We’ve all heard about the hardship’s of the drought and efforts like parma for a farmer to raise much needed funds. Unless you have a direct connection to it the stark images may not do enough for city people to realise this drought is resulting in bank repossessions and premature deaths. Fellow Central Queenslanders are suffering physically, mentally and spiritually; people you might have walked past in town, or raised your index finger of the steering wheel to as you both went of the bitumen to let each safely pass by on a western highway.
Last week I was fortunate to talk with a country music singer, Tony Cook, about his song’s, including ‘That’s Country’. The video for the song is beautifully shot, really capturing the Queensland outback, and the lyric’s are from someone whose soul is country bred. We talked about the crippling effects of the drought and that some have commented about how Tony’s song has help lift their spirits.
I said Rockhampton should have a signature drought appeal concert and asked if he would perform at it free of charge. Without hesitation he replied yes. I rang Jace at 4RO/KIX FM, said I’ve just emailed you a link to the video ‘That’s Country’, look at it and let me know if we could build a Drought Appeal Concert from this. Again without hesitation he said yes. Then I rang Mick at WIN Television Rockhampton’s office, who without hesitation said they would help promote it as well. Now, a venue. Contacted Colin at the Great Western Hotel, being the logical venue, on Monday he and new part-owner Denis agreed to provide the venue free of charge.
These guys, Tony, Jace, Mick, Colin, Dennis along with photographer Glenn Adamus, all prepared to get behind nothing more than just a concept; this is the spirit that hopefully will spread to make this charity concert a success. We’ve set a date of Sunday afternoon November 11 to hold the Beef Capital Drought Appeal Concert. That is the easy bit done, now to make this work and raise some serious money.
This is what I’m writing about, asking for your help. The concert needs more performers, stage equipment, volunteers, businesses who can help with printing/displaying posters and providing items for a fundraising auction, people to share social media posts and most importantly people to attend. I think everyone would agree that a Drought Appeal Concert is a good thing to support, but I’m not that naive to think just saying there is one on ‘and they will come’.
This is a call out, to show what the Rocky spirit can do. We talk all the time about how good our local talent is, let’s show case it for a cause and highlight the Beef Capital cares. It doesn’t just have to be country music. We talk about how it is the Queensland way to help others when they are down, let’s show how Central Queenslander’s up the ante.
The ticket price for the concert is $29 ( 100% of which is to be donated to a drought charity), if you are a performer who like to help make this price unbelievable value please forward your expression of interest to be involved to me ASAP. As indicated above we are also needing volunteer and corporate support. My email address is warren@apap.com.au.
Next week I plan to bring further information about the concert, including the names of more performers and supporters. In the meantime click on this link to hear Tony’s song, That’s Country; www.tonycook.com.au. Let’s show the Beef Capital Cares.