A BOLTON bar owner is raising funds for the bushfires ravaging Australia by offering up a selection of iconic Aussie beers.

Steve Simms, who runs Great Ale at The Vaults in Bolton Market Place, is giving all profits on Australia Day–– which will be marked on Sunday –– to good causes related to the fires.

Steve, who is a former rugby league coach, said: “Being Australian, it is hard seeing your country burn away and you really can’t do anything about it. You’re a long way from home. You feel for all your friends and relatives over there and for the Australians that are suffering.

“It is hard when you’re so far away and seeing the devastation. Even if you’re back there and don’t know what you could do, you’re suffering with people.”

While Steve usually holds events for Australia Day, the extra significance is something that he wanted to mark.

To commemorate the day, several popular Australian beers will be on sale, including Crown Lager, Victoria Bitter (VB), Tooheys and James Boag’s.

A brand of bitter made specially for Steve using Australian hops will also be on sale.

All profits are set to go to a charity that is to be chosen at a later date.

Steve said that his daughter Melissa lives near the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales and has seen the damage being done.

Although not affected, the smoke and devastation is something that she has witnessed and is another reason why Steve is struggling with being so far away.

He added: “Most Australians here now would want to support Australians as much as they can. Even the British people, they have a lot of friends and family that live over there and they want to do something.”

Live music will also be played on the day from 3pm, as the bar celebrates and raises the money.

Steve said that he was enjoying his new work as a barman, saying: "Whatever you do, if you give it 100 per cent, you will succeed.”