In a powerful show of support for flood-stricken farmers, the Gympie Music Muster has announced it will donate 100 per cent of proceeds from its existing official merchandise range to BlazeAid, backing the grassroots volunteer organisation as it rolls out a massive recovery operation across Western Queensland.
BlazeAid is a volunteer-driven, boots-on-the-ground organisation that is establishing four recovery base camps in Longreach, Winton, Blackall and Quilpie, where teams will help rebuild more than 15,000 kilometres of boundary fencing destroyed in recent flooding.
The Muster’s connection to BlazeAid is not new.
The organisation’s volunteers are the backbone of the Muster’s campground each year, serving as wardens and caretakers.
“BlazeAid are big friends of the Muster,” said Gympie Music Muster CEO Greg Cavanagh.
“They work tirelessly over five weeks.
“We are big supporters of BlazeAid and they’re big supporters of us.
“We help people out.
“That’s what the Muster does.
“Our aim is to sell all our current merchandise over the next four to six weeks.
“If we can do that, we can help the cockies get back on their feet.
“We hope, as the nomads come through, we’ll put out some flyers encouraging people to donate to BlazeAid.
“We really hope people can get behind this initiative.”
BlazeAid CEO Melissa Jones said the situation in Western Queensland is dire, and the need is urgent.
“We’re hearing reports of 90–95% stock losses on some properties,” she said.
“Every cow buried represents a loss of around $1,500 to $2,000, and that’s just the beginning.
“With an average of $18,500 per kilometre to replace fencing, this disaster is something many farmers simply won’t recover from without outside help.
“BlazeAid doesn’t receive government funding.
“We’re entirely supported by everyday Aussies and corporate community partners like the Muster.
“It costs about $5,000 a week to run each camp.
“These donations will go towards tools, feeding the volunteers, and getting them out to the properties to help – it all adds up, and every dollar donated through this campaign will go straight to the farmers.
“We’re getting volunteer inquiries thick and fast—people from all over the country, even the world.
“From fencing and cooking to admin, there’s something for everyone.
“Our oldest volunteer is 90 years old, and we welcome anyone with a good heart and a willingness to help.”
The idea for Gympie Music Muster coming on board came from long-time Muster supporter and former Gympie Apexian Wayne Sellick, who has spent considerable time travelling through the Western Queensland outback in recent years and formed close ties with the locals.
“In the last three years we’ve spent time in Western Queensland travelling,” Wayne said.
“I’m a carpenter so I do a little bit of work out that way and got to know a lot of locals—the publican at Eulo, the Brick Hotel in Quilpie. “We’ve spent months and months at the pub at Windorah, and we always call into the little towns.”
Wayne’s connection to the region runs deep, and when he saw the devastation following the floods, he knew something had to be done.
“We only got back from Windorah four weeks ago and we’ve formed quite a good bond with the locals out that way,” he said.
“I said to my partner, I wonder if we could sell merchandise or do some bloody thing to help these poor buggers out there.”
After speaking with Gympie Music Muster CEO Greg Cavanagh, the pair quickly agreed to get a fundraising campaign off the ground.
Wayne sees the grey nomads travelling through the outback this winter as a key audience to spread the word and drum up support for BlazeAid’s recovery work.
“Our target is the grey nomads travelling through that area and with Muster’s help we will connect with their loyal patrons as well,” he said.
“As soon as the road is open, the ground is dry, we’re loading up and heading up there. We will hit the ground running. The big thing is to get to these towns and promote this.”
Armed with flyers and a QR code linking directly to the Muster merchandise page, Wayne hopes the campaign will inspire travellers to support the cause.
“We just want to help these communities. They’re doing it bloody tough,” Wayne said.
Muster merchandise will be available via the official Gympie Music Muster website from today, with 100% of proceeds going directly to BlazeAid to support disaster recovery in Western Queensland.
