The New South Wales town of Gunnedah has adopted the mantle “Koala Capital of the World” as its official civic byline, but it’s also widely recognized as hometown to one of the top natural wonders of the world: Miranda Kerr.
When our office was closed over the Christmas break, a member of the Pedestrian crew was driving through Gunnedah en route to their holiday destination when they spotted a billboard touting the town’s two most popular attractions (which are, coincidentally, also the two most popular attractions that foreign tourists most hope to cuddle when visiting Australia):
Considering Ms Kerr is, quantifiably, the most SEO-friendly Australian celebrity, it’s no surprise the Gunnedah Shire Council would want to take advantage of her high profile… however it turns out that the billboard shoot was actually the brainchild of the Victoria’s Secret Angel herself.
We spoke to Chris Frend, Economic Development Officer of the Gunnedah Shire Council, who told Pedestrian that Miranda approached the Council in mid 2008 to do some promotional shots with koalas for a ‘Gunnedah – Koala Capital of the World’ tourism campaign.
Chris said that Kerr had been on location in Gunnedah for a David Jones campaign shoot when “Miranda approached us [about taking the photos to appear in the billboard campaign], which is indicative of her support for the town.”
As you can see from the pictures, in the campaign Miranda wears a profoundly unchic (albeit quite rural-destination-appropriate) outfit of polo shirt and cap, accessorised by one of Gunnedah’s regional treasures that boasts the same approximate size and cuteness level of Miranda’s face-punchingly adorable child, Flynn, when he was one month of age.
Chris told Pedestrian, “She’s a wonderful ambassador and uses every advantage [including her self-penned Kora Organics blog] to promote Gunnedah when she can.”
How’s that for civic pride?
Miranda Kerr evidently treasures her hometown – in the same way that she treasures Miranda Kerr!
