LUTZ, Fla. — January 26 is Australia Day, usually a day for celebration. But at the Australian restaurant Walkabout Eatery in Lutz, the celebration took on a more serious meaning Sunday.

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"It's like our 4th of July celebration for the country," said Walkabout Eatery owner Regina Johnston. "So we did an event and it just happened to coincide with the tragedy that's happening in Australia, so what we're doing is proceeds and people are donating, providing silent auction items — all of that's going to the Australian Red Cross for relief." 

Natives from "Down Under" and those who support them packed the restaurant all day long, singing songs and eating meat pies and sausage rolls. Some also recalled dealing with brush fires in Australia.

"We've personally lived through it ourselves," said Australian native Cathy Elliot. "Having the place surrounded by fires and evacuating and evacuating the horses, but it's the aftermath of it, it's all the moms and dads who've lost everything. They don't have insurance. they've lived there for 50-60 years or even generations and it's gone."

Her husband, Matt, says he's just glad they can help.

"It's a little tough being so far away," Matt said. "You feel a little helpless, but days like today where there's going be a lot of money raised to help makes you feel like your contributing a little bit, even though you're so far away from home."