How Wave Aid Made A Difference

When the Indian Ocean tsunami hit on Boxing Day 2004, Aussie music managers and promoters were quick to pull together the Wave Aid concert.

Held in Sydney, it starred Midnight Oil, Silverchair, John Butler Trio, and Missy Higgins, among others. The $2.3 million raised was given to the Red Cross to distribute to various charities.

But when the DVD of the concert raised an extra $250,000, the managers and acts decided the monies should go to affected schools.

In July, Butler’s manager, Philip Stevens, journeyed to Sri Lanka to hand over $80,000 to schools.

In November, promoter Michael Chugg was in Thailand to give a check of $170,000 (5,239,220 baht) to the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation. At a cocktail function in Chugg’s honour, the foundation said the money would be used to teach local kids to speak English.

— Bryan Jones