More music acts & brands come on board Hay Mate: Buy A Bale drought relief concert

The John Farnham-headlined Hay Mate: Buy A Bale drought relief fund in Tamworth on October 27 is set to make millions of dollars as more music acts and major brands swing their support behind it.

On the weekend, Daryl Braithwaite, The Veronicas, INXS’s Andrew Farriss, Jon Stevens, Aleyce Simmonds, Tim Wheatley and X Factor contestant Nat Conway were additionally announced.

They join the previously announced Farnham, Guy Sebastian and Adam Harvey.

Organiser Glenn Wheatley is believed to be negotiating with more major names.

Also on the weekend, Nine Network announced it would broadcast the show live from 7pm on Nine and 9Now.

The broadcast will include a telethon manned by celebrities to raise funds.

Nine’s head of content, production and development, Adrian Swift, said: “Nine is hugely committed to helping Australia’s farmers. And the job isn’t over yet.

“Hay Mate will be a major television event featuring some of Australia’s biggest musical acts with all profits going to Rural Aid.”

Qantas, which has partnered with Rural Aid has introduced a $1,999 charity flight from Sydney to Tamworth.

It departs Sydney on October 27 at 11am, and arrives in Tamworth at midday.

It returns to Sydney the next day (Sunday 28) at 11am for the one hour flight.

The package includes:

• VIP tickets to the concert including a private viewing area and catering.
• One night’s accommodation including breakfast at a 3-4 star hotel.
• Ground transport in Tamworth between the airport, accommodation and concert venue Scully Park.
• Champagne brunch in the Sydney domestic business lounge on departure.
• Inflight refreshments and merchandise.

All proceeds will go directly to Rural Aid to purchase hay bales, water, fuel and groceries for farmers and fund counsellors for rural communities.

Qantas has already donated $1 million upfront to Rural Aid. Further Qantas and Jetstar appeal initiatives will raise another $1 million.

A spokesperson for the airline said: “We’ll match these fundraising efforts, with the aim of providing the charity with a total donation of $3 million by the end of 2018.”

See HERE for the other initiatives.

Toyota is involved in the concert supplying a fleet of vehicles to move artists and guests around and also help Rural Aid’s mental health counsellors travel.

Woolworths gave $1.5 million to launch a national appeal, and says generosity of its customers has totalled $7 million in donations.

Following on from Jimmy Barnes’ donating all 2018 royalties from his Working Class Boy doco soundtrack, Shannon Noll’s Lean On Me will also forward all proceeds to farmers’ relief.

“They have to know they’re not alone,” Noll says, remembering how he and his brothers had to sell off the family farm during a drought a decade ago.

Country singer songwriter Fanny Lumsden has done a series of fund raisers, while John Williamson is also set to be part of a major concert in September,

A few weeks ago Lee Kernaghan headlined a RU Aware We Care benefit show in Tamworth which raised $40,000 after 800 packed out the Wests Leagues Club.

More than $55,000 has been raised via a relief campaign, which is a joint initiative between Tamworth Regional Council, 88.9FM and local businesses.