Secret Sounds announces FLOOD AID, proudly presented by Bank of Queensland via Banter
Two weeks ago, the Northern Rivers of NSW and Southeast QLD were devastated by a natural disaster of unimaginable magnitude and severity.
Today Secret Sounds is announcing a range of fundraising initiatives to assist with recovery across the region, with a target of raising $1 million in one month and a commitment that 100% of money raised will go directly to flood affected communities.
Says Paul Piticco, co-CEO, Secret Sounds: “I live in this region. My nearest town is Murwillumbah and it has been devastated. Local schools, friends’ homes and businesses, lives and livelihoods all just swept away by the floodwater. This story is repeated in Lismore, Ballina, Mullumbimby, Coraki, Brisbane and many other communities. The recovery, physically and especially mentally, is going to take a long time and will need lots of support so I am very pleased Lifeline is providing targeted and specialised assistance for everyone that has been affected. It has been an extremely tough two years for the music business but we are still here and still banding together to help our communities. Please join us. Give generously, buy a ticket, buy a shirt, make a bid and support however you can to get these families and towns back on track.”
Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival Byron have kicked off the fundraising with a $100K donation each ($200K in total). Bank of Queensland has also jumped on board as a key sponsor to help make the concerts happen with the partnership brought to life via Banter.
Says Martine Jager, group executive retail banking, Bank of Queensland: “From Gympie to Lismore, and many areas throughout Queensland and NSW, we’ve seen the devastation the floods have had on our people, customers and their local communities. We’re so pleased we could come together and help those who have been impacted, while also supporting the music industry which itself has faced many challenges from the pandemic. We’re proud of this partnership so let’s all do what we can to get onboard, buy a ticket and support Aussie music and communities.”
From fundraiser gigs and limited-edition merch items to auctions, there’s a range of ways the public can get involved to help the cause.
Tickets for all shows on sale 12 noon AEDT, Thursday 17 March (Today!)
ANDY GARVEY + DAMEEEELA + DJ SEINFELD + FLUME (DJ SET) + JONO MA + RONA
Kingscliff Hotel, Kingscliff – Saturday 19 March
BERNARD FANNING + THE RUBENS + CUB SPORT (DJ SET) + LAST DINOSAURS + STEVAN + HANNI
The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane – Saturday 26 March
WOLFMOTHER + DUNE RATS + TEX PERKINS & JEZ MEAD + WAAX + KOBIE DEE + MYLEE GRACE
Byron Beach Hotel, Byron Bay – Saturday 26 March
All money raised through the campaign will be distributed between four key organisations to provide direct assistance where it is needed. Every cent of every dollar raised will go directly to the community. All recipient organisations have made this commitment.
LIFELINE will provide tailored face to face and digital psychological first aid for affected communities including counselling, information resources for individuals, crisis helplines and Lifeline text. These services are being specifically created for these communities and for this situation.
GIVIT is a national donation platform managing donations of items, services and funds for people impacted by floods across parts of Queensland and New South Wales. GIVIT works directly with councils, outreach teams, charities and community groups in impacted areas to identify exactly what’s needed to make sure people get what they need, when they need it.
The local newspaper of the Bundjalung region, KOORI MAIL is wholly owned by five Bundjalung Aboriginal community organisations. These regions have been severely flood impacted and fundraising will directly support these communities.
The well-established Byron Community Centre has partnered with regional philanthropic body, NORTHERN RIVERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, to support a community led flood recovery. Funds will be distributed to grass roots community organisations throughout the Northern Rivers Region, getting help to communities when and where they need it.
It is impossible to overstate the impact of the flooding that hit Northern NSW and Southeast QLD a fortnight ago. All previous records were smashed by metres. Roads and bridges were washed away. Schools were destroyed. Thousands of homes were inundated, with water levels in Lismore exceeding a previously unfathomable 14 metres. Residents climbed into ceiling cavities to escape the floodwaters or onto rooftops in hope of being rescued by civilians in tinnies.
Huge landslides moved houses down mountains in the hills behind Mullumbimby, and now scar the Northern NSW hinterland. Heroic community members trekked through the bush, across raging torrents and waist high mud to rescue the isolated and injured. They carried in generators, fuel, supplies, even a satellite dish and radios and they encountered scenes that no civilian volunteer should ever have to witness.
Further south in Woodburn and Coraki the floodwater has only just subsided and a massive clean-up effort is underway in that devastated region.
Thousands of homes are now uninhabitable. The families who lived in them are facing an uncertain future. Northern NSW was already facing a housing crisis and the situation is now critical. Many have also lost their businesses or income for the foreseeable future.
Whether directly affected by flooding or volunteering for rescue and clean up, this disaster has been traumatic for the entire community and has taken a huge emotional toll on everyone in its path.
Your support, to help raise as much money as possible for devastated communities, is much appreciated!
Secret Sounds would also like to thank Wanderlust, Jack Daniel’s, Byron Bay Brewery, Smirnoff and Red Bull who have also jumped on to assist with this campaign.