03 Jan Celebrate Slim Dusty Day
What’s your favourite memory of Slim Dusty? Do you have a photo that was taken with him? Where were you when you first heard Slim singing on the radio or saw him perform live?
The 13th of June is Slim’s birthday, and in 2012 the Slim Dusty Foundation will mark this day as the inaugural Slim Dusty Day – a celebration of the life and times of Slim Dusty. Members of the public are invited to openly share a special memory of Slim, or the influence he may have had on their life or that of a family member. Memories are to be submitted in the form of a photo accompanied by a written recollection, or simply write a brief letter or email. School children and students may wish to design a poster that portrays the impact Slim Dusty has had on their life.
Selected submissions will be displayed at the Centre for media publication, and promotion through the Slim Dusty Centre website. A small group of lucky people who send in their memoirs will receive a special invitation to the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey, NSW, on Slim Dusty Day, to meet with members of the Slim Dusty Family and Foundation Team, and talk about their recollections with media representatives who will be on site for the occasion.
Mr Kingsley Mundey who lived in a small western Queensland town called Julia Creek, vividly remembers a night in the early 1960’s when Slim, Joy and family arrived with their crew in bondwood caravans, and set up in the Julia Creek Town Hall.
“In those days the road between Townsville and Mount Isa was all dirt and no one in their right mind travelled them unless you had to, and certainly Slim and the family were the only entertainers who ever came to Town” he said from his Sydney office today.
“Slim was a true legend of the outback because he was the only one who cared enough to cross the rough outback roads to entertain the people. He couldn’t have done it for the money – there had to have been a higher ideal because he’d never get rich in the bush but everyone, man woman and child had a Slim record to play on the radiogram. People came from far and wide to see them play. Family is real important in the outback so to have a family of entertainers come to us folks in a little outback town was a big thing – that’s how they developed respect and a massive following. They understood us and were part of us and their songs talked about our way of life. In the bush we grew up with Slim Dusty, Bushells Tea and Condensed Milk – what more could you want!” Kingsley added.
CEO of the Slim Dusty Foundation, Kathryn Yarnold said that it was important to maintain the legend of “The Man Who Is Australia”. “Slim sang about everyday people, bush yarns and our outback culture, clearly relating to the ordinary Aussie in a humble way that won him the admiration of a nation. His stories at that place and time, are quickly becoming recollections of our past with a strong historical value, and must be preserved.”
Submissions must be posted to the Slim Dusty Foundation, PO Box 70, Kempsey, NSW, 2440, or by email to kathryn.yarnold@slimdustycentre.com.au by Friday the 1st of June, 2012. Please only send copies of photos, as photos and submission documents unfortunately cannot be returned. Enquiries please phone (02) 6562 6533 or Freecall 1800 18SLIM.