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Tones and I concert raises $190,000 for bushfire recovery in Mitchell and Strathbogie shires

By Seymour Telegraph

Jun 25, 2026

Communities devastated by the Longwood fires in January have received nearly $200,000 through the Strathbogie Disaster Recovery Fund. Photo by Bree Harding

Five months on from January's Longwood bushfires, fire-affected residents of Mitchell and Strathbogie shires have received a major boost.

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Nearly $200,000 of proceeds from the Tones and I Bushfire Recovery concert have been donated to the Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund.

The community run bushfire recovery concert was spearheaded by a local campaign, ‘Bring Tones and I to Longwood’.

That caught the global star’s attention and attracted 5000 people to the Longwood oval to support their friends, families and strangers on their road to recovery after January’s devastating fires.

The efforts of the volunteer committee, local footy club, the CFA and the $25,000 Victorian Government grant secured by state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland meant that the proceeds of the concert were available to be donated.

That figure includes a $25,000 donation from Tones and I’s ticket sales

SDRF community advisory committee member Alister Purbrick said the committee was extremely grateful for this huge donation, which had come at a vital time.

“The long road to recovery feels even longer at this time of year, with the cold and wet weather making being out of home, without one’s creature comforts, particularly confronting,” he said.

”The fund has already distributed over $250,000 to those in our communities who need it, and the $190,000 donation from the Tones and I concert has meant we are in a really strong position to have a much greater impact with how we help.”

Mr Purbrick said these donations would help the SDRF stay focused and driven in providing relief where it would matter most.

“We've been working with specially formed community recovery committees to identify key areas of need,” he said.

“(Those include) the restoration of community halls, repairs to private infrastructure, as well as funding for social initiatives that support the wellbeing of fire-affected residents across both shires.

“Although we can't cover the full cost of what these communities need to rebuild, we can offer hope — by staying on the ground, representing them, continuing to seek donations, and then providing grants to support community-agreed priority projects.”

Having received nearly $1 million thanks to the donations of businesses and private individuals across Australia, the fund is urging people to consider contributing before the end of financial year — for the tax benefit, and for those in the country that are still doing it tough.

For more information on the Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund, visit strathbogiedisasterrelief.com