‘Every dollar counts’: Scott Cam’s plea ahead of flood appeal

If there’s one thing you can count on The Block host Scott Cam knowing, it’s how to rebuild.

And when he saw the scenes of devastation emerging from the disastrous flood crisis in Queensland and New South Wales, his reaction was telling.

“I thought, how are they ever going to get back to normal, how are they going to rebuild?” he said.

“I thought, this is an impossible task.”

But he knows well enough how community spirit and hard effort can change what’s impossible.

“I was caught up in the bushfires a couple summers back, I know what it’s like,” Cam said.

“Anything you can do to get involved in that – this is a very important night.”

He expects “millions and millions” of dollars to be raised, with Australians digging deep to help out.

And crucially, 100 per cent of the funds raised during the telethon will go to people affected by the floods.

Cam will be joined by Sylvia Jeffreys, Andy Lee and Peter Overton – along with Seven Network’s Natalie Barr, David Koch, Sonia Kruger and Mark Ferguson; and Network 10’s Carrie Bickmore, Dr Chris Brown, Amanda Keller and Osher Günsberg.

Generations of artists will also come together to help raise crucial funds.

John Williamson, Tones and I, Baker Boy, Delta Goodrem, Missy Higgins, Hunters and Collectors, Jessica Mauboy, the Living End and far more have contributed their time and talents to the event.

Cam said he was unsurprised by the star quality of the line-up, saying it mirrored what was happening on the ground and in the affected communities, where neighbours were helping each other out and people were rushing to offer what they could.

“I think Aussies do that all the time,” he said.

“Look at all the tradesmen who’ve gone up to Lismore and those areas, who’ve gone up to help.”

And looking at the heroism and Herculean efforts from those on the front lines was a reminder of what was important, Cam said.

“This is a small part of it,” he said, referring to the telethon.

“We’ll hopefully raise some much-needed money. But it’s those people on the ground who are doing the important thing.”

With that said though, he reminded people that no contribution was too small if they could afford to give it.

“Every dollar counts,” he said.

“Imagine if everybody in Australia gave just $2 – you’d have $50 million.”

And for many people caught up in them, the “unprecedented” floods were just the latest disaster in a couple of tough years.

“Those small businesses up there, they’ve been through two years of COVID, and now this,” Cam said.

“I guess what I’d like to say is, we’re with you.”

Donations to the telethon will help Red Cross teams provide humanitarian support to people and communities smashed by the floods.

This will include enabling volunteers and staff to help with evacuation and relief centres and outreach services, and supporting people and communities to recover and build resilience to disasters

Red Cross will also provide financial assistance to help people and families affected by the unprecedented floods.

Australia Unites: Red Cross Flood Appeal will air live this Saturday, March 12, at 7.30pm AEDT on Channel 9 and 9Now, Channel 7 and 7Plus and Channel 10 and 10 Play.