Blyth is fast becoming the country music capital of the Mid North with Scott Dann and Lee Kernaghan to both pay separate visits next month.
Organised by local Tanya Bertelsmeier, Lee Kernaghan’s The Spirit of the Bush – The Paddock Tour will visit Blyth on August 17.
The tour has been throughout Australia and Kernaghan has teamed up with the rural community assistance organisation Aussie Helpers to visit people from farming areas suffering from the drought.
Aussie Helpers, which recently visited Blyth, encouraged and helped Tanya to get Lee Kernaghan to visit.
“After Aussie Helpers came out I mentioned the Drought Busters concert and Errol (the Aussie Helper who visited) said well what about getting Lee here and from there he told me what I needed to do and organise for it,” Tanya said.
Tanya, who is on the Blyth Primary School’s governing council, decided doing this for the community would be a great idea.
“It has taken a lot of hard work to organise this but the whole community are just completely overwhelmed,” she said.
“And it’s very coincidental that after getting the okay for Lee to come here it started to rain, it really has brought hope to our farmers.”
For the event to happen, Tanya had less than 24 hours to organise support letters from community organisations including Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council, Wakefield Regional Council, Blyth Post Office and the Blyth Primary School.
“I got a phone call from Errol on Thursday night saying I had to have support letters in on Friday (the next day), for the approval, so I rang around frantically and the community really helped me out and we got the ‘all okay’, which is just great,” Tanya said.
With news of a $6000 grant from Landcare Australia, Tanya was able to purchase food and hire equipment for the day including bouncy castles and other activities.
Lee will be joined by good mate Brian Egan, the founder of Aussie Helpers who was forced off his own property in the 1990s and then named Queensland Senior of the Year in 2008.
The visit aims to bring attention to the troubles of rural communities devastated by the drought.
Lyn Stirling, from Blyth Post Office, happily wrote a support letter for the event.
“It’s a great idea, the young ones will love it along with everyone else and it’s not very often someone like that comes to places like this. Well done Tanya to get it in the pipeline,” Lyn said.
Being held at the Blyth Football Oval the day will begin at 12pm and finish at 4pm on Sunday, August 17, and is free for all to attend.
“There is free entertainment, free sausage sizzle and soft drinks along with plenty of activities for the kids,” Tanya said.
Earle’s Transport has given the green light for use of one of its trailers for Lee to set up stage on and the Apex Club of Clare is giving its time to cook the barbecue.
“It’s just fantastic, and she doesn’t know it yet but we will be using her skills in the future…it’s terrific what one person can do,” Blyth Cinema chairman Ian Roberts said.
“Lee will be singing about five songs and then will be talking to everyone possible, will have his photograph taken and give many signatures,” Tanya said.
Don’t forget about the Kauzzie Boys Drought Buster on August 30, for a ticket contact Tanya 8844 5345.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter