Each year, nabtrade, an award-winning investment platform for online trading, cash and international trading donates a day’s brokerage to support an organisation that’s making a real difference in the community.

Rural Aid CEO John Walters says the rural charity organisation is delighted to announce it is the 2020 charity of choice for nabtrade’s charity trading day, which is today: 26 November 2020. 

80% of nabtrade’s brokerage will support Rural Aid’s Young Minds program, which helps improve mental wellness for rural youth. The remaining 20% will be donated to the ASX Refinitiv Charity Foundation which has partnered with ten Australian charities that provide support and financial assistance to children, disability and medical research.

Rural Aid was established in 2015 to provide holistic support to rural Australia, and is now one of the largest rural charities in the country.

“Our Young Minds program will launch in 2021 to increase mental wellness and education in rural areas by reducing the stigma amongst school age children. The program will include presentations, workbooks, journals, peer support and counselling for participating schools in selected regions of New South Wales and Queensland,” Mr Warlters explained. 

Last year, nabtrade supported the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners, in 2018 they partnered with the Alannah & Madeline Foundation whose mission was to protect children from violence, and the year prior The Luke Batty Foundation was the beneficiary of the initiative.

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Spokesperson: CEO John Warlters 0409618641
Media contact: Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935 media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au

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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With Rural Aid’s national concert only days away, the organisation says the support of singers, musicians and songwriters has been overwhelming. 

Rural Aid CEO, John Warlters, said performers have been incredibly generous in their support of the event.

“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. 

Two artists were so moved by the initiative, they wrote a song.  

“When Lee Kernaghan and Mick Lindsay heard that we were planning a fundraising concert in November to help farmers through the many challenges that form part of life of the land, they sat down and wrote “Good Onya Mate” – which is also the title of our concert.” Queensland country music star Mick Lindsay’s first three chart topping singles have clocked up 4 million streams and were played by over 450 stations across the country. Rural Aid is hoping the new track, “Good Onya Mate” to be launched at the concert, will be just as successful. “It’s an amazing feeling to contribute to such an Important cause and I hope my contribution inspires others, whether that be donating time, money or resources to Aussies in need,” Mick Lindsay said.  “Aussies helping Aussies has always been the backbone of this nation – this song is about mateship and how that has always been the Australian way.” 

Excerpt: Good Onya Mate
We never saw it coming
Never thought we’d see this day
Seems like all at once
Been a long haul
Backs to the wall
It was touch and go for a while
Good onya mate 
Seeing it through
Lending a hand 
We can always count on you
When times are tough
And the pressures on
You don’t give up
You don’t give in

“The lyrics of this song could resonate in many different ways and I hope Australian can relate it to an experience they have faced or are facing. Never be too proud to accept a hand up and always remember to look back and lend a hand to the next person along,” Mr Lindsay said.  

The funds raised on Saturday night will go towards the Rural Aid’s Stronger Futures program. 

“This is our plan to enable resilient and sustainable rural communities to thrive into the future,” Mr Warlters said. 

“The money will underpin our rural counselling services because one conversation at the right time, with the right person, can change everything. It will allow Rural Aid to continue its community building – to work with towns to bring their renewal projects to life.” 

Nine television personalities Richard Wilkins, Allison Langdon, Brooke Boney and Alex Cullen will host the concert from Bella Vista Farm in Sydney. To donate go to www.goodonyamate.org.au or call 1300 327 624.
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Contact Mick Lindsay via Rikki-Lee 0428 429 905