Sting Australian concert raises 3.2 million dollars for tsunami relief

TERRA.WIRE

Sting Australian concert raises 3.2 million dollars for tsunami relief
SYDNEY (AFP) Feb 11, 2005
British rock star Sting raised more than four million dollars (3.2 million US) for tsunami relief in a one-off charity concert in Western Australia, event organisers said Friday.

The veteran singer performed hits from his days with The Police as well as new numbers at the sold out concert before 6,000 people at the Leeuwin Estate winery in Margaret River, south of Perth.

Leeuwin Estate's co-owner Trish Horgan said the concert raised two million dollars, which the West Australian government has pledged to match dollar for dollar, effectively doubling the total.

"People have been very generous and we're very pleased to be able to raise such a huge amount of money for this cause," she said.

Touched by what he called the "tidal wave of compassion" for the millions affected by the December 26 tsunamis, Sting added the benefit concert to a pair of performances he was already scheduled to give this weekend at the winery.

Sting's wife Trudie Styler, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund, joined him in Perth along with the couple's daughter Coco, 14, and son Giacomo, 9.