Griffith City Council, Murrumbidgee Regional Conservatorium of Music (MRCM) and Western Riverina Arts have banded together with local musicians and businesses to present a fantastic family concert to benefit communities affected by the recent tragic bushfires.
The benefit concert will be held on Friday 13 March from 4pm at Memorial Park.
Local residents are invited to bring a chair or picnic rug to Griffith Memorial Park for a fabulous family evening of great local music, with local wine and beer and community food stalls. A jumping castle and children's activities will keep younger ones occupied while the adults chill out to a lineup that includes local legends Happy Avenue, Ben Ceccato and Ali Ratcliffe, Tamworth award winner Jorja Dalton, jazz ensemble Little Big Band and Griffith City Band.
All proceeds will go to Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) which offers direct grants to affected communities and WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue.
Manager of Griffith Regional Theatre, Raina Savage approached fellow members of the MRCM to see if they were interested in organising a benefit concert to assist in the rebuilding of affected communities. Their enthusiastic response was repeated by everyone the group approached for support.
"The response from everyone has been overwhelming. Council embraced the idea with generous financial and in-kind support, and local musicians lined up to volunteer their time. But the response from local businesses really blew my mind," Ms Savage said.
"Coates Hire have donated all of the materials and equipment we need, Casella Family Wines and Yenda Brewing Co are sponsoring the bar and donating the proceeds, and Pristine Productions are supplying and managing the performance side."
The Area News, WIN TV and Austero are supporting the event with HIT FM team Claire and Brando as emcees on the night.
Aanya Whitehead, Executive Director of Western Riverina Arts said: "Having recently moved to Narrandera, I came from the ravages of the fires and the utter destruction that comes with it. Any action that people across the country can take makes an enormous difference to lives elsewhere. Western Riverina Arts did not hesitate to become involved."
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Local musician Ben Ceccato was one of the first to volunteer his services to perform at the benefit and to organise other musicians to participate.
"The Griffith music community has rallied to the cause and there is a fantastic lineup of entertainment. With so many communities devastated by the fires we are calling on the Griffith community to get behind this effort to raise some serious money to help them get back on their feet," Ben said.
Businesses wanting to make donations or pledges for raffles to be run on the night should contact Raina Savage at Griffith Regional Theatre on 6962 8444 or [email protected]
The Griffith Bushfire Benefit will be held at Memorial Park on Banna Avenue on Friday 13 March from 4pm to 9.30pm.
Tickets are $25 adults Advance (until 5pm, 12 March) and $30 on the gate. Children 5 -17 years $10 and under 5 years are free.
Tickets can be purchased from the Griffith Regional Theatre Box Office, by calling 6962 8444 or visit www.griffithregionaltheatre.com.au
Griffith Regional Theatre is a cultural facility of Griffith City Council and is proudly sponsored by Griffith City Volkswagen.
