A COUNTRY music showcase to drum-up some cash for the region’s struggling farmers is set to light-up Wests Leagues Club’s Blazes room on July 22.
The gig will be headlined by country music superstar Lee Kernaghan with all proceeds going to the Tamworth ‘R U Aware, We Care’ initiative delivering cash and supplies to local farmers affected by the drought.
A swathe of local artists jumped at the chance to be on the ‘We Care Concert’ bill.
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Tamworth-based singer Ryan Harris said it was a “no-brainer”.
“I’m from a farming family and generations of farmers,” he said.
“We run our cattle down in Young and just on Sunday afternoon we trucked a load of cattle we couldn’t afford to feed.
“This is really important to me on a personal level because I get it.”
Golden Guitar winner Ashleigh Dallas said she’s come across some heartbreaking stories in the local salon where she works.
While the concert will hopefully see plenty of cash flow, Ms Dallas hoped it would raise morale too.
“There’s a whole community out there behind them and there’s a whole community out there that are battling the same issues as well,” she said.
Wests chief executive officer Rod Laing said he’ll urge other clubs in the New England and North West region to think of some initiatives they could drive to help the wider farming community.
“The stories I hear on a weekly basis are heartbreaking at times,” Mr Laing said.
“As a leader of a business, it’s very hard to stand by and, perhaps, do nothing and let the situation slip away even further.”
Tamworth mayor Col Murray said every cent donated to the campaign was delivered to farmers with no overhead costs to the fundraising drive.
“The money is channelled directly into the Salvation Army and I’d like to reassure any potential donors there is no take-out; there is no administration cost,” he said.
Tickets for the ‘We Care Concert’ are available through the Wests Leagues website.
People can donate directly to the campaign online at www.ruawarewecare.com.au
Farmers should be encourages to contact Tamworth Salvation Army immediately for assessment by text, email or in person at the Corps - text: 0408990883 or email: chaplaincysupport@aue.salvationarmy.org
The concert will feature Lee Kernaghan, along with Ashleigh Dallas, Dale Duncan, Lyn Bowtell, The Crosby Sisters, Marie Hodson, Ryan Morris, Splashpool, Pixie Jenkins, John Krsulja, among others.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
