Send It Down Hughie CD raises money for drought

NATIONAL: Australia's best country singers have teamed to raise money for drought-stricken farmers.

Some of Australia's biggest country music voices have banded together to help raise money for the nation's drought-stricken farmers.

Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, John Williamson and Adam Harvey are just some of artists who are collaborating with Fairfax Media and Country Music Capital News to produce the special album.

There's no phrase quite like 'send 'er down, Hughie', that iconic cry of joy at rain falling from the sky. Unfortunately for many, it's not something that's been said aloud in recent years as dry conditions take hold of much of Australia.

It's a fitting title for a ray of help; Send It Down Hughie 2 features 21 tracks chosen by the artists themselves, reflecting their connections with rural communities and life on the land.

“I will always remember meeting a young farming family from a property near Horsham at a Spirit of the Bush drought relief concert back in 2007,” Kernaghan said.

“After four seasons in a row without being able to get a crop into the ground they were unable to hold out any longer and finally lost the farm the family had worked and called their home for generations.

“The long drought had sent this young farmer to hell and back and he quietly told me how he had suffered from depression as a result of losing everything they’d worked for over the years.

“It was an emotional experience, hearing their story and seeing the human face of drought that day but as we said our goodbyes, this young farmer looked me in the eye and said, ‘Lee, it’s been hard, mate, but I will never give up because my wife and my two little girls are depending on me’.

“So I shook the big fella’s hand, his grip was strong, and as I said goodbye to the family I knew that this was the Spirit of the Bush.”

As a country music singer I spend most of my time touring through regional Australia and I often wonder how those hardworking people on the land keep going. - Adam Harvey

Growing up in Grafton in northern NSW, Troy Cassar-Daley says he wasn't completely aware of the impact industry has on a community, but he knows what happens when it's ripped away from people.

“I come from a small town and loved every minute of my life back in Grafton but as a kid we never understood the effects of industries closing down and how it affected our families,” Cassar-Daley said.

“One thing I did know was that when times got tough, people dug deep to help each other out.”

Fittingly, Cassar-Daley's contribution to Send It Down Hughie 2 was chosen because he wanted to share a sentiment about what small bush towns mean to him.

That track is When A Small Town Dies.

Joining Kernaghan and Cassar-Daley on the album are a range of Australian artists whose job description mean they are constantly on the road, meeting and entertaining people on the land.

Adam Harvey, Kasey Chambers, Luke O'Shea, Felicity Urquhart, The McClymonts, Luke Dickens and the iconic John Williamson have all donated a track to the drought relief album.

Send It Down Hughie is available for purchase online for $30 including postage.

The proceeds from the album will be delivered direct to farming families most in need through the volunteers at Aussie Helpers.

THE VOICES

Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole, Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey, Kasey Chambers, John Williamson, Luke O'Shea, Bob Corbett, Felicity Urquhart, Damian Howard, The McClymonts, Roo Arcus, Kaylee Bell, Luke Dickens, Catherine Britt, Graham Rodger, Dean Perrett, Jeff Brown, Adam Eckersley Band, Kaylens Rain and Grant Richardson.

HOW TO ORDER

To order your copy of Send It Down Hughie 2 and support Australian farmers, visit www.senditdown.com.au.

The album is just $30 and is delivered to your home.

SNEAK PEEK