FIVE months on from the Longwood bushfires, fire-affected residents of Strathbogie and Mitchell Shires have received a major boost, with nearly $200,000 from the Tones & I Bushfire Recovery concert donated to the Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
The community-run concert grew out of a local campaign, “Bring Tones & I to Longwood,” which caught the global star’s attention and drew 5,000 people to Longwood oval in support of their community’s recovery after the devastating January fires.
The donation was made possible by a volunteer committee, the local footy club, the CFA, a $25,000 State Government grant secured by Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland and $25,000 from Tones & I’s own ticket sales.
SDRF Community Advisory Committee member Alister Purbrick said the donation had come at a vital time.
“The long road to recovery feels even longer at this time of year, with the cold and wet weather making being out of home, without one’s creature comforts, particularly confronting,” he said.
“The Fund has already distributed over $250,000 to those in our communities who need it, and the $190,000 donation from the Tones & I concert has meant we are in a really strong position to have a much greater impact with how we help.”
Purbrick said the SDRF was working with specially formed Community Recovery Committees to identify priority needs — including restoring community halls, repairing private infrastructure, and social initiatives supporting the wellbeing of fire-affected residents across both shires.
“Although we can’t cover the full cost of what these communities need to rebuild, we can offer hope – by staying on the ground, representing them, continuing to seek donations, and then providing grants to support community agreed priority projects.”
For more information or to donate, visit www.strathbogiedisasterrelief.com
