Category: News

Gabba Test to Support Drought Relief

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Cricket Australia Media Release

The Domain Brisbane Test against Sri Lanka will support Drought Relief, with the Australian cricket community encouraged to rally around this important cause.

Fans attending the Brisbane Test, as well as those watching at home, will be encouraged to support Australian communities currently experiencing drought by donating to Rural Aid throughout the Test.

Funds raised during the Brisbane Test will be used by drought relief charity Rural Aid to distribute hay bales and water to drought-stricken communities in Western Queensland and New South Wales.
 
The Gabba will come to life with activations dedicated to raising funds for Rural Aid during the match.

Woolloongabba Place will be taken over in support of the Drought Relief cause, with food vendors offering a ‘Parma for a Farmer’, with $1 from each parma sold going to Rural Aid, as well as a big screen for the cricket, and a mechanical bull.
 
With support of Alinta Energy, all water from the Pool Deck at the Gabba will be repurposed at the end of the KFC Big Bash League season and transported to the Darling Downs region for dairy cattle.
 
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer Kevin Roberts said:
 
“Sport plays an integral part in the community, particularly when it is going through hardship.
 
“We’re very aware of the challenges for farmers and those living in rural Australia, so we want to do all we can to make a difference and have a positive impact on their lives through the Brisbane Test.”
 
Speaking on the announcement, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazelwood commented:
 
“I think it’s really important to raise as much awareness and funds as we can for drought relief.
 
“I’ve seen the effects it can have on a community through experiences form my hometown of Bendemeer and it can be very challenging, so I’m grateful that we’re in a position where we can help make a difference.”
 
Rural Aid is the leading drought relief charity focused on supporting the viability of rural communities across the country.
 
Over the past four months of 2018, Rural Aid has delivered more than 20,000 tonnes of hay to drought affected farmers.
 
In the event of the Brisbane Test extending to Day Five, fans will be able to gain entry to the ground with a gold coin donation to Rural Aid.

Source: Queensland Cricket

TCMF 2019: Festival straw cowboy hat to support Rural Aid

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YEEHAW: Makenzi Ison with sisters Charli, Jordin, grandmother Dot and festival organiser Barry Harley in the new hats. Photo: Gareth Gardner 110119GGB01

YEEHAW: Makenzi Ison with sisters Charli, Jordin, grandmother Dot and festival organiser Barry Harley in the new hats. Photo: Gareth Gardner 110119GGB01

 

FORGET cravats, bowlers and ascots – the straw cowboy hat is the only fashion accessory Tamworth Country Music Festival goers need.

The straw hat has been an icon of the festival for more than two decades, and the newest style officially launched on Friday.

For Tamworth resident Dot Ison, the festival is a touching connection to her late brother, musician ‘Gentleman’ Geoff Brown.

“He was one of the first people on Hoedown when you used to go to bed and listen to the radio,” she said.

“It always will connect me because our whole family will never stop being involved in it.”

The coloured band on the hat changes each year to reflect the chosen charity, and the hats are available for a $2 donation.

This year, a bright blue links the festival hat to Rural Aid, a charity that supports farming families in drought.

It reflects that great Aussie spirit to get in and help one another Mrs Ison said.

“We all love hats I think, it might make you look silly, it might make you look good – bad luck, $2 is not much to ask to support a charity,” she said.

Every year, more than 15,000 hats are distributed to avid fans and festival goers – for some they’re a revered collectible.

The festival hats can be purchased from Ray Walsh House or the Tamworth Toyota Dealership with all proceeds going to Rural Aid.

It’s a great way to show support to farmers in need festival organiser Barry Harley said. 

“The hats have become a symbol of Tamworth and most people when they come really look forward to getting hold of their souvenir hat,” he said.

Source: The Northern Daily Leader

A Benefit Show for Rural Aid Drought Relief

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Article heading image for Keith Urban is Going Back to Where it All Began, Tamworth: ‘A Benefit Show for Rural Aid Drought Relief’

No surprises that when the announcement was made that Keith Urban would be doing a stand alone performance in Tamworth, tickets would be snapped up – and they were.

The acoustic set sold out in just minutes.

Keith Urban announced yesterday that he will give a special performance, ‘A Benefit Show for Rural Aid Drought Relief,’ to take place as part of the 2019 Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth at Tamworth Town Hall on Tuesday 22nd January, the set is scheduled prior to the launch of his “Graffiti U World Tour Australia.

All ticket sales will go directly to Rural Aid,who provide a holistic support program to rural Australia, including those in NSW and most of Queensland who were hit hardest by the drought.

Tickets for the standalone benefit show are on sale NOW:
Phone: 02 6766 2028
Online: www.tamworthtownhall.com.au
In person: Capital Theatre Tamworth or The Big Golden Guitar
Limit 4 tickets per person.

An established charity, Rural Aid was formed to provide assistance for the relief of poverty, illness, distress or disadvantage of individuals and families conducting primary production businesses that have been adversely affected by natural disasters.  With record dry conditions, financial hardship brought on by the drought means money is needed for essential items.

Keith Urban said, “A no frills, no production, free form set list and all to help people who could really use it. It’s gonna be a blast playing the old Tamworth Town Hall!”

Following ‘A Benefit Show for Rural Aid Drought Relief’ at Tamworth Town Hall, Urban’s “Graffiti U World Tour Australia” will begin with a sold out show at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on January 23, followed by shows in Sydney (Qudos Bank Arena on January 25 and 26), Canberra (GIO Stadium on January 27), Brisbane (Entertainment Centre on January 31, February 2 and 3) and Melbourne (Rod Laver Arena on February 5 and 6).

There are limited tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au for Urban’s “Graffiti U World Tour Australia” for shows not already sold out.

Source: TRIPLEM

Rural Aid Tamworth concert raises $2.8 million for farmers

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Relief: The Hay Mate: Buy a Bale concert featured a performance by John Farnham (pictured). Photo: James Brickwood

 Relief: The Hay Mate: Buy a Bale concert featured a performance by John Farnham (pictured). Photo: James Brickwood

Farmers in western NSW will receive hay and hampers in the coming weeks after nearly $3 million was raised to directly aid those affected by the drought.

Rural Aid’s successful Buy a Bale Hay Mate charity concert at Tamworth in October featured the likes of music legends John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite, Guy Sebastian, Adam Harvey and more, come together to support farmers in need.

So far, farmers in Walgett, Narromine and more have received relief, with future hay drops planned for Brewarrina and Coonamble.

The hay has been sourced from South Australia and Western Australia, with farmers to receive approximately eight to 10 bales at a time.

Rural Aid founder Charles Alder said exact number will vary as the organisation are still registering farmers to distribute the hay to.

“Over the course of the following months we are distributing the $2.8 million raised from the Tamworth concert, included in that figure there are $200,000 dollars’ worth of gift cards, another $500,000 of this figure is also scheduled to be distributed in January in North Western NSW,” he said.

Mr Alder was humbled by the community’s efforts.

“These hay drops, hamper giveaways and fuel cards will help make the Christmas period more bearable for our Aussie farmers,” he said.

“Many have struggled to afford the basics and this generosity will help families and their towns get through.”

The visionary behind the event, entertainment industry executive and former musician Glenn Wheatley, will present Mr Alder the $2.8 million cheque of concert proceeds in front of a proud Tamworth community on December, 11.

In another effort to provide as much economic boost to rural communities, Rural Aid has created a new card program that injects cash without any fees to the card holder or businesses directly into the bank accounts of businesses who accept the card.

Every purchase made with a Country Card sees 100 per cent of the value be paid to the retail business, no eftpos or credit card fees.

More information visit www.ruralaid.org.au/countrycard/

Source: Western Magazine

Nine-year-old Parkes artist raises money for Rural Aid

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ART FOR RURAL AID: McPhersons Parts and Service owner David Thompson paid Alana Finnegan $500 for her painting. Photo: Barbara Watt.

ART FOR RURAL AID: McPhersons Parts and Service owner David Thompson and team member Sharon Charlton with Alana Finnegan (centre) and her completed commissioned artwork. Photo: Barbara Watt.

A budding young artist has had great fun completing her first ever commissioned piece.

Owner of local business McPhersons Parts and Service, David Thompson, requested the artwork from nine-year-old Alana Finnegan to contribute to her drought relief efforts.

“Dar [David] saw it and asked if I could paint a blue tractor and donate some of the money to the farmers for the drought.

“I wanted to, I liked the idea and I started painting.”

David said after he and his team saw Alana’s agricultural paintings on Facebook they rang her mother, Michelle, and said they were interested in a tractor.

“We knew she was doing it for drought relief, so we said ‘if she can paint us a New Holland tractor, we want to buy it’,” David said.

“If she is having a go, we want to get involved as well.

“We are giving her $500 for her exceptional painting to donate to whatever drought relief fund she wants and she has chosen Rural Aid.”

A member of Parkes’ “The Little Art Company” for five years, Alana loves painting.

She googled an image of a blue New Holland tractor and got to work.

“The painting took me about three or four days,” she said.

“I painted for a couple of hours in the afternoons after school and we sent progress photos to McPhersons.”

Alana also sells postcards of her other paintings to raise money for drought relief.

“Some of the money I donate to Buy a Bale and some I keep for printing costs,” she said.

“This money I’m donating to Rural Aid because it’s more for the farmers than food for the animals.”

And her next big project?

“At the moment I am doing a request from my Nan,” she said.

“It’s a still life of a water jug and some flowers.

Rural Aid was founded in 2015 to provide a central point of focus for rural communities who require assistance. The charity operates on a nationwide basis.

Source: Parkes Champion-Post