On Tuesday 19 August, Support Act’s annual Music in the House filled the Grounds of Alexandria with warmth, music and heartfelt tributes to this year’s Excellence in the Community Award recipient, Troy Cassar-Daley.

This honour recognises not only Troy’s remarkable career – from 45 Golden Guitars to six ARIAs and induction into the Roll of Renown – but also his deep commitment to mentoring young artists, advocating for men’s mental health, supporting schools, and championing Aboriginal culture across the country. The evening featured stirring performances of Troy’s music including Shane Howard, Troy’s daughter Jem Cassar-Daley, Jimmy and Mahalia Barnes, and Busby Marou. 

Accepting the award, Troy said: “I feel incredibly grateful. This room is full of faces and memories that have meant the world to me. We’ve travelled miles together and I’m just thankful that I still get to do what I love, and to be recognised by Support Act for that is really special.

We’re a close industry. We do miles together. And when times get tough, Support Act just keeps going and going, and going all the while thinking of our artists and their teams [who have] really gone without.” 

With a room full of friends, peers, and leaders including Federal Minister for the Arts Tony Burke, NSW Minister for the Arts John Graham, and Senator Jenny McAllister, Music in the House once again proved to be a night of connection, generosity and celebration.

With your presence and contributions, this year’s event raised over $160,000 – helping us to continue our vital work supporting musicians, artist managers, crew and music workers when they need it most.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us. If you were unable to attend Music in the House but would like to make a contribution, you can do so here.

_{^{Shane Howard, who performed I Hear My River, a song he co-wrote with Troy, said: “Troy is like a younger brother to me. Our friendship is long. He’s been a great champion of mine who’s always made me feel like my songs matter. And I’m a champion of his. His voice is one of the greats, he’s an exceptionally talented and hard-working musician and his songs reveal his maturity through the years. He’s the custodian for a catalogue of classic songs. We’ve written and recorded together and shared a lot of stages, from Tamworth to the Gulf of Carpentaria, to Sydney with Goanna to our local Tarerer Cultural Festival in South West Victoria and beyond.”}}

_{^{Jem Cassar-Daley said: “Brighter Day is a song I hold very close to me. Every time I hear the opening guitar riff I get goosebumps and I’m taken right back to being a kid again. Dad’s storytelling is real, raw and vivid. It’s moved and inspired me from a very young age, so performing my own version of this song means the absolute world to me.”}}

_{^{Jeremy Maoru said: I’ve been listening to Troy’s music for as long as I can remember. He’s not only an incredible singer-songwriter, but also a strong Aboriginal man who has always acknowledged his heritage and culture with pride. By example, he has paved the way for many First Nations artists, myself included. These days, having the privilege to occasionally join him and sing alongside him is something I treasure and will always consider a true honour.”}}

_{Photography by Jess Macc}