Following the devastating bushfires on the weekend, mindful of the immediate needs of many of our own local communities, Twestival have suggested donating proceeds from this Thursday night’s Melbourne leg of the Twestival to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

All proceeds from tickets purchased via the Amiando website will still go directly to charity: water, but all entry fees and donations taken at the door on Thursday night will be given to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Fund to assist individuals and communities affected by the weekend’s catastrophic events.

Help Melbourne’s Twitter community in supporting both charities by coming to Horse Bazaar this Thursday night.  Entry is by any donation of $5 or over, which can be paid via the Amiando website or at the venue on the night.  Come, imbibe, meet, Tweet and give.

As part of a family whose Gippsland community has been ravaged by these bushfires, which remain an ongoing concern in many parts of the state, I would like to thank Twestival for supporting our cause and for creating this opportunity for global generosity. @jackshigh

Head to Amiando now for tickets!  Entry will be via $5 donation - you can buy tickets now at Amiando or simply pay at the door.  Any extra donations are welcome, with all money from every ticket and each donation going straight to charity: water.  We’ll have limited free drinks (kindly provided by Zendesk - get there early!), a soundtrack by Twitter DJs and the chance to meet other members of the Twitter community of Melbourne, all for a good cause.  Spread the word now - follow @MelbTwestival on Twitter, retweet updates and RSVP to the Facebook event.

The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.

Follow @MelbTwestival
Melbourne Twestival on Facebook

More discussion about Melbourne’s twestival is at this Facebook event.

Also please follow @MelbTwestival for Twitter updates.

The Melbourne Twestival is a part of the global Twestival to raise money for charity: water, happening Thursday February 12 locally at Horse Bazaar in Little Lonsdale Street.

From the main Twestival site:

On 12 February 2009 100+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.

In September 2008, a group of Twitterers based in London UK decided to organise an event where the local Twitter community could socialize offline; meet the faces behind the avatars, enjoy some entertainment, have a few drinks and tie this in with a food drive and fundraising effort for a local homeless charity.

The bulk of the event was organized in under two weeks, via Twitter and utilized the talents and financial support of the local Twittersphere to make this happen.

Around the world similar stories started appearing of local Twitter communities coming together and taking action for a great cause. Twestival was born out of the idea that if cities were able to collaborate on an international scale, but working from a local level, it could have a spectacular impact.

By rallying together globally, under short timescales, for a single aim on the same day, the Twestival hopes to bring awareness to this global crisis.

charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations by funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need.

Just getting started organising the Melbourne Twestival with a booking made at Horse Bazaar for February 12.  Am seeking anyone interested in helping with fundraising ideas and also with audiovisual expertise so we can best Twitterise the unique and wonderful screens the venue has.

Please contact @jackshigh via Twitter or email me to register interest.

It would be much appreciated if you can all Tweet out a note to let all Melbourne Tweeps know about the Twestival too.

Look forward to meeting you and raising some money on February 12!