More than $4.5 million has been raised from The Sting – Leeuwin Estate Tsunami Benefit Concert, held on February 10 at Leeuwin Estate Winery in Margaret River.
Sting donated his performance and the winery underwrote all other costs associated with the concert up to $500,000.
The WA Government matched the funds raised by the concert dollar for dollar, which helped reach the $4.5 million plus total.
The concert was a sell out and the winery reports that a large number of attendees also elected to make an additional donation with their order.
Many suppliers, volunteers and Leeuwin Estate staff donated their services to assist with the benefit.
Picnic hampers, restaurant dining, an alfresco Asian banquet and afternoon teas were used to raise further funds.
Automotive Holdings Group and several Kalgoorlie mining companies contributed significantly to funds raised through restaurant VIP packages.
Supporters of those VIP packages included:
- National Jet Systems through the supply of two 70-seat aircraft that were used for fly-in fly-out packages with guests travelling from as far away as Kalgoorlie;
- The owners of the True North cruiser, who donated a two-night, three-day cruise, which also formed a special concert package;
- Qantas donated return business class tickets from both London and Los Angeles as part of packages to bring people in for the concert. These packages, along with similar offers from Emirates, Air Paradise and Royal Brunei were auctioned with proceeds going to the tsunami relief appeal;
- Skywest donated flights from Broome, Karratha and Port Hedland; and
- Celebrated WA cartoonist Paul Rigby signed a limited edition commemorative cartoon Wave of Goodwill with all proceeds going to the appeal.
Many of Margaret River’s accommodation houses donated part or all of their takings from the night to the cause.
All proceeds raised from the event are going to UNICEF’s emergency work and other Australian registered charities supporting the tsunami victims.
