Cohen gives $200,000 to fire victims

Leonard Cohen (pictured), the legendary singer-songwriter, has donated A$200,000 to the victims of the Australian bushfires, which have resulted in more than 200 deaths. Cohen, 74, who is currently touring Australia, released a statement saying that he had was "shocked and deeply saddened” by the news of the tragedy.

The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund now stands at A$28 million. But apart from the golfers Craig Parry and Nick O'Hern, who have pledged a total of A$200,000, no other big Australian names have yet dipped their hands in their pockets. No doubt it is only a matter of time before the actors Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, to name but two, come forward.

In London, Kylie Monigue, her sister Danii Minogue and fellow Aussie singer Natalie Imbruglia are teaming up with the aim of holding a benefit concert for the fire victims.

The fact that Cohen has been able to offer such a sum illustrates the remarkable turnaround in his fortunes. The only reason he returned to touring last year, following a 15-year hiatus, was because his manager had allegedly stolen $5m from his pension pot.

Not only have his well-received concerts made up this deficit, but he also received a tremendous pay day when the winner of ITV's The X Factor, Catherine Burke, covered his classic song Hallelujah for her Christmas release. It topped the UK charts and is said to have made him £1m in royalties.