Casey Donovan backs DoSomething Day, saying a simple kind gesture is all it takes to help others

CASEY Donovan says it’s OK to be selfless — even if you’re not having a good day, helping others can cheer everyone up.

• The DoSomething Day homepage
• Sydney, it’s time to DoSomething
• DoSomething near you
• Your Local Club

Casey Donovan is a firm believer in random acts of kindness. The star of We Will Rock You is showing her support for the DoSomething Day campaign by encouraging people to combine their passion with volunteering.

“I do charity gigs where I give up my time to help others. I mean, that’s the best thing about music. It’s for everyone to enjoy and it makes the world go round. Being able to combine charity and music is fantastic for me. And if there’s something that someone is passionate about it makes giving back a little more special,” Donovan says.

Launched by NewsLocal newspapers, the DoSomething charity and Your Local Club, DoSomething Day aims to encourage everybody to pitch in and do something positive in their community.

Casey Donovan is backing NewsLocal’s DoSomething Day campaign.

It might be helping an older person with their shopping, buying a homeless person a cup of coffee or a meal, picking up rubbish in the park or mowing an ill neighbour’s lawn.

Big or small, it doesn’t matter. As long as it improves the community or makes a positive difference to someone else’s life, we want to celebrate it.

If you can’t find the time to volunteer, Donovan says a simple gesture can also have an enormous impact on another person.

“You never know what’s hiding behind a person’s smile, and you don’t know what someone is going through, so to do something nice for a stranger might make a huge difference to their day.”

Casey Donovan with the cast of We Will Rock You perform at Circular Quay in Sydney.

Donovan recently took time off from the music industry to help as a driver for the Liverpool Indigenous Land Council, where she met and spoke with locals each day.

“It was great to talk to the elders, to hear if they were having a good day or a crap day, and just be someone they could rely on.

“It’s OK to be selfless sometimes. Even if you’re having a bad day and you’re not feeling it, it can really change your day.”

Donovan in 2004, singing on Australian Idol. Picture: Network Ten

Doing something for someone else is more important now than ever before, says Donovan who suggests getting in contact with your local council or your local member to find an activity that you think is suitable.

“We live in such a cyber bubble, it’s important to get out of it and see how much more of the world we’re missing.

“There are heaps of organisations that offer a range of things for you to do something. It could be donating time at a soup kitchen, participating in Youth Week — there’s just so much available.

“If you can, help out — head in with the kids daycare and make something crafty or contribute to a local concert, or smile at someone. Find your something, and do it.”