Aussie Helpers

While The Prairie Oysters have been busy working and making a name for themselves, they have also managed to give their time for free to some very worthy causes. The guys have been collaborating with local organisations putting on shows for rural communities suffering the effects of the floods, drought and bush-fires.

The band also gives its time to play at Rock’n’Roll dances to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal. They have also performed for free at several events to help raise money for those affected by the Black Saturday Bush-fires in Victoria.

But it’s the plight of rural Australians that the guys have taken an active interest in. In December 2006, Victoria was in the grip of one of its wildest summers at the height of the worst drought in living memory. People in the cities became aware of the seriousness of the drought as water restrictions were raised to unprecedented levels. Of course this was nothing new for people in the bush who had been on water rationing for years in many cases but for the Prairie Oysters, it gave them their first glimpse at the human cost of the drought.

Tony: “It got us thinking about the things farmers must be going without to make ends meet. We came up with the Rain Dance idea and we’ve been going to tiny communities and putting on free shows. These gigs are by far the most rewarding we’ve done in the 30 odd years we’ve been in the business. We’ve met a lot of great people and made a lot of friends and we’ve been humbled by peoples resilience”

So began a successful series of gigs, taking The Prairie Oysters across Victoria and Southern NSW and collaborating with local community groups. Venues are organised at a local level while the band organises publicity distributing press releases to local newspapers, radio and TV stations to give the event coverage. On the actual night, the band cranks it up and put on a four hour family event for free.

During this time, after a Rain Dance in Gippsland, the guys were approached by a volunteer from Aussie Helpers who told them all about the work they do and the stories of depression, family breakdowns and the tragic suicide rate. They were inspired by the story of founders Brian and Nerida Egan and amazed at the hard work put in by volunteers and the miles they travel to lend a helping hand and a pair of ears to listen with.

Inspired by the work of Aussie Helpers and touched by the situation in the bush, the band went into the studio and recorded a song written by Tony called “When The Dust Settles”. The song tackles the issue of depression with its message of opening up to those who matter in your life and not suffering in silence.

The Prairie Oysters are proud of their association with Aussie Helpers. Please check out their website and donate generously.

Aussie Helpers founder, with Rob and Tony, Toowoomba QLD