Sting plays WA for tsunami February 9, 2005 - 12:02PM Touched by what he termed the "tidal wave of compassion", British pop star Sting has arrived in Western Australia for a benefit concert he hopes will generate $3 million for relief work in tsunami-devastated Asia. The 53-year-old singer, who is as renowned for his social conscience as for hits spanning 30 years, will stage three concerts at the Leeuwin Estate Winery in Margaret River, south of Perth, donating proceeds of his two-hour benefit performance on February 10. The money will go towards the South-East Asian relief effort, with tickets selling for $150 and the state government offering to match the funds raised. "I think we have an opportunity here to raise a lot of money for the tsunami relief," Sting told reporters at Perth International Airport after arriving from India yesterday. "I'm told that, modestly, it may be $3 million and that's being aided by the state government matching us dollar for dollar. "It is a reflection of the wonderful generosity of spirit of the people of Western Australia." Sting was already scheduled to perform at Leeuwin for two sell-out shows on February 12 and 13, but added the extra date when a performance in Sri Lanka was cancelled in the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami. The extra concert seemed like an easy thing to do, he said. "There's a tidal wave of compassion out there and people want to help." The events of December 26 had brought people together unlike other recent tragedies that had created division, he said, with the key difference being this disaster was not man-made. "One of the great things that has come from this terrible disaster is that we have rallied together, pulled around and realised that we are one planet, we are one family," Sting said. "What happens today in Indonesia could happen here ... we need to think globally, we really do." Wife Trudie Styler, along with daughter Coco, 14, and son Giacomo, 9, were reunited with Sting yesterday morning. It is the first Australian trip for Styler and the two children, with Sting quipping he had kept her away for fear she would like it too much. The kids were looking forward to surfing and horse-riding while Sting and Styler were open to sampling the delights of Margaret River. "We have a vineyard in Italy that is being put out of business by Australian wine ... but no hard feelings," he said. The family will remain in WA until leaving for Sri Lanka, where Styler will be working in her role as an ambassador for UNICEF, the United Nations children's fund. "There is a lot of scope to help some very needy children indeed," she said. And what can fans expect at the Australian concerts? "Well I've been singing for 30 years now and people rarely ask for their money back," Sting laughed. Hits like Message in a Bottle from his Police days, and Fields of Gold from more recent times would be on a play list spanning the length and breadth of his career, the singer said.