“I am Bilby”
We’re beyond excited to share a very special collaboration that brings together creativity, community, and conservation.
The “I am Bilby” Tea Towel is a brand-new, heartfelt creation born from a partnership between Carmen Holstein, one of our passionate Charleville locals and bilby advocate, and Ree from Twizzle Designs, an eco-conscious Australian gift brand that shares our mission to protect native wildlife.
This unique tea towel is more than just a kitchen essential – it’s a celebration of our beloved bilbies and a beautiful way to support the work we do at Save the Bilby Fund.
A Thoughtful Gift for Mother’s Day, or Any Occasion
The “I am Bilby” tea towel is a perfect gift for posting to family and friends who live far away, or for anyone who loves Australian wildlife and handmade treasures.
It’s:
🌿 Generous in size: approx. 45cm x 65cm
🌿 Soft and absorbent: made from 94% cotton / 6% linen
🌿 Proudly Australian: designed, printed, and sewn right here in Australia
🌿 Original and exclusive: features a beautiful, heartfelt poem about bilbies
🌿 Lightweight and post-friendly: ideal for sending to loved ones near and far
🌿 Purpose-driven: each tea towel helps raise vital funds to protect bilbies
Meet Carmen – The Heart Behind the Words
My roots are firmly embedded in the red mulga earth
Charleville is after all, the place of my birth
Bidjara country where the Warrego river traces
Full of community spirit and friendly faces
The start of the channel to the Murray-Darling Basin
I had to share the story of the future Greater Bilby is facing
Carmen Holstein was born in Charleville but grew up in the Brisbane Valley. She fell in love with bilbies at a young age, reading ‘The Bilbies’ First Easter’ by Irena Sibley.
Getting to see Frank Manthey in Brisbane with Save the Bilby Fund educating on bilbies cemented her passion for supporting the mission to protect this beautiful little marsupial. Moving back to Charleville in January 2023 with her husband for his work placement, Carmen went straight to the Murweh Shire Council and was a successful applicate for a role with Save the Bilby Fund as a tour guide for the Charleville Bilby Experience. She feels privileged to share the work that Peter McRae and Frank Manthey started with the many tourists that travel through this outback town and put bilby conservation on the map. She feels that this role of conservation education is her authentic self and it brings her a great sense of purpose. Carmen is also a marriage celebrant and enjoys public speaking and writing poetry. She felt the need to put the plight of the bilby into a poem to help tell their story in artistic form.
A Gift That Tells a Story
The “I am Bilby” tea towel is more than a pretty design; it tells a story of Charleville. Carmen’s poem brings to life the beauty and fragility of this native marsupial and invites everyone to be part of its future. Every tea towel sold helps fund our conservation efforts, from habitat protection to breeding programs, research, and education.
By purchasing this tea towel, you’re not only giving a unique, sustainable gift – you’re giving hope to the bilby.
Meet Ree – Founder of Twizzle Designs and Bilby Enthusiast
This special project wouldn’t be complete without the incredible creativity and dedication of Ree, founder of Twizzle Designs. Ree is the heart and soul behind this eco-friendly Australian gift store, and she is truly passionate about creating meaningful, sustainable products that give back to causes like ours.
Ree absolutely adores bilbies, and when we approached her about this collaboration, she jumped in with both feet and a full heart. Her commitment to quality, sustainability, and purpose shines through in every product, and the “I am Bilby” tea towel is no exception.
Twizzle Designs is all about making gift-giving easier, more thoughtful, and better for the planet. Ree ensures that every product in her store is eco-friendly, Australian-made, and designed to make a positive difference. When you buy from Twizzle Designs, you’re supporting local makers, wildlife charities, and environmental causes, all while gifting something truly special.
We are so grateful for Ree’s support, creative spirit, and genuine care for our bilbies. This collaboration is a true labour of love.
Where to Get Yours
You can pick up the “I am Bilby” tea towel now in-store at the Charleville Bilby Experience, but be quick, stock is limited! We’ll also be making them available through our online store very soon, so you can share the message and love of bilbies with friends and family wherever they are.
Keep an eye on our social media for updates on restocks and availability.
Thank you for supporting this beautiful collaboration between Carmen and Ree.
Together, with creativity and care, we can help secure a future for our bilbies.
#SaveTheBilby #IAmBilby #BilbyPoem #TwizzleDesigns #CarmenHolstein #EcoGifts #AustralianMade #CharlevilleBilbyExperience #MothersDayGift #BuyForACause #WildlifeConservation #SaveTheBilbyFund
xo Beck