Golden Stave host Richard Wilkins speaks to TMN

How long have you been involved with Golden Stave and what is your involvement? Like a lot of people who have been going to the Golden Stave….. I can’t remember exactly but a long time! Since back in 1987 I think when I was on MTV. In those days it was pretty much purely music industry. Those early lunches were legendary when Harry Chapman and Michael Chugg would be yelling at the crowd! In recent years I haven’t been able to attend as regularly as I would have liked – it usually coincides with my birthday. I’ve had way too many birthdays so I tend to disappear for the weekend! I have been honoured to be trustee for a while now and this year am thrilled to be hosting and have a table of friends and family attending to support. I’ll will be wearing my sneakers on Friday night though as I also have some Coldplay commitments across the other side of Fox Studios to attend to!

For the first time this event is moving from a lunch to a dinner? Please tell us about the change. In the past the Foundation through their annual lunch and annual Golf Day have raised in excess of $21million for children’s charities. The last few years have been tough for The Golden Stave – attendee numbers have been down and so have larger donations that raise the bulk of the money – this directly impacts the charities that have been recipients of funds for needy projects for years. Back in the olden days you could come to the lunch and forget about work – just say you were ‘off for a seminar’ and that was that! But thanks to our very smart phones, the changing times and also competitiveness of the charity sector – it’s tougher than ever, so we are hoping a night time gig, may encourage more people to clock off and come along.

The event is, amongst the music industry, a key date on the calendar – why is that do you think? We are all amongst friends in the room – it’s such a fun way to network, have a great time and raise much needed funds for NSW children’s charities.

What would you like to see at this year’s event? I’d love to see the younger generation of entertainment and music industry professionals attend and look to get involved in pulling the event together next year. The Golden Stave has been supported by the industry for over 30 years and we need the support of generations to come – without the Golden Stave much needed projects of local charities will suffer.

Do you think there’s a clear relationship between music and children’s charities? Absolutely. For those of us bitten by the music bug, we got it in our childhood and know first hand how much joy music can bring. Through some of the projects we support like Music Therapy programs in children’s hospitals and for children living with debilitating conditions, we are helping children feel the joy that music can bring. Music certainly is a healer and can provide a calming effect in the most anxious of times.

What does the event need to achieve in order for it to be considered a success? In past years we have raised just over $500,000 which is a fantastic result. Last year we didn’t quite get there, but this year with the new night time event and fantastic entertainment we are hoping more people can attend! We have some incredible prizes and media packages up for auction – so if we get 500 – 600 people in the room, we are half way there. 2 of the key money can’t buy prizes this year are signed Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen guitars amongst other things.

Tell us a little more about what the funds raised goes towards? Funds raised are donated to various NSW Children’s charities each year. Projects like funding music Therapy for seriously ill children through projects run by charities such as Cure our Kids and the Nordoff Robbins Foundation. We have also funded respite camps for seriously ill children with high medical needs, through Breakaway. Assisted the Humpty Dumpty Foundation purchase vital medical equipment for hospitals and provided funds for an Independent Special School for prescribed Kind Autism – catering for children with Autism Spectrum. The list goes on. The more we raise, the more of these projects we can fund and support!

You were just honoured with a membership to the Order of Australia. What does this mean to you? I was very chuffed and it was very humbling. I’ve leant my time to a few organisations over the years and have done what I can. You never do this stuff to get acknowledged. I have a down syndrome son and I’ve had assistance with him and know how much getting that support matters and am happy to help and give back.