Toyota Australia Raises More Than $270,000 for Drought-Stricken Communities

Toyota Australia has raised more than $240,000 through its Raffle for Resilience and announced the winner of the major prize - a custom built Toyota LandCruiser 200 Sahara, worth more than $144,500.

The $242,410 raised through the Raffle for Resilience is in addition to $32,000 raised through donations for festival hats at the Toyota Country Music Festival (TCMF).

Chief Marketing Officer Wayne Gabriel said the funds raised will go directly to charity partner Rural Aid to help support local communities.

"When we launched the Raffle for Resilience as part of the Toyota Country Music Festival earlier this year, we knew the community would get behind a good cause, but we didn't expect that we would raise more than a quarter of a million dollars," Mr Gabriel said.

"That money will be given to Rural Aid who will use it to roll out mental health programs in rural and regional towns struggling with the drought.

"On behalf of Toyota Australia, I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who bought a ticket in the raffle or donated money to get their hands on the very popular TCMF hats. You are truly helping people in need," he said. 

Earlier this week, Toyota Australia Northern Region Marketing Manager Ryan Lacey handed a novelty size cheque for $242,410 to Rural Aid Head of Corporate Relations Richard Forbes at Sci-Fleet Toyota in Taringa, Queensland.

Rural Aid CEO Charles Adler said it was a fabulous outcome for farmers and rural communities. 

"These funds will immediately be put to use to provide assistance to drought affected communities in NSW and QLD, where the need is reaching a point unseen in 20 years. 

"Unlike last year when many farmers kept pushing on, this year we're seeing an increasing number of calls for assistance from farmers who just can't go on without support. I'd like to thank Toyota for their amazing commitment to this cause and to all those who bought tickets," he said.

Alvin Deo from The Gap in Queensland has been named the lucky winner of the raffle's major prize, a custom-built Toyota Landcruiser 200 Sahara, valued at more than $144,000.

Mr Deo said he was excited and passionate about the opportunities winning the LandCruiser will provide him to assist rural communities through his specialist university studies in environmental management.

"The vehicle will provide me access to reach rural communities to pursue my dreams in providing long-term environmental management programs to combat drought and water security. 

"Coupled with first-hand experience working with farmers, I would like to get a message out regarding the significance of the cause as well as the importance of Toyota's support in developing reliable vehicles in allowing access to the great Australian outback", Mr Deo said.

In addition to the custom-built LandCruiser 200 Sahara first prize, other prizes provided by Toyota for the Raffle for Resilience add up to a total prize pool of $171,537.70. 

These prizes include a meeting with cricket legend Glenn McGrath, a trip for two to the 2019 AFL Grand Final, a cricket bat signed by the 2018 Australian cricket team and a football signed by players selected in the All-Australian team. 

All winners have been contacted directly by Toyota Australia.

Toyota Australia has a long history of supporting rural and regional communities in Australia and will partner with Rural Aid again for the 2020 Toyota Country Music Festival.