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Kirkpatrick presented Cassar-Daley with the special honor. “It’s not just about the accolades with Troy,” she told the full house. “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,” she added, “encouraging and promoting the power of music and sharing stories.”

As he stepped up to the stage, Cassar-Daley admitted that he “did try to give this award back” and, as many close to him already know, doesn’t “like making speeches.” He mightn’t like delivering them, but when he does, he’s untouchable. The singer and songwriter spoke for 10 minutes, sharing touching memories of his extended family, friends and collaborators, many of whom were in the room.

Cassar-Daley should be used to the spotlight. 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.

Across his career, he has collected four CMAA Entertainer of the Year titles, three APRA Song of the Year Awards, nine Deadly Awards, two NIMAs, and an unprecedented 45 Golden Guitars. In 2017, he was named the 50th inductee into the Roll of Renown.

The 2025 Support Act event featured live performances of Cassar-Daley’s songs by his daughter Jem Cassar-Daley, Jimmy and Mahalia Barnes, Busby Marou, and Shane Howard, with Barnes’ son David Campbell as emcee.

Before belting out a rendition of “Shutting Down Our Town”, Jimmy Barnes recalled 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.”

Jem chose the deep cut “Brighter Day,” a “song I hold very close to me,” she remarked. “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.”

Guests watching on included Cold Chisel guitarist and singer Ian Moss; 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 honors to veteran music publisher, artist and Support Act spearhead John Bromell, and to the beloved artist manager, tech production manager and industry allrounder Dominic “Mick” Mazzone.

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.

All proceeds from the event, which included a raffle, a live auction and online auction, help fund Support Act’s crisis relief and mental health programs for music workers in need.