Double~take | Red Shield Appeal

Poverty | a life sentence?

What some people will do for money…

Stand on top of a fire truck frantically phoning people to get donations to a) get themselves lifted as high as possible by the fire truck bucket; or b) failing that, to get sufficient funds to avoid being hosed down by the fire hose…
Hold a fundraiser garage sale outdoors in 33 degree heat, with the humidity making it feel like 40… (and periodically “accidentally” getting caught in the line of fire of the car wash being run concurrently…)
Confidently march to the front doors of dozens of houses to ask for cash, receiving only a sausage sizzle lunch and a free Big Mac at the end of the day for their efforts…

What some other people will do for money…

Walk day and night on the streets in tight skirts and stilettos to sell themselves: body and soul - two for the price of one…
Beg from strangers, “borrow” from friends and break their family’s bank - without realising they’re breaking hearts as well. They can quit anytime they want to.
Wager their high school statistics results against a loaded die in a rigged system - $5 for the chance of $50,000? Bargain! Someone’s got to win sometime… just one more shot… just one more…

What happens when you bring these two groups together? You tell me.

Double~take appears every Saturday on theRubicon. Find past Double~take posts and a bio of Stephanie Hung here.