Adam Brand brightens the day of front line health care workers

Front line health care workers have taken centre stage after having their days brightened by an Australian country music star.

AWARD-WINNING country music singer Adam Brand is normally the star of the show.

But during this COVID-19 pandemic, he believes it is the front line health care workers who have taken centre stage.

Working weeks straight without a day off and putting themselves at risk to save others – these heroes work in a sometime thankless job.

However, some workers received an amazing reward for their efforts last Friday after getting the chance to spend the day with one of the country’s biggest country music stars.

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As part of his role as an ambassador for Bartons Car Dealership, the 12-time Country Music Awards of Australia winner, Brand spent the day at the company’s Wynnum car yard cooking lunch for nine front line health care workers after they received an invite as part of a competition.

Adam Brand spends day with health care workers at Bartons Wynnum.

A star of the Australian country music scene since 1997, Brand said this pandemic gave him the chance to give back to other Australians in a different way other than performing.

“This time has presented opportunities for me to do things like this that I really enjoy and just to give back to these workers who have been through the absolute ringer during this pandemic,” he said.

Adam Brand spends day with health care workers at Bartons Wynnum.

“Some of the workers down there, their stories are just incredible. One lady had worked for 63 days straight without a break.

“Most of the people there were health care workers but we also spoke to a man who was a security guard at a Westfield Shopping Centre and hearing the amount of hours he has worked too, was just amazing.

“The time we spent together was amazing, obviously we couldn’t have too many people there but just to hear their stories and brighten up their day for a little bit was a great feeling.”

Adam Brand spends day with health care workers at Bartons Wynnum.

Jo Harden, who runs three medical centres in the area and was the person who had worked 63 days straight, said the event helped her take a breath and have fun after a stressful past two months.

“It has been incredibly stressful, especially the first couple of weeks after this (COVID-19) started. At that time we never had enough PPE, we weren't getting much direction from the government so it was just an unknown.

“There was one day where I just cried because I was scared, scared for my workers, friends and family because of the unknown.

“The event on Friday was great, it just was a chance to not think about everything that has happens and just enjoy something. It was very special.

“Brand said he enjoyed being an ambassador for a company such as Bartons because they were family and community orientated and an event like this showed those qualities.

Managing director of Bartons, Mark Beitz, said they wanted to use ambassadors like Brand more during this COVID-19 crisis.

Adam Brand spends day with health care workers.

“Adam has been an ambassador with us for a few years and talking with him he came up with the idea of cooking for front line workers,” he said.

“People had to be nominated and we then chose the top nine people who all got lunch cooked by Adam.

“It was so well received and just our way to give something back to those who are working tirelessly during all of this.”

Adam Brand is a legend of Australian country music. Picture: Adam Head

Brand, who is based on the Gold Coast, had just released his latest album on March 13 and was preparing to go on tour before the coronavirus struck.

However, it may have come at the perfect time with the star needing time to repair issues with his vocal cords.

Adam Brand with daughter, Pepper Nicha Brand. Picture Glenn Hampson

But Brand said, although he may not be performing via livestream like so many other artists, he preferred to help by doing events such as the Bartons lunch.

He also said his fans could keep up with his activities, such as his time with his family and daughter, on his social media pages.