WARRACKNABEAL band Hard Face Nanna held a fundraiser concert at Horsham's Bull and Mouth Hotel on Saturday night raising almost $3000 for bushfire victims in East Gippsland and North East Victoria.
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The hotel raised $950 through patron contributions but will add $1050 to that, totalling $2000.
The band also donated their $900 playing fee to the bushfire disaster appeal.
The Bull and Mouth Hotel owner Simon Mitchel said that the money raised would be given to The Australian Hotel association banked though Bendigo bank.
The Victorian Government partnered with Bendigo Bank and The Salvation Army to establish a bushfire appeal, with all funds going directly to communities in need as they rebuild their lives
An Advisory Panel, chaired by former Victorian Deputy Premier Pat McNamara, would consider and recommend where the funds are distributed.
Lead singer Daniella Bell, originally from Cann River in East Gippsland, said she was holidaying in Tamboon with family when the call to evacuate was issued.
"It was very scary," she said. "I've been going to Tamboon since I was a baby.
"At first we were told we would be fine but then the emergency text message came through at 2.30pm on Sunday so we just got out."
Mrs Bell said her husband Tim Bell and their children were able to leave "just in time" to Bairnsdale before the roads were closed but her family and friends were still in the region.
She did not know whether her family's properties would survive, with concerns fires could worsen over the weekend.
"It's devastating," she said. "It is so many people's special place.
"The impact is massive and there is probably so much more to come."
Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of disaster on Thursday night, with residents in the northeast of the state told to get out before it's too late as conditions deteriorate.
The declaration, which entails powers introduced after the devastating 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, allows authorities to compel people to leave.
More than 780,000 hectares have already been razed by about 50 fires burning in the state's east and northeast.
Hard Face Nanna drummer Mick Powell said he was keen to organise another bushfire appeal gig.
"I would like to do it a big bigger down the track and get a few more bands on board," he said.
Bull and Mouth Hotel owner Simon Mitchell said they were glad to support the event.
"If (Hard Face Nanna) are kind enough to donate their playing fee then we thought it we be good if we matched customer donations dollar for dollar," he said.
Mr Mitchell said the pub would be happy to host another benefit to help those affected by the bushfires in future.
Emergency Management Victoria have asked people to make financial donations only unless official requests have been made for specific donations of goods or clothes.
"Charity organisations are reporting that their volunteers and staff are having to spend time sorting through goods rather than helping impacted communities," the government organisation said in a post.
Details of the Bushfire Disaster Appeal could be found at http://emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/#donations.
Hard Face Nanna will play at the Bull and Mouth Hotel in Horsham from 9.30pm on Saturday night.
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Eliza Berlage
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
