Celebs film a shout out for farmers
Rural Aid’s annual fundraising concert is 48 hours away, and a swathe of celebrities have been sending messages of solidarity, calling on Australians to get behind the event.
CEO John Warlters said singers through to sporting stars have been voicing their support for the importance of farming and raising awareness for the challenges farmers face on the land.
“It’s been quite humbling to see the reverence these leaders and populars personalities have for rural Australia. We hope the nation will get behind this great lineup of singers and musicians and help us raise funds for farmers in need and communities that deserve stronger futures,” Mr Warlters said.
“Everyone from Jimmy Barnes to Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Vera Blue, Kate Ceberano, Natalie Bassingthwiate, Dami Im, Casey Donovan, Isaiah Firebrace, Chris Sebastian and many more have been so passionate about supporting farmers after a year of floods, bushfires and devastating ongoing drought,” Mr Warlters said.
Australian professional beach volleyball player and Olympic gold medallist Natalie Cook OAM sent a video to all Australians this week.
“Farmers and those on the land who grow our food have had to deal with fire, drought, flood over the past few years, and of course now covid 19. And whilst they’ve battled to stay the course to get food to our plates, it’s been tough… I invite you to join me in supporting Rural Aid and our farmers so we can keep getting food to our plates,” she said.
Former Wallaby Tim Horan sent a message of support saying, “As we all know many of the farmers and families in rural and regional Australia who grow our food have endured some pretty tough times with drought and more recently Covid. Rural Aid will be raising funds with their concert and all funds raised on this national television event will go towards assisting our farmers into the future…”.
Channel Nine’s Allison Langon, who will host the concert, shared her experiences as a child on the land.
“I grew up on a farm and I know the feeling when the dams are empty and paddocks are brown, that’s why Rural Aid is there. I mean, last year $28 million is what they spent helping farmers… and more than 15,000 of them. Whether farmers need counselling, water, hay, whatever farmers need they’re there. And they need your support,” she said.
The concert airs 7.30pm Saturday night on Channel Nine. You can donate at goodonyamate.org.au
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