If there was one genre of music synonymous with living and working on the land, it would have to be country.
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That’s why it comes as no surprise that the organisers of the Bellbird Country Music Talent Quest want to do their bit to help farmers in the grip of drought.
Members of the event’s fundraising committee – Jenny Irwin, Glenys Elbourne and Janelle Briggs – presented a cheque for $6352 Rural Aid counsellor Gary Bentley for the organisation’s Buy A Bale campaign.
“The money is funds that we’ve raised over the last couple of years and it was just sort of sitting there,” Mrs Briggs said.
“We’re all country people and we know what it’s like in times like this so we thought the drought was more than a worthy cause.”
The fundraising committee, which numbers eight, has also put out a challenge to other community groups to “put their money where their mouth is” to help farmers doing it tough.
“It’s good to see more and more people getting behind our farmers but it would also be good to see other groups get off their butts and do their bit,” Mrs Briggs said.
Mr Bentley said that all of the money donated to the fundraising committee would go directly to helping farmers on the ground.
“The money will go straight into the Buy A Bale bank and it is such a fantastic donation,” Mr Bentley said.
Mr Bentley added that while the farmers were the last people who would want a hand-out, the time had come where it is unavoidable.
“Farmers will always help themselves but it’s fast getting to the point where there’s no help left,” he said.
People will also have the chance to get behind this worthy cause when Buy A Bale – A Concert For Hunter Farmers kicks off at Cessnock Leagues Club on Thursday.
The night will feature Cessnock local and CMC Male Artist of the Year Travis Collins performing alongside The Viper Creek Band, Mickey Pye and more.
Tickets are $10-$50 (pay what you can afford) and all proceeds go to Rural Aid’s Buy A Bale campaign.
The Cessnock community has really been getting behind the Buy A Bale campaign with Cessnock West Public School, last week, raising $1123 for the initiative.
The school also donated a literal truckload of non-perishable items.