The establishment of a Billy Thorpe Foundation was announced by Board member Michael Chugg AM at the annual Support Act Limited “Music in the House” lunch at NSW Parliament House on 24 September. Don Spencer was awarded the 2008 honorary Support Act Limited ‘Excellence in Community Support’ award for his incredible work over the years in the industry and for his charity, The Australian Children’s Music Foundation.

At the inaugural Music In The House lunch in 2007 Billy Thorpe outlined his ambitious plans to help SAL raise substantial funds in the future to enable much broader ranges of long term help for the ever increasing number of members of the music industry who are in need or suffering hardship. Billy Thorpe joined the Board of Support Act Limited in 2007 just 2 weeks before his untimely death.

The Billy Thorpe Foundation will be administered by Support Act Limited and will seek to follow through on Billy’s vision to build the organisation’s funds by holding major events and work on specific projects to assist his contemporaries who are suffering ill health and require care.

The event featured guest speaker 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Award winner, Helen Reddy and was also hosted by the Hon. Virginia Judge MP, Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Citizenship, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts. Rai Thistlethwayte of Thirsty Merc performed a beautiful solo performance to conclude the luncheon.

For further information on the Billy Thorpe Foundation or SAL, please contact Gillian Linton at IDENTITY PR on 02 9904 2733 or via .