You can’t judge a man by his tatts

TONY ‘Top Hat’ Moroney looks like a scary bloke. He’s a bikie and he’s covered in tatts — even on his face. But he’s asking for your help to save sick kids.

Would you give this man money?

VICTIMISED, harassed and misjudged, Tony ‘Top Hat’ Moroney could be forgiven for walking away from his one real passion in life — and no it’s not riding a motorcycle.

Tony takes the utmost pleasure in helping sick kids. His days are filled with fundraising activities aimed at easing children’s pain and discomfort while also helping to lighten their parent’s load.

But with his body almost completely covered in tattoos, many are quick to judge. He’s been turned away from fundraisers because of his looks, with some people making the assumption that he must be trying to get money for himself.

“I think it’s disgusting the way some people think they can discriminate against and judge others, just because of the way they look,” he says.

“I don’t think I or anyone else for that matter deserves to be discriminated against. No one knows what someone else is going through at any given moment.”

While taking part in a ‘bras for bikes’ fundraiser the police were even called on him. When approached by an officer trying to sort things out, Tony explained exactly who he was and not only did the policeman fall all over himself apologising, he dug deep into his own pocket to give a donation.

Longman Awards. Federal Member for Longman Wyatt Roy with Volunteer Award winner, "Top Hat" Tony Moroney.

So why does he keep getting inked?

“Because they are so bloody addictive, and I am almost finished!” he says, as his face, the only area left on his body not completely covered in tatts lit up with the thought.

Sadly, the judgement continued after he raised more than $100,000 for HeartKids. Tony says the charity distanced themselves from him due to Queenland’s VLAD (anti-bikie laws).

Over Christmas of 2015, together with some of his friends, who just happen to ride motorcycles, Tony went on a toy drive to deliver toys to sick and underprivileged children. A child in long term foster care stole his heart and on Christmas Day he took time out of his own life to deliver a robotic dinosaur to make the young boy’s day.

With that chapter of his life now closed, Tony has turned his attention to children suffering with Cystic Fibrosis after meeting young sufferer, Chloe Ferguson.

Tony Moroney pictured with Chloe Ferguson, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis.

“I really love to help people especially kids. If we don’t have kids, what have we got? We don’t have anything. They are our future,” Tony explains.

“I met a lot of sick kids in my time working with HeartKids, but none have touched my heart the way young Chloe has. With everything she has to endure on a daily basis and she never complains, how can you not help her?”

Starting off afresh in the New Year with his wife Annie by his side, his aim is to raise another $100,000. He’s just found himself in a wheelchair with a broken right ankle, but he’s not going to let it stop him.

“There are a lot of people supporting us through this, donating online and the like. In fact we raised over $300 with online donations and a bit more from shaking my tin downtown for four days,” he explained.

One thing that is desperately needed for these kids are ‘vests’, machines that work by creating an airflow to help loosen mucus away from the airway walls, making breathing so much easier.

But these ‘vests’ cost a few thousand dollars each and they’re not a luxury parents of most Cystic Fibrosis sufferers can afford.

“People need to dig deep so that these kids don’t go without,” Tony says.

“I’ve now started something and I am not going to stop, not until these kids have everything they need to enjoy a good quality of life,” Tony added. “Broken ankle or no broken ankle, the fight continues!”

You can help Tony by visiting Everydayhero.com