offering an opportunity to earn some extra money by sewing sheepskin teddy bears.
Sandy decided to give it a go.
Unfortunately, teddy bear sewing wasn’t quite her calling! Of the first ten Tambo Teddies Sandy made, seven failed quality control!
Needless to say, Sandy’s career as a Tambo Teddy sewer was rather short-lived.
While she might not have made the grade as a teddy bear maker, Sandy certainly wasn’t short on artistic talent. Fast-forward more than 30 years, and Sandy McLean is now an accomplished artist whose creative talents are far better suited to a paintbrush than a teddy bear sewing machine!
When the opportunity arose to sponsor a bear in the Beary Big Trail, we couldn’t think of anyone better to bring our Outback Ted to life.
And we’re pretty confident that this time, her bear will pass quality control with flying colours!
There’s something rather wonderful about the connection. Both Sandy’s story and the beginnings of Tambo Teddies are intertwined with the challenges of life on the land, the wool industry and the determination of rural families to find new opportunities during difficult times.
A Beary Good Cause
While we’re having a little fun with Sandy’s sewing history, there’s a very important reason we’re involved.
LifeFlight provides vital aeromedical and emergency rescue services, particularly for people living in rural and remote Queensland, where distance can make accessing emergency medical care a challenge.
As a business born in the Queensland outback, we understand just how important these services are to regional families and communities.
Sponsoring a bear in the Beary Big Trail is a wonderful opportunity for Tambo Teddies to support LifeFlight, celebrate local creativity and contribute to an exciting community initiative in Toowoomba, the city that is also home to our Tambo Teddies Regional Sewing Hub.
Our bear, Outback Ted, will be Sandy’s artistic interpretation of the Australian outback and our iconic Stockman Tambo Teddy.
We’re delighted to be part of the Beary Big Trail and look forward to seeing Outback Ted join the other wonderfully creative bears. Launching in March 2027, Toowoomba’s Beary Big Trail will see 20 larger-than-life, beautifully decorated teddy bears popping up around the city. Starting at Cobb+Co Museum, the trail will wind its way through the beautiful Queens Park before finishing in the Toowoomba CBD.
It’s a wonderful opportunity for families, locals and visitors to enjoy a leisurely stroll, discover some amazing artwork and snap a few photos with their favourite Teds along the way!
Best of all, the trail is free to explore, and it’s all for a fantastic cause, raising awareness and support for LifeFlight’s lifesaving services.
So grab your walking shoes, bring the family and get ready for a beary big adventure in Toowoomba. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for our very own Outback Ted!
Find out more about the Beary Big Trail: www.bearybigtrail.org.au
