Red kelpie Ruby raises thousands of dollars for drought and bushfire relief from Instagram fans
Chris Hemsworth may be our tourism ambassador but the real face of Australia to the world is Ruby the red kelpie – an Instagram star from a farm just outside Tamworth who has raised thousands of dollars for drought and bushfire relief.
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Forget tourism ambassador Chris Hemsworth, the real face of Australia to the world is Ruby the red kelpie.
The Instagram star from a farm just outside Tamworth has a legion of international followers, keeps in regular touch with a Canadian supermodel and has raised thousands of dollars for drought and bushfire relief.
“I never thought what an impact she would have when I started her posts on Instagram,” Ruby’s owner Lynda Hill said.
“I think it must be because she is a red kelpie and Red Dog is so popular but she has followers all over the world.”
Ruby’s posts have reflected the struggles of Australian farmers everywhere as they have battled bushfires and the drought, with pictures showing the increasingly bone dry red earth of her home.
“The most moving post was when we had to get rid of the last of our cattle,” Mrs Hill said.
The photograph, taken from behind Ruby’s head, framed her ears either side of the truck pulling out through the gate.
Canadian model Tamara Kristen Balazsovits wrote: “I honestly didn’t know about these problems before.”
And American actor Brett Butler who stars in Grace Under Fire joined thousands of followers from all over the world in expressing her support.
“Beautiful Australia needs our fervent high up angelic prayers,” she wrote to her followers.
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Mrs Hill said: “Ruby is very popular in the Middle East and Russia – we have had people messaging us from all over the world.
“We had one from Finland saying they have raised $5000 for drought relief and another from New York saying they had an office get-together and raised $10,000,” Mrs Hill said.
Recently followers from Canada and Sweden turned up at the farm to meet the superstar working dog in person as part of a Ruby inspired tour to boost the bush.
“She is an ambassador for Tamworth and for rural Australia,” Mrs Hill said.
“People say to me that she should stand for election because she is doing more to raise awareness of problems in the bush than our local MP Barnaby Joyce.”
Originally published as Red kelpie Ruby raises thousands of dollars for drought and bushfire relief from Instagram fans