Tasmanian Angels plan for Saint’s day

After Tasmania’s devastating fires this summer it could be said we need some Angelic or saintly help.

Some of that help comes from true angel, Rick Brewster.

Rick Brewster is a Tasmanian angel In more than name.

Yes, Rick is one of the members of rock group ‘The Angels’ , but he is an angel in the true sense of the word in organising a fund-raising , ‘The Phoenix Festival’, appropriately named for the mythical bird that arose from the ashes as this gig, among other fund-raisers, will see the affected communities also arise.

Rick became a Tasmanian five years ago, deciding to relocate to Tasmania ‘to avoid the Sydney traffic’.

He loves the climate and the open spaces for the children to play in and enjoys keeping animals like the little dog that as we are speaking is running about, wrestling with a stolen egg that is proportionally larger than itself, as the rooster crows his displeasure.

Rick lives near the airport which allows him quick access to weekend gigs on the mainland. The location also saw him come close to being affected by the recent Tasmanian fires and as Rick said, if the wind had taken a different turn, his property would have been in danger; indeed it was in enough danger to see him have to evacuate during the crisis.

This experience encouraged Rick to help those that hadn’t been so lucky, and with his contacts in the music industry, and the help of the community including Heart FM, he found everyone ‘put their hand up’ which enabled him to organise this benefit concert.

Rick tells me that the venue at Dunalley for the concert is the magnificent Dunalley Pub, an 1800’s building undamaged by the fires and sitting defiantly in the paddock. The owner has kept the marquees that were put there to aid the evacuees but will now protect patrons from rain or sun depending on what the Tasmanian weather has in store for us.

Rick informed me of the line up which includes:

The Angels
Ross Wilson
James Reyne
Screaming Jets
Styne’s Legends
Rum Jungle
Tomsk
The Mornings
Ian Murtagh
Dave Wilson
Katie Hanson

You can catch these wonderful artists at the Dunalley Pub on March 17 with doors opening at 2pm and concluding at 9pm.
Paula Xiberras