BlazeAid is thrilled to have been named the charity partner for the 2027 Gympie Music Muster.
The partnership extends the relationship between BlazeAid and the Muster, with BlazeAid volunteers working at the festival as camp wardens and managing the campsites for the past four years.
BlazeAid CEO Melissa Jones said being chosen as the Muster’s charity partner was a special milestone for an organisation that already felt part of the festival family.
“We already felt that we were much a part of the Muster family before this, so to go from helping out to being chosen as the charity of the year is pretty special,” Melissa said.
“We’re incredibly excited and really grateful for the opportunity. We’re just really looking forward to making 2027 something special together.”
Gympie Music Muster CEO Greg Cavanagh said BlazeAid was a natural fit for the Muster because of its longterm connection with the festival and work supporting rural and regional Australians.
“BlazeAid and the Muster share so many of values, particularly mateship, community spirit and people rolling up their sleeves to help others,” Greg said.
“We’re looking forward to working with Melissa and the BlazeAid team to strengthen our relationship and giving Mustergoers the opportunity to support the important work they do.”
Community and charity have been at the heart of the Gympie Music Muster since it started in 1982. The festival has given more than $22.38 million to charities and community groups since then.
This year, festivalgoers, volunteers, businesses and supporters raised a record $150,880.88 for charity partner Get Yourself Checked.
Greg said the Muster’s support of community groups and charities was central to the festival’s identity.
“The Gympie Music Muster has always been about more than just music; it’s about community, and giving back to the people and organisations that make our communities stronger,” Greg said.
“To have raised more than $22.3 million for charities and community groups since the Muster began is something we’re incredibly proud of. Our patrons, volunteers, partners and the wider community make that possible.”
For BlazeAid, the partnership offers an opportunity to build on that generosity to raise vital funds for its work helping rural and regional communities recover from natural disasters.
“BlazeAid is really about mates helping mates,” Melissa said.
“We’re ordinary people who roll up our sleeves and love helping out where we can, particularly in rural and regional communities.”
BlazeAid volunteers work with farmers, landholders and families affected by natural disasters to help them rebuild. While the organisation is known for helping rebuild damaged fencing, Melissa said an even more important role is companionship and support during some of the most difficult periods in people’s lives.
“We often talk about BlazeAid as being 49 per cent fencing and 51 per cent a mental health organisation, because we really do save lives,” she said.
Member for Gympie Tony Perrett MP said giving back had always been part of what made the Gympie Music Muster special.
“For almost 45 years the Muster has shown off the best of the Gympie region and the community spirit we’re known for,” Mr Perrett said.
“It’s great to see the Muster keep up its long tradition of supporting charities and community organisations, using the event to give something back each year.
“As Deputy Mayor during the 2011 floods, I saw first-hand the support BlazeAid gave to help rebuild farming infrastructure across our region. They’ve stood beside us through some of our toughest weather events, and I’m very pleased to see them named charity partner for the 2027 Muster.
“Through Destination 2045, the Crisafulli Government is backing events that bring visitors to our regions and put the spotlight on the people, towns and country that make Queensland the greatest state in Australia.”
The 2027 partnership will give the Muster community another opportunity to get behind an organisation making a real difference to rural Australia, with the charity already looking at fundraising initiatives to run during the Muster.
Melissa said BlazeAid was looking forward to working with the Muster team to make the partnership a success.
“We know our way around the Muster, that’s for sure,” she said. “It’ll just be so much joy from both sides, I hope, and we just can’t wait.”
