Tina Arena a vision of calm for Kate Miller-Heidke
What would Tina Arena do? That was the question on Kate Miller-Heidke’s mind at Eurovision.
While nervously waiting backstage in Tel Aviv ahead of her Eurovision semi-final performance this month, Kate Miller-Heidke was doing her best to channel the essence of one of Australia’s greatest singer-songwriters by asking herself: what would Tina Arena do?
“I’m humbled by that because I did speak to her before she went,” Arena said.
“I just told her, ‘Breathe, and don’t buy into the spectacle. Just go in and do what it is that you do beautifully.’ And that’s exactly what she did. She was stunning.”
After more than 40 years in the public eye, and with millions of copies of her 11 studio albums scattered throughout the music collections of everyday Australians, Arena was honoured yesterday at an event named Music in the House at Sydney’s Ivy Ballroom. Arena received an excellence in community award.
Outside of her recording and stage career, Arena’s accolade recognised her fundraising for groups such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, as well as her work as a patron for Soldier On, which supports the rehabilitation of war veterans.
The annual event is a fundraiser for music industry charity Support Act, which helps artists, roadies and music workers in crisis. Previous recipients include Archie Roach, Jenny Morris and Paul Kelly.
Arena was honoured with a series of acoustic performances from the likes of Miller-Heidke, who sang Arena’s 1995 single Heaven Help My Heart, and Melbourne singer-songwriter Ainslie Wills, who performed 1998’s Now I Can Dance.
Music in the House raised more than $200,000 through ticket sales, auctions and raffles, with the final tally still to be calculated.
“It’s a body that ultimately protects the musicians,” said Arena of Support Act. “This is a charity that’s really important for the artistic community.
“Could you imagine how freaking miserable we’d all be in a world without the arts?”
When reminded that one of her most vocal admirers is Scott Morrison, Arena said: “I don’t spend my days thinking about how our Prime Minister enjoys listening to my music.
“I’m very flattered by it. Mr Morrison is a good human being, and I wish him all the best with his job.”
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