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The creation of Willy began in January, 1982, when the need was identified for a team mascot for the Australian
Olympic Team travelling to the games of the xxiii Olympiad, in Los Angeles in 1984.
The Australian Olympic Teams prior to this, didn't have a mascot, and Willy was created not only as a focal point for
public support, but also as a fundraiser, with Willy royalties contributing to the $4 million odd needed to send our teams
to both the summer and winter Olympics in 1984.
Creating Willy was not an easy task. He had to be lovable. He had to be uniquely Australian, and had to represent
the Australian spirit. He also had to have the determination to try for Olympic victory, as Australians always have.
Willy's name was chosen because it seemed to fit the theme that was developing around the character............
Where there's a Will, there's a way to L.A.
The Australian Olympic Committee ( AOC ), licenced nearly 100 products as official Olympic goods, bearing
the Willy name.
These products raised $800K in revenue towards the AOC kitty for our teams' participation in the Games.
Willy appeared live in front of some 6000 schoolchildren each week throughout Eastern Australia, to further his
exposure to the public.
The rest they say, is history..............
We have taken to Willy, and although he has changed somewhat in the last 20 years, he remains our lovable, little battler
mascot.
Our Willy's Story
When I was 2, I was given a tiny little koala by the special needs gentleman living across the
road. I carried this koala everywhere.........
One day, after visiting my Oma and Opa, I found that the little koala was missing, and threw a hissy fit !!!
Despite thorough searches of both our and their houses, and the way between these houses, my little
koala stayed lost.
I was inconsolable............... :0(
After 2 weeks of tantrums and tears, my dad, in desperation, visited a 2nd hand shop in the hope of finding a koala that
was at least similar in size to the one I lost.
Well, he didn't find one, but he did find WILLY !!!
I very quickly decided that Willy was indeed a very acceptable replacement koala, and I have been collecting
these Willy koala's ever since.
- Misha, aged 9
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