G’Day USA 2020: Stars deliver touching messages to firefighters and bushfire victims
Stars have joined Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta and many others at the G’Day USA gala where there were tears and stories on how some survived Australia’s bushfire hell.
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While the glitz was toned down in wake of Australia’s bushfire crisis, there was still a touch with glamour at the annual G’Day USA gala in Los Angeles today.
Actress Naomi Watts simply dazzled as she breezed through to the gala reception but it was her estranged husband Liev Schreiber that won hearts on the blue carpet.
Stopping to address media, Schreiber explained why he wanted to support a night dedicated to raising relief funds - and why he’ll always love down under.
Schreiber spoke about the depths of his roots to Australia with the two children he shares with ex-partner Watts.
“I’m thoroughly committed to Australia,” the Ray Donovan star said.
“12 years and two kids will do that.”
While Schreiber was generous with his time, Watts bypassed the blue carpet and headed straight into the dinner.
“It’s personal for me,” Schreiber added.
“I have two kids who are Australian and care deeply about the wildlife. So donate to wildlife, particularly WIRES!
“Australia is one of my favourite places and I love it. I have a deep connection. Since Naomi (Watts) and I split up, I haven’t been as much but my kids go all the time.
“I haven’t seen my Aussie family in a while but they’re always in my thoughts. The Australian people are in my thoughts.”
It comes as some of Australia’s biggest names came together in Los Angeles at the annual G’Day USA gala to raise money for bushfire relief.
Olivia Newton-John, “honorary” Aussie John Travolta, Paul Hogan, Joel Madden, 5 Seconds of Summer, Delta Goodrem, and Men at Work’s Colin Hay were among those who attended.
Now in its 17th year, G’Day USA is Australia’s top American economic and cultural diplomacy push.
Australian actress Danielle Macdonald (Dumplin’ and Unbelievable) revealed her personal connection to the bushfire crisis.
“We were at my cousin’s house at Bateman’s Bay over Christmas and three days later their house burned down,” the actress said, tears in her eyes.
“We ended up driving 13 hours south to get out and it was a journey that should have taken three hours.
“But seeing the dead animals in the burnt-out areas we drove through is something I can never unsee. It’s horrifying.”
Goodrem said she hadn’t “stopped crying for months” as the fires raged on, and explained she wrote her new ballad Let It Rain as her way to help
“For me, what can I do? It’s music. I wanted to say thank you to the firefighters, and I didn’t know how to reach them. If one Australian is hurting, we all are,” Goodrem said.
She later performed her new track over images of devastated communities and bewildered animals. There was not a dry eye in the house.
Newton-John, who will fly home to perform at the Fire Fight Australia benefit on February 16 alongside good mate John Farnham in her first performance since cancelling all touring plans after her cancer diagnosis, said this year’s G’Day USA was particularly special.
“This one feels extra special because it’s not just patting each other on the back, it’s helping the whole country,” Newton-John, who walked the blue carpet with niece Tottie Goldsmith, said.
“We’re suffering and the animals - it breaks my heart.”
“It means everything because I think it’s more important than individuals. This is a whole country, this is communities being lost, animals being lost. I can’t watch the animals, it breaks my heart. I feel like an ostrich because I can’t watch it.”
She told News Corp Australia her daughter Chloe had been impacted by the air in Melbourne while she filmed Dancing With the Stars.
“My daughter is doing Dancing with the stars in Melbourne and the smoke is really bad - people in masks. Whoever thought we’d see that?”
“It’s been a really difficult but now we have to regroup and dig down.”
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Newton-John’s close pal Travolta said he felt “honoured” to be part of such a good cause.
“It’s an honour for me to be here always but tonight it’s about changing the theme of the evening and it’s about helping people and wildlife,” he said.
Travolta also said he wanted Americans to know it was “fine for people to go to Australia.” “We’ve got Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne. People can still visit. It’s still a beautiful country and I was still there, man so I know first-hand so I want to encourage tourism and help the people who need help.”
The Grease alumni joined Hugh Sheridan and Delta Goodrem on stage at the event to sing Peter Allen’s perennial favourite I Still Call Australia Home to a room of homesick Aussies.
It was a poignant end to an evening that raised money for bushfire relief efforts and bonded a bunch of expat Aussies missing home.