Australian generosity during the bushfires is the ABC focus for Australia Day

The ABC will focus on the communities most affected by the ongoing bushfires as part of its 2020 Australia Day coverage.
 
The ABC will broaden its Australia Day coverage this year to include stories from the regions that have been impacted by bushfires.  Emergency broadcasting, however, will remain at the core of its service for those communities still under threat from bushfires.   
 
In addition to the coverage of The Australian of the Year Awards and Australia Day events, the ABC will share stories from those Australians living in bushfire affected communities – stories of generosity, solidarity and community spirit.  Those stories will be broadcast across all platforms including ABC’s local and regional radio networks, television, online and on the corporation’s social media platforms.
 
The ABC’s Managing Director, David Anderson, said the Australia Day weekend had always given Australians the opportunity to reflect on what makes us who we are, as well as celebrating the things that bring us together as a nation. 
 
“That has never been more important than now.  As the ABC continues to bring communities the emergency information they rely on, we will also take the opportunity to tell Australians the stories of bravery, determination and resilience that we are seeing in communities across the country in the face of these unprecedented events.”
 
Mr Anderson said the ABC’s New Year’s Eve partnership with the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund had closed after raising $13.3 million funding recovery programs, practical support and emergency grants.  He said the national broadcaster would continue to promote all the key charities supporting bushfire affected communities.  A list of all major national and state-based charities can be found at abc.net.au/appeals.
 
ABC Local Radio will broadcast the Golden Guitar Awards live from Tamworth on Saturday 25 January and triple j will broadcast the Hottest 100 Weekend on Saturday 25 and Monday 27 January, while on, ABC Classic will cover the Classic 100: Music in the Movies as voted in 2013.
 
Underpinning the ABC coverage will be four key Australia Day events, starting with the Australian of the Year Awards live from Canberra at 7.30pm (AEST)on Saturday 25 January, hosted by Kumi Taguchi and Jeremy Fernandez.  The WugulOra Morning Ceremony will be broadcast live from the Barangaroo Reserve, Sydney from 7.30am on Sunday 26 January, followed by the Flag Raising and Citizenship Ceremony live from Canberra starting at 9.00am.  Australia Day broadcasts will end with the Australia Day Live Concert from Circular Quay, Sydney featuring many of Australia’s most-loved artists.

 
 See all our coverage of how radio is responding to Australia’s bushfires at this link, or click on the tag cloud below. 

 

Advertisement

 

Tags: | | | |