Troy Cassar-Daley never has trouble holding a room. Whether he’s performing or speaking, the proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man, one of Australia’s most cherished country music singers, always has the crowd in his thrall. But when he spoke in Sydney in August after being named Support Act’s 2025 Excellence in Community award winner, you could hear a pin drop.
Troy was sharing a story of devastating loss, after a friend’s husband and music industry worker recently took his own life, leaving behind a gaping hole in the lives of his family, friends and the industry itself. But what Troy particularly wanted the audience to hear was the profound difference Support Act had made to his friend’s family – quietly coming in and supporting them financially when they were at their lowest.
“He’d derived his whole living from music, created records and photo shoots and was just an incredible part of our industry that just disappeared. It devastated everyone, and to see the way Support Act stepped up for my friend and her two kids was something else. During the initial shock, Support Act was the safety net,” Troy said later. “Support Act helped them through a terrible, terrible time.”
Multi-award-winning singer Jessica Mauboy is shining the spotlight on the Australian music industry as a 2025 AusMusic T-Shirt Day ambassador (image courtesy of Support Act).
Having seen the impact of this support firsthand, Troy had no hesitation in agreeing to become an ambassador for Support Act’s AusMusic T-shirt Day – an annual day held during #AusMusicMonth that not only allows people to celebrate our thriving and rich local music industry, but also raises crucial funds for Support Act.
The charity supporting the Australian music industry, Support Act provides short term financial relief and mental health and wellbeing support for musicians, managers, crew, and music workers across the industry, and recently expanded its support to the wider creative arts sector. It does this through crisis relief, funeral support, mental health prevention, education and training programs, and the Support Act wellbeing helpline, including a dedicated First Nations support line.
Alberts, through The Tony Foundation, has been a proud supporter of Support Act since 2017, while Alberts CEO David Albert is co-chair of the not-for-profit with Lynne Small.
A six-time ARIA Award winner, winner of three APRA Song of the Year awards, 45 Golden Guitars, and a passionate and tireless advocate for men’s mental health and First Nations culture, Troy is aware of the various ways Support Act has come to the rescue.
“I know during Covid what Support Act did for my band,” says Troy. “Some of them were devastated, all they did was make music, one of them ran a studio and couldn’t get people in because you couldn’t travel interstate, so Support Act paid their bills and bought groceries, they’ve got four kids. But they don’t go and publicise it, they’re very, very humble.”
Celebrated this year on Thursday November 27, AusMusic T-Shirt Day is a simple concept: wear your favourite Australian band tee, take and share a pic and, if you have the means, donate to Support Act who will ensure every dollar donated goes towards supporting the artists and crews who enrich our lives through music. It’s a day of celebrating our industry, but also ensuring Support Act can continue the crucial work they do.
Ambassadors Electric Fields are helping turn up the volume for Aus Music T-Shirt Day 2025 (image: Morgan Sette).
Alongside Troy, this year’s huge lineup of Aussie ambassadors include Electric Fields (pictured above), Jess Mauboy (pictured earlier), King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Bernard Fanning, Missy Higgins, Hilltop Hoods, Hoodoo Gurus and rising artists Lane Pittman, The Buoys, Party Dozen, C.O.F.F.I.N, and Floodlights. Each ambassador has designed or been paired with leading visual artists to create their own collectible t-shirt, available for sale, including Troy.
“Having seen firsthand how it helps if it means making a t-shirt for Support Act that’s no effort at all, it’s a privilege to be part of this work.” A talented visual artist in his own right, Troy says his design, titled Come together my people we still have a chance, carries a message of unity and the power of community.
“This year, it feels like AusMusic T-Shirt Day has exploded forward,” Support Act CEO, Clive Miller, told The Music Network.
“Building on the incredible support from all parts of the music industry over many years it has become a cultural moment, and we’re calling on the Australian public to join the momentum, to celebrate and to help fundraise for all the legends who show up for AusMusic every single day, but who need our support when times are tough.”
Join Alberts in celebrating Australian music and the people who make it possible. You can make a donation via Alberts’ fundraising page – every contribution counts!
supportact.org.au
Lifeline: 13 11 14
(Feature image by Jess Macc)
