About 400 music fans gathered at Kootingal Bowling Club on Sunday, January 10 to raise money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, with artists including Tom Maxwell, Rob Breese, Brian Howard, Graeme Doubleday, Rex Baldwin and Tommy Chesterfield.

The Tamworth Support Group for the helicopter service celebrated 11 years of the fundraiser on Sunday.

Concert organiser Maureen Gardner said the show was growing each year, although numbers were down a little this year.

“It all went very well, but we were down from last year which is a sign of the times,” she said.

“The flooding on the coast could have had a lot to do with it.”

Those who attended enjoyed the music the balladeers had to offer, as they got an insight into what the Tamworth Country Music Festival offered.

“People were saying it was very good because it was straight out all balladeers, no rock ‘n’ rolling and that,” Mrs Gardner said.

Helicopter service volunteers travelled from near and far to assist with the running of the concert.

“We had three from Gunnedah, two from Coonabarabran and seven from Tamworth and they all worked their little hearts out.”

Organisers are not sure how much was raised as yet as they finalise the counting this week.

“Whatever they gave, it was very, very much appreciated,” Mrs Gardner said.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service will also be fundraising throughout the festival on the corner of Peel and Brisbane streets in front of the Westpac Bank and at venues like Lindsay Butler Studios.