A packed out house and rejuvenated belief in the cause was the end result for the Mowen Forest Fundraiser hosted by Settlers Tavern last Thursday, March 26.
The event raised $5030 towards the Margaret River Regional Environmental Centre while also supporting forest protestors charged with obstructing logging.
Organiser and forest protestor David Rastrick said each protestor had been ordered to pay $3000 in reparation, with one Helm Forest protestor being fined $11,000.
Mr Rastrick said the group was going to fight the charges, but it was better to be prepared ‘just in case’.
Settlers Tavern donated $2000 of their own earnings towards the fundraiser, with $3030 raised on the door.
He said the musicians who volunteered their time and efforts performed wonderfully to the packed to the rafters tavern.
“It was a fantastic night,” Mr Rastrick said.
The highlight for many was the surprise appearance of John Butler who opened the show in a sign of support for the movement.
Following the event, the Mowen Forest group ventured to Perth last Friday to offer $100,000 to the government to keep the Forest.
The funds were crowdfunded through donations and pledges from more than 200 people but the Premier did not formally respond to the original offer.
Mr Rastrick said the offer was on the table, with the government yet to officially respond.
Forestry Minister Mia Davies said the group had previously met with representatives of the government.
"The State Government will not be accepting the offer and remains committed to the forestry industry," she said.
Mr Rastrick said the funds that had not been pledged through the crowd funding campaign were kindly offered to be put towards forest protection in the future.
The crowd funding campaign expired yesterday.