Helping our neighbours across the Ditch

Australia bushfire relief benefit concert co-organiser Nicola Simonsohn collects money from Daniel Derby (7), of Lake Hawea, as her daughter Evie Simonsohn and fellow Mt Aspiring College pupil Luca Georgali (both 16) perform outside Kai Whaka Pai cafe in Wanaka yesterday.

Organiser Jay Simon said he believed Wanaka was the first New Zealand town to hold a charity concert and he hoped it would inspire other towns to follow suit.

Meanwhile, in Queenstown, an eight-hour fundraising concert — Wakatipu Waiata for Australia — will be held at the Queenstown Rec Ground on Sunday, January 19.

DJs and a host of musicians will play throughout the day.

Organiser Shay Muddle said he hoped to raise $10,000 for Australian bushfire relief.