Jimmy Barnes, Goanna’s Shane Howard and Busby Marou were on hand Tuesday night to salute Troy Cassar-Daley, the man of honour at Support Act’s 2025 Music in the House.
On a cold, rainy night in Sydney, Cassar-Daley won the one accolade he didn’t already have – the Excellence in the Community award.
Music in the House was created in 2006 as an opportunity for the music industry charity to recognise an artist — or artists — in Australian music for their musicianship and their broader contribution to the community.
A full house of industry guests at The Linseed House, on the Grounds of Alexandria, paid tribute to Cassar-Daley not only for his outstanding career, but also for his tireless community work, from mentoring emerging talent around the nation, to speaking out on men’s mental health, working in schools, championing Aboriginal culture, and much more.
Previous recipients of the Excellence in the Community salute include Midnight Oil, Tina Arena, the late Archie Roach, Jenny Morris, Paul Kelly, Marcia Hines and last year’s winners Powderfinger, when Cassar-Daley and his daughter Jem were performers.
This time it was all about Cassar-Daley, who was celebrated with speeches and with performances of his own music, led off by Goanna’s Howard, Jem Cassar-Daley, Jimmy and Mahalia Barnes, and wrapping with Busby Marou.
Slim Dusty’s daughter Anne Kirkpatrick was on hand to present Cassar-Daley with the main award. “It’s not just about the accolades with Troy,” she told guests. “Troy makes connections. He’s a proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man, Troy makes connections with music, connections with land and connections to people and communities right across Australia. He’s regularly gone into regional areas before a gig, without fanfare, working with schools and groups…encouraging and promoting the power of music and sharing stories.”
Following a standing ovation, Cassar-Daley took the mic and admitted that he “did try to give this award back.” He also confessed that he doesn’t “like making speeches,” before launching into a touching shout-out to his nearest and dearest, including his original guitar teacher, his first cousin who gave him his first cigarette behind the wheel of a car, and his aunt who taught him how to whistle, a talent that “annoyed the absolute shit out of my family,” he quipped.
And, of course, he thanked his kids and wife Laurel Edwards, the veteran broadcaster.
Before launching into a rendition of “Shutting Down Our Town”, Jimmy Barnes recounted how he was “absolutely terrified” on his first experience sharing the stage with Cassar-Daley. “I’d never heard anybody with a voice that was so soulful. I fancied myself as a soul singer, until I sang with Troy. Everything he sings, it makes me want to cry. It’s just beautiful.”
Barnes isn’t the only one to recognise Cassar-Daley’s talents. The Australian country great collected his sixth ARIA Award last year, winning for best country album, recognition for his 12th studio collection Between The Fires, which peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Chart, a career-best solo chart position.
Along the way, he has collected three APRA Song of the Year awards, four CMAA Entertainer of the Year Awards and 45 Golden Guitar Awards, more even than the great, late Slim Dusty. In 2017, he was named the 50th inductee into the Roll of Renown.
Other guests in the house on Tuesday evening included federal Minister for the Arts Tony Burke; NSW Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham; and Jenny McAllister, the ALP senator for the state of New South Wales and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Earlier, Support Act CEO Clive Miller posthumously awarded Excellence In Community honours to veteran music publisher, artist and Support Act spearhead John Bromell, and to the celebrated artist manager, tech production manager and industry allrounder Dominic “Mick” Mazzone, who donated his production talents to Music In The House ever year since its inception.
All proceeds from the event, which included a raffle, a live auction and online auction, helps fund Support Act’s crucial crisis relief and mental health programs for music workers in need.
