12:00a.m. 8th October 2008

Leanne Walsh from Butterfly Kids helps mayor Bob Abbot cut his birthday cake.

Mayor Bob Abbot has become something of a fashion icon in the past couple of weeks.

Council staff donned the mayor’s famous braces to celebrate his birthday and the sale of the fluorescent suspenders helped raise $10,000 for Sunshine Coast charity Butterfly Kids.

“I guess it’s something I really enjoy doing, I just walk around and look beautiful,” Mr Abbot joked as he signed the cheque.

“It’s good for me, it’s good for the kids and it’s good for the organisation (Butterfly Kids).”

The idea to follow Mr Abbot’s taste in accessories on his 58th birthday came about through a staff member, but, given the popularity, it was decided the braces should be sold at $5 a pair through Heritage Building Society branches Coastwide.

With suspenders in short supply before the date, and given the popularity, there is talk of making it an annual event.

“I’m stunned, I didn’t think we’d get anywhere near that amount,” Mr Abbot said.

“I was only thinking last night, ‘How can we repeat this?’. Who knows, this might be national in a couple of years.”

Butterfly Kids spokeswoman Leanne Walsh, echoing Mr Abbot’s sentiments, said the money would go towards recreation-based respite programs. “People don’t realise just how much in need parents are of just a few hours of rest to recharge the batteries,” she said.

Mr Abbot said he would celebrate his birthday with a family dinner at the pub.