Sydneysiders urged to pay it forward to give farmers a much-needed break
FARMERS brought to their knees by the drought will have the chance to kick up their heels, thanks to city-slickers who shout their country cousins a ticket to a huge charity concert.
NSW
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FARMERS brought to their knees by the drought will have the chance to kick up their heels thanks to city dwellers who can shout them a ticket to a huge charity concert.
Tickets can be bought by Sydneysiders and coastal dwellers for Hay Mate: Buy A Bale — A Concert For The Farmers as a donation, which will then be given to the worst off farmers within 250km of Tamworth.
Buses will collect the farmers and take them to the concert at Scully Park in Tamworth on October 27.
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“If you can’t attend Hay Mate in Tamworth, then buy a ticket for the farmers and their families who can,” 50-year music industry veteran and concert organiser Glenn Wheatley said.
Graziers Graham and Jodi Wilson and daughters Emily, Bridget and Megan have been promised the first donated tickets to Hay Mate, which will be their first ever major concert.
The crippling cost of hay has meant the Wilsons haven’t been able to afford to fix their fridge that broke four months ago and a concert was the last thing on their mind.
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Their 728ha property at Manilla hasn’t had meaningful rain in 12 months. They are relieved to be able to take their minds off household bills and handfeeding cattle for a night.
“I can’t wait to see John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite and Guy Sebastian, but best of all it will be nice to enjoy a night as a family, which we haven’t done in a long time,” Mrs Wilson said.
All proceeds from the concert will go to Rural Aid, which will also pick the most deserving farmers to go along for free.