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LEE KERNAGHAN'S SPEECH - OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA (12th July 2008)

30-08-08

"Prime Minister, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentleman,

Since being awarded Australian of the Year I have continued my travels around Australia and have concentrated on visiting those areas of regional Australia most affected by drought.

The visits to local communities have been a paddock tour of sorts - an opportunity to meet face to face and talk quietly to the Mums and Dads, the Grandparents and the Kids from drought affected communities - to find out from them how they are coping and the issues that are affecting them the most.

There is no doubt the drought has taken a massive toll on a large number of farming families across Australia.
Families and businesses are under a huge amount of pressure and the impact of this incredible amount of pressure on families not only financially but emotionally and psychologically has been immense..... and in some cases catastrophic.

Many families are struggling just to put food on the table and this desperation is compounded even further by several factors.

Not only are farming families battling to save their farms and their businesses, they go to work each day to save the family home - the very roof over their heads.
As you can imagine it is a devastating experience as a family goes through the nightmare of losing their farm and losing their home........and it rips at the very fabric of the local community when another farm is lost or a family is broken apart through depression or the loss of a loved one.

There are many issues to be addressed but the one thing that stood out to me time and again was the issue of off farm income.

Many farming families realise they need to take on a second or a third job in order to work their way out of debt....to restock and rebuild their lives. - but unfortunately the current system of drought relief penalises farming families for taking on additional work off farm. ( Mr Rudd I realise that this policy is one that has been inherited by the previous government...there are some very good parts to the policy as it stands....the interest rate subsidy for instance is extremely important but when it comes to the issue of off farm income we have a real problem that needs to be fixed.)

To give you an example....Should a drought stricken farming family earn more than $400 dollars per week "off farm" they begin to lose entitlements and assistance under the drought relief package. The policy effectively takes away any hope farming families might have of working their way out of debt.....- and hope is something we need to give back to our farming families.

Ladies and gentleman, I think most people agree that if drought relief is to be wound back in any shape or form it would result in one thing - it would break the back of the bush.

I don't believe we should ever treat our farming families as statistics or numbers to be crunched on a balance sheet.
They are real people.....hard working Mums and Dads....Nans and Pops and little kids growing up on the land.
They are not looking for a hand out .....they just want a fair go......a fighting chance.

In my book this is the Australian way.
As a nation we have some important decisions to make.

Do we let our farming families go and become a nation that is reliant on other countries for our food ?
A nation that is reliant on other countries for our fibre ?
Or do we invest in our rural and regional communities ?
Do we invest in the future of Australian agriculture ?
Do we invest in the future of our kids ?

These are the questions we need to ask ourselves right now.
Thank you all and good luck with the nominations.

"Speech presented at the official opening of nominations for next year's Australian of the Year awards."

Source: The Age / Opinion

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Mustering up the Gympie Spirit

28-08-08

Will McMahon, 4, idolises country music legend Lee Kernaghan and the youngster is itching to see his favourite singer take the Gympie Muster Stage.
Will and his father Rick, 31, travelled from Emerald, west of Rockhampton, this week to attend their first Gympie Muster event, sponsored by The Courier-Mail.

"We've wanted to come for about five years and finally decided to come along," Mr McMahon said. "Will is the biggest fan of Lee Kernaghan and Steve Forde. 
                                                       

CAN'T wait! Will McMahon, 4, and his dad Rick at the Gympie Muster, itching to see Lee Kernaghan perform.


"He's got a couple of their DVDs, so I've always told him that one day we'll go see Lee sing.

"The music and the atmosphere and the people makes it good and it should be drier than last year (when torrential rains flooded the festival site)."

Crowds are continuing to roll in to the popular music festival in the Amamoor State Forest site west of Gympie.

The six-day event, which started yesterday, could attract more than 70,000 people and revellers are hopeful the weather will be an improvement on last year, when the downpours trapped fans.

This year's muster has 13 entertainment venues including folk, bluegrass, gospel, blues, bush poetry and theatre stages.

The biggest acts will perform on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Included on the bill are  Kernaghan, Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers and Adam Brand.

Source: Courier Mail

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Atmosphere electric

27-08-08

Rochester came alive on Sunday with 3000 people cramming through the gates to attend the biggest paddock tour Lee Kernaghan has seen.

"It was the biggest and best paddock tour we have done so far," Lee said.

The atmosphere was electric as Lee took to the stage and the crowd rocked along to Boys from the Bush, Outback Club helped by Silent Voices and Spirit of the Bush.

The cows were forgotten as people stayed late to meet their idol and get his autograph.

The day gave farmers and business people of the area a much needed lift and according to organiser Allannah Jenkins "The day was absolutely fabulous. It gives families something else to think about."

August 25 2008
Country News

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Lee Kernaghan says SA farmers deserve better deal

17-08-08

AUSTRALIAN of the Year Lee Kernaghan wants Canberra to increase assistance to drought-hit SA farmers and change policies which penalise their hard work.

The "boy from the bush" made the plea while touring the Mid North town of Blyth yesterday as part of his national Paddock Tour to meet struggling farmers.

He said the local crops looked healthy after substantial August rainfall but a good season would not be enough for farmers to recover from two years or more of drought.

"I appeal to the Government to stand behind these farming families here today and support them," he said.

Kernaghan today mingled with more than 500 farmers and their families at the Blyth-Snowtown Football Club. Since his tour began in April, he has met Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to persuade him to change drought policies.

Kernaghan wants the off-farm income threshold for exceptional circumstance funding increased and South Australian farmers to be guaranteed EC assistance beyond May, 2009.

"I don't think Australia really understands the extent of the devastation, the impact (the drought) has had on farmers. It's not over," he said.

Source: The Adelaide Advertiser

 

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Lee's visit lifts spirits as bush battles drought

11-08-08

LEE Kernaghan's visit to Millmerran yesterday was worth a million dollars, according to Aussie Helpers volunteer David Golding.

"It took (the farmers) away from work for a day. One day is like a week's holiday for some people," he said.

About 1200 people were at Millmerran Showground as part of Kernaghan's Spirit of the Bush-Paddock Tour where, in conjunction with Aussie Helpers, he is visiting communities that have been severely drought-affected.

Fellow volunteer Janet Golding said Kernaghan did what he did best and spoke with the farmers.

"Lee spoke about how important farmers and agriculture was and how farmers always pour in their blood, sweat and tears into their work," she said.

Mrs Golding said a lot of the problems farmers were facing were because of the drought and when trying to get assistance to get back on their feet, the paperwork could be overwhelming.

The event was attended by Federal Minister Tony Burke and Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Peter Taylor.

Source: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3781246 

 

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FEDERAL MINSTER TONY BURKE JOINS LEE ON SUNDAY IN MILLMERRAN QLD TO MEET DROUGHT AFFECTED FARMING FAMILIES

06-08-08

Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan is currently touring drought stricken areas around Australia on his Spirit of the Bush – Paddock Tour and will be appearing in Millmerran on Sunday 10 August 2008.

Lee visits communities which have been severely affected by drought and co-ordinates an event where the community comes together for what Lee calls a day of information and communication. The events are being presented in conjunction with Aussie Helpers, a community based charity that assists families who have been severely affected by drought and which Lee is a patron of.

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, has accepted Lee’s invitation to attend the visit to Millmerran on Sunday 10 August 2008.  The event will be held at Millmerran Showgrounds, kicking off at midday and concluding around 6pm. Millmerran is situated 80 km south west of Toowoomba on the Gore Highway.

Local music artists have donated their talents to entertain the crowd during the day which will culminate in a concert by local musicians between 4pm and 6pm.  Lee Kernaghan and Minister Burke will be in attendance to talk with farming community members from mid-day until approximately 4.30pm.

Formalities will take place from 2pm with speeches from the Mayor of Millmerran Peter Taylor, Local Member Stuart Copeland and local community representatives. Lee will say a few words and also sing a few songs for the gathering.

Lee recently used the launch of the 2009 Australian of the Year Awards held at Old Parliament House in Canberra to draw attention to the plight of drought-stricken farmers. Speaking directly to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the country music star said current drought assistance schemes disadvantaged farmers who worked to supplement their meagre incomes.

''This is a problem that really needs to get fixed,'' Kernaghan said.

''Should farming families on a drought-stricken farm earn more than $400 per week off-farm, they begin to lose very important entitlements under the drought relief package.

''The policy as it stands effectively takes away any hope of farming families ... of working their way out of debt.''

Close to tears, he added, ''This topic makes me very emotional because I know these people, I've met families across Australia in this position.''

Kernaghan said, like the rest of the Paddock Tour, the event in Millmerran will be casual.

“I think it will be a fairly informal gathering, we’ll fire up the BBQ’s, I’ll bring along my guitar but most importantly it will be an opportunity for people on the land to talk to each other about the challenges they are facing right now,” he said.

Information will be made available to farming families on the day, there will be a sausage sizzle and a jumping castle for the kids thanks to the generous donations of local council, businesses and community groups.

The event is also supported by the National Australia Day Council and Toowoomba Regional Council.

For information on Aussie Helpers visit www.aussiehelpers.org.au.

 

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Australian country music legend Reg Lindsay has died, aged 79.

05-08-08

Reg died in a Newcastle hospital this afternoon after a battle with pneumonia, according to his family, the Nine Network reported.

2008 Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan paid tribute to Reg saying that recording with Reg on his Rules of the Road album was a standout career highlight. "Reg was one of Australian country music's greatest stars. Songs like Armstrong, The Empty Arms Hotel and Silence on the line were massive hits for Reg on the country charts and mainstream radio alike.
Reg was a trailblazing pioneer of modern country music. He knew how to take a song and own it. Reg made records that were often way ahead of there time in terms of sound and production. He will be sadly missed but remembered fondly for his vast contribution to Australian country music.

Lindsay won three Golden Guitars and wrote more than 500 songs during his long career that also included two long-running television shows - The Reg Lindsay Country Hour and Reg Lindsay Country Homestead.

He also experienced some success in the United States and was the first Australian to be officially recognised with a plaque on Nashville's Walkway of Stars.

Lindsay suffered a cerebral haemorrhage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 1994.

After a long rehabilitation period, he then suffered a heart attack and underwent a triple bypass.

One of the songs he is best remembered for is Armstrong, which was his tribute to the American astronauts and their historic moon landing and was his first big hit on the pop charts in 1971.

Source: AAP

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'Were' the boys from the bush and we're coming to Blyth'

23-07-08

Blyth is fast becoming the country music capital of the Mid North with Scott Dann and Lee Kernaghan to both pay separate visits next month.
Organised by local Tanya Bertelsmeier, Lee Kernaghan’s The Spirit of the Bush – The Paddock Tour will visit Blyth on August 17.

The tour has been throughout Australia and Kernaghan has teamed up with the rural community assistance organisation Aussie Helpers to visit people from farming areas suffering from the drought.

Aussie Helpers, which recently visited Blyth, encouraged and helped Tanya to get Lee Kernaghan to visit.

“After Aussie Helpers came out I mentioned the Drought Busters concert and Errol (the Aussie Helper who visited) said well what about getting Lee here and from there he told me what I needed to do and organise for it,” Tanya said.

Tanya, who is on the Blyth Primary School’s governing council, decided doing this for the community would be a great idea.

“It has taken a lot of hard work to organise this but the whole community are just completely overwhelmed,” she said.

“And it’s very coincidental that after getting the okay for Lee to come here it started to rain, it really has brought hope to our farmers.”

For the event to happen, Tanya had less than 24 hours to organise support letters from community organisations including Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council, Wakefield Regional Council, Blyth Post Office and the Blyth Primary School.

“I got a phone call from Errol on Thursday night saying I had to have support letters in on Friday (the next day), for the approval, so I rang around frantically and the community really helped me out and we got the ‘all okay’, which is just great,” Tanya said.

With news of a $6000 grant from Landcare Australia, Tanya was able to purchase food and hire equipment for the day including bouncy castles and other activities.

Lee will be joined by good mate Brian Egan, the founder of Aussie Helpers who was forced off his own property in the 1990s and then named Queensland Senior of the Year in 2008.

The visit aims to bring attention to the troubles of rural communities devastated by the drought.

Lyn Stirling, from Blyth Post Office, happily wrote a support letter for the event.

“It’s a great idea, the young ones will love it along with everyone else and it’s not very often someone like that comes to places like this. Well done Tanya to get it in the pipeline,” Lyn said.

Being held at the Blyth Football Oval the day will begin at 12pm and finish at 4pm on Sunday, August 17, and is free for all to attend.

“There is free entertainment, free sausage sizzle and soft drinks along with plenty of activities for the kids,” Tanya said.

Earle’s Transport has given the green light for use of one of its trailers for Lee to set up stage on and the Apex Club of Clare is giving its time to cook the barbecue.

“It’s just fantastic, and she doesn’t know it yet but we will be using her skills in the future…it’s terrific what one person can do,” Blyth Cinema chairman Ian Roberts said.

“Lee will be singing about five songs and then will be talking to everyone possible, will have his photograph taken and give many signatures,” Tanya said.

CHELSEA ASHMEADE
23/07/2008 11:24:00 AM
http://clare.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/were-the-boys-from-the-bush-and-were-coming-to-blyth/1224314.aspx

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Lee Kernaghan - National Tree Day Ambassador

13-07-08

Each year around 300,000 people get involved with National Tree Day, and this includes celebrity ambassadors. Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan continues his involvement as an ongoing Tree Day ambassador and will attend the Tree planting at FEDERAL PARK, Chapman Ave, Annandale in North Sydney on Sunday 27th July 2008. Lee will also be performing a number of songs during the day, which commences at 10am.

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Lee Kernaghan's Paddock Tours

24-06-08

Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan will visit the drought-stricken farming areas around Australia over the coming months as part of his Paddock Tours. These visits are about bringing the community, families, politicians and various support organisations together to discuss the issues facing drought affected communities and look at ways of improving the situation.

The Paddock Tours start with a visit to Mildura. Lee will join the rural community assistance organisation Aussie Helpers to meet people from the Mildura farming area between 11am and 3pm at Barclay Square in Red Cliffs on Sunday 29 June 2008.

"Over the coming months I plan to visit a number of regions that continue to suffer the effects of the drought." Lee said.

"I'll be heading out there to pledge my personal support and salute them for the great Australian Spirit they show on a day to day basis. I hope in some way I can let those families know they are not forgotten."

Kernaghan will be joined by his good mate Brian Egan, Queensland Senior Australian of the Year 2008, who founded Aussie Helpers after being forced off his own Queensland property in the 1990's.

Information will be made available to farming families at the event and there will be a sausage sizzle and a jumping castle for the kids.

For more information on Aussie Helpers visit www.aussiehelpers.org.au

http://www.australianoftheyear.gov.au/pages/page418.asp

 

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