LIMESTONE Coast rock fans dug deep at Sunday’s Red Hot Summer Tour to raise over $30,000 for the Country Fire Service (CFS) Foundation, capping off a stellar festival.
The joint initiative between the Old Mount Gambier Gaol venue, tour operators and the Compton CFS Brigade resulted in the substantial donation which will assist firefighters in financial need.
While around 4500 festival-goers emptied their pockets to fill donations tins being rattled by volunteers, star attractions Killing Heidi and The Angels also contributed by donating their merchandise proceeds to push the final figure over the $30,000 mark.
Old Mount Gambier Gaol owner Jamie Stephenson spruiked the idea along with his wife Melissa just days before the event, with the CFS and Metropolitan Fire Service embracing the concept.
“To be able to have 4500 people in the one spot does not happen very often in Mount Gambier,” Mr Stephenson said.
“So to have a chance to get such a large crowd to support this cause was ideal.”
Mr Stephenson said given the devastation of bushfires currently being broadcast across the country, he decided it was right to give back.
“I thought if everyone who was attending could put one dollar in then we could raise a couple of thousand dollars,” he said.
“But to raise this amount was unbelievable.
“There is nothing else like this in Mount Gambier and we have done nothing like this before but to see the smiles on peoples faces and having them thank the CFS was incredible.”
Compton CFS First Lieutenant Gary Stevens said the community and attendees were beyond generous with their donations as volunteers barely had to “shake the tins”.
“We have had a few firefighters so far in the summer that have been burnt attending the fires,” Mr Stevens said.
“The money raised will go towards assisting firefighters like those while they are out of work and so forth.”
The CFS volunteer said it was “fantastic” to see so many people get behind the cause, labeling it “very Australian”.
“Throughout the whole day people were willing to donate and there were many people who donated multiple times,” he said.
“The support from the community was overwhelming but the spirit was incredible.”
With a number of volunteers currently on deployment at bushfire hotspots, including Kangaroo Island and interstate, Mr Stevens said volunteers at the event were received praise from the community for their efforts.
“There are a lot of firefighters who have suffered themselves from the fires and this will allow them to get back on track and get back to fighting the fires even though they have lost themselves,” he said.
“We all know what Australians are like but everything was put into the forefront for us when people showed their appreciation and pulled together.”
Toasting the success of another tour, Mr Stephenson praised the crowd behaviour.
“The show was a great line up of rock royalty and is a great thing for Mount Gambier,” Mr Stephenson said.
“It is something I feel privileged to bring to the city and showcase what the community spirit is like around here.
“The community response for both the show and the fundraising was overwhelming and just goes to show what we can do if we all pull together.”
The CFS Foundation was incorporated 19 years ago and provides financial support to volunteer fighters who are in need of financial assistance following fighting fires.
Donations can be made at the Old Mount Gambier Gaol this week.
