My Grandmother used to say ‘a plate takes longer to fix than break’. The rain we enjoyed on the weekend doesn’t end the drought. Even those out west who got some rain would have seen it slip away into those cracks on the ground, temporarily halting them from growing wider.
Last week I mentioned how the Beef Capital Cares Drought Appeal Concert at the Great Western Hotel on November 11th came about with Rocky’s can-do spirit. Well, plans are in full swing. Joining WIN Television, 4RO, KIX FM, Great Western Hotel and APAP Events in holding this community driven charity concert are Paradise Signs, Ooh Media, Screen It Solutions, Platypus Road, HIT FM, Triple M, Nu-Tank, Glenn Adamus Photography, RockhamptonTickets.com.au, Digital Mercury, The Morning Bulletin and hopefully more to add. Cressy Tennis Club have also offered volunteer help on the day.
The Beef Capital Cares Drought Appeal Concert is being held at the Great Western Hotel on Sunday 11th November from 12 noon to 9.00pm. In less than a week fifteen professional musical performers have so far expressed interest in performing for free. Even a band who are on tour from Western Australia. Sound Engineer extraordinaire, Keith Walters from Razorback Studio, has agreed to be involved to ensure a great sound is continually produced over the 9 hours.
The concert is being promoted under the banner of ‘Stomp the Crack’, which you may have noticed on the new digital sign on the corner of Bolsover and Fitzroy Street. The ‘Crack’ referring to the only thing that grows in the ground during drought. And ‘Stomp’, well that’s what the music will have your feet doing. Tickets for the 9-hour charity concert will be just $29 each, accompanied children 17 years and under free. The line-up of musical artist’s is not finalised but it will feature a mix of country, blues, popular and rock music.
The question now, how many will attend and how much can be raised? Advance tickets sales are vital to logistically make this event work well for everyone. An extra thousand people unexpectedly turning up on the day will be great in many ways, but many problems will arise too; seating, staffing, food, even the size of the PA system needed. Please start buying your tickets now through www.rockhamptontickets.com.au.
I realise this is a big ask without knowing the line-up, but like the businesses and performers who are showing faith in this just 10-day old event, I think there are those keen to get involved now because you know this is going to be something special, something good to be part of. Local businesses have readily jumped on board, local musicians willingly answering the call to give freely their time, individuals calling offering to help; this is community spirit in action, each doing their bit to help those doing it tough, resulting in the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Now we need the public to respond. The bigger this event the better, but only if managed well. Getting your tickets early will help immensely.
More corporate support would also be very much appreciated. From just offering stock to auction or raffle, agreeing to display a poster, printing posters, sharing social media posts, helping towards covering the unavoidable expenses. Contact me at warren@apap.com.au.
The Beef Capital Cares Drought Appeal Concert is only three and half weeks away, let’s show how much community spirit can achieve and that the Beef Capital Cares for our fellow Queenslanders.