Following the success of last year’s inaugural Paul Murray Live Our Town tour which raised $400,000 for Australian regional communities, Sky News and its partners Harvey Norman, Sony Music and CBA, today announced the return of Paul Murray Live Our Town in 2020.
Paul Murray Live Our Town will see the program and its host Paul Murray visit ten regional locations in ten months, celebrating the uniqueness of each location while hearing from the residents about the issues and challenges they are facing. During each show some of the country’s biggest music stars from Sony Music will bring joy to the communities, performing live in front of the local audience.
The first stop will be Batemans Bay on Wednesday 19 February at 9:00 pm from the bushfire-ravaged region.
Principal partner Harvey Norman has joined forces with the Business Council of Australia’s (BCA) bushfire recovery initiative, BizRebuild for the Batemans Bay episode hosting an in-store silent auction at the local store with all proceeds raised going to rebuilding local businesses.
Katie Page, Harvey Norman CEO said: “Our franchisees, staff and customers all witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact Paul Murray Live Our Town had in their respective local towns and regions in 2019. For Harvey Norman, we are committed to extending this extraordinary support, recognition and celebration of community in a further ten Australian rural and regional towns in 2020.”
Joining the Our Town show in Batemans Bay, Sony Music artist Stan Walker, who together with Paul Murray and the team will provide a night of entertainment for the live audience and also spend time in the local community volunteering to support its regeneration.
Denis Handlin AO, Chairman & CEO, Australia & New Zealand, Sony Music Entertainment said: “We are thrilled to have this special partnership continue with Our Town after what was a very successful first year supporting Australia’s regional communities. This is a wonderful way to make such a difference to the lives of so many people, and after the devastating and unprecedented bushfires, it is appropriate to start in Batemans Bay where Stan Walker will perform. Sony Music artists have really enjoyed providing so much joy and entertainment to the towns that Paul Murray and the team have visited in what has been a truly outstanding initiative by Sky News that continues in 2020”.
Paul Whittaker, Sky News Chief Executive said: “We are proud that together with our partners we are able to bring audiences a second season of the Paul Murray Live Our Town regional tour in 2020.
“Last year’s Our Town tour was a tremendous success, raising valuable funds for regions in need and bringing much greater awareness to their plight. We’re pleased to be taking Paul’s popular program out on the road again this year to connect with local communities across Australia and share their stories with our viewers at home.”
Paul Murray said: ” Following the bushfires that have ravaged our country, now more than ever, it is so important that we support and showcase the towns that are the backbone of this great country. I am so proud of the impact the tour had on local communities last year and this year we are even more ambitious to raise funds and ensure we provide a positive lasting impact. I can’t wait to get on the road.”