NOTE: THIS IS AN INTERNET VERSION OF THE PRINTED DOCUMENT AND INCLUDES ALL PHOTOS SO IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO DOWNLOAD)
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Well g'day friends! I'm saying hello again a bit sooner than I did last time, and I think you will notice the new approach to our newsletter. We've called in some outside help to make it look a bit brighter and hope you like the new format (I think that's what they call it). We had a real family Christmas this time with Aunty Una and Tony coming down from Guyra to spend time with all of us. Too hot for much cooking inside so the old BBQ was worked overtime. There wasn't much time to get down to the Gippsland to the little house and the boat, which was a bit disappointing but overall a good time was had by all. Have you noticed how quickly time goes by? I just have to look at my grandchildren to bring it home to me. Kate, the eldest, is nearly 20 and her brother James is 16. Daniel has just turned 14 and Hannah Is 12. All of them are taller than Joy and I are, and the three youngest are still growing. It must be all the good tucker kids get these days. Looks like some of them have picked up the music and singing genes From Joy and me, so the Dusty heritage is carrying on. I haven't been standing still since Christmas either. There was the Centenary of Federation Parade through the streets of Sydney, the Tamworth Festival and the Golden Guitar Awards, the Australia Day Council event and the Australia Post Legend of 2001 award. More news on those inside. I'm happy to tell you that Johnny Cash, a friend of mine, has recovered from his most recent bout of pneumonia and is resting at home. John received a Grammy Award for his last album congratulations to him. Shorty Ranger and I have finally recorded four songs together. We've been talking about it for years and it's taken all this time for us to organise ourselves into actually doing it. We recorded in my 'Columbia Lane Studio' and put down four sides to be included in a CD of my recordings of Shorty Ranger songs over the years.
Anyway friends, it's been good to talk to you again and I hope you enjoy the news in this issue the first of our "new look" newsletters! Your mate,  |
One
of the songs, "Riding through the valley in Spring"
is an old one that Shorty and I wrote together when we were young
blokes. I just gave it a bit of trimming up and we think it's
come up pretty well. |
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SLIM SINGS OLYMPICS TO A CLOSE "It was the biggest audience I have ever sung to about 4 billion people throughout the world, including the 110,000 people in the Sydney stadium plus the thousands of athletes on the ground." The Olympic Games Closing Ceremony on October 1 last year was a very special occasion for Slim. Artists including Kylie Minogue, Jimmy Barnes and Elle Macpherson, the 110,000 people in the stadium, and many thousands of Aussies at home joined Slim in singing "Waltzing Matilda" to close the Sydney Games. After spending all day in the Green Room (as the waiting room for artists is always called) watching the centre stage being erected, "it was a relief to actually get in and do the job" Slim admitted. "I had enjoyed meeting friends such as Peter Garrett
and the boys in Midnight Oil, INXS and Tommy and Phil Emmanuel,
and meeting for the first time Jimmy Barnes, Greg Norman and
Paul Hogan. But it was a The atmosphere in the arena was absolutely electric and the contrast of Slim's voice and his lone guitar to the big sounds of the previous bands was a reminder to the world of Australia's independence and unique character. SLIM AN AUSTRALIA POST LEGEND! Slim Dusty was declared Australia Post's "Legend of 2001"
at the Australia Day Council's luncheon at Darling Harbour (Sydney)
on January 25 this year. A special issue of stamps and cards
plus a Australia Post General Manager Graeme John presented Slim with a solid gold set of the stamps. The only other gold set has been presented to Parliament House in Canberra. Slim was quite overwhelmed by the honour, following in the footsteps of other Australian legends including Don Bradman, Arthur Boyd, the Anzacs and the Olympians. The former Governor of NSW the Hon. Gordon Samuels and the Lord Mayor of Sydney Mr Frank Sartor were among the guests at the luncheon.
That night, after a hurried flight back to Tamworth, Slim crowned the Country Queen of the Festival. The next morning he signed stamp sheets and memorabilia outside the Post Office for nearly three hours. "I was supposed to be there for only one hour," Slim said. "But when I found out that some people had lined up from 6.30am to be first when I arrived at 10am, I just couldn't go before I had signed as much as I could for everyone." CENTENARY OF FEDERATION PARADE The big parade through Sydney on January 1, 2001 to mark the Centenary of Federation, saw lines of floats, hordes of people and every imaginable sort of coloured costume on walkers and dancers through the streets. Slim was at Government House early in the day where he met up with friends including Jimmy Little and Normie Rowe as they prepared to mount floats and trucks or as in Jimmy's case to walk alongside. Joy, with Anne and her husband Greg, viewed the parade from seating provided in the Premier's enclosure opposite St Mary's Cathedral. They waved madly to Slim when he came past but he was so busy waving to the many other onlookers, young and old, that he didn't see them. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD The annual Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards night is a glittering affair, which Slim attended soon after his return from his November tour. Last year country music gave the surprise of the night when Kasey Chambers walked off with the Female Vocalist of the Year award against all the pop girls of the moment. Slim Dusty received the only standing ovation of the night when he was presented with a special Lifetime Achievement Award from ARIA. This Award highlights the respect and affection Slim is offered by the whole Australian music industry. TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
 Joy planting a tree at the Old Mill at Manilla. |
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In a surprise announcement on March 14, Slim and Joy announced that in partnership with friend Doug Thompson they had purchased Slim's old farm home in Nulla Nulla Creek in the Macleay Valley of NSW. As well as Slim's childhood home and farm property, they have purchased several other small properties including one which originally belonged to Slim's uncle, Sgt George Kirkpatrick M.M., killed in France during World War I. Kempsey Shire Council has found all the paperwork relating
to the dedication and naming of a bridge at the 40 mile mark
from Kempsey (in Nulla Nulla Creek) which was named the Kirkpatrick
Bridge to honour In this Federation year, the people of Kempsey have chosen Nurse Kirkpatrick as their Federation figure and local school children are dressing a model in her uniform and veil. The model will join many others in a display at Parliament House in Canberra later this year. The Kempsey Council has formed a Trust and a company with the object of funding the proposed Slim Dusty Museum in Kempsey itself. A business plan is formed already and once funding is achieved building will commence. The Slim Dusty property in Nulla Nulla Creek will in time become a great visiting place for tourists and admirers who come to Kempsey to see the Museum. There will be a full story and pictures in the next issue of the newsletter.
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Hello everyone ! So much has happened since I last had contact with you all Christmas, the holiday with family and then Tamworth Country Music Festival. Talking about Tamworth (I know many of you were there), the weather was so HOT I think I lost pounds just walking up the street! but what a wonderful time everyone had. The Line Dancers in particular were wonderful, and hundreds of people came out to cheer them on as they broke the record. I wish I had their energy! It was wonderful to see and pass the time of day with so many friends. I was very proud to be in the audience at the Awards to see Slim be honoured with another three Golden Guitars. If anyone ever deserved to be honoured, it was Slim. He has always been devoted to Australia and to Australian heritage he has and always will be "The Man who is Australia" and we are all very proud of him. As you will know by now, Australia Post has issued stamps honouring Slim. Also at your Post Office you will find a CD ("A Piece of Australia") and a wonderful book about Slim's life. I believe the demand for these was unbelievable the poor girls at the post office were driven mad by people wanting one. If you (like me) were lucky enough to get one, good on you. Until next time, 
 Mike Stolle (above right) is a great fan of Slim's from Germany. Having listened to Slim's songs about Australia and the people who founded our land, Mike decided he would come over and see for himself the places Slim sang about. He hired a car and travelled around Australia, visiting Camooweal, Mt Isa and a lot of other places named in Slim's songs. Absolutely fascinated, Mike called me one day (I know no German and his English wasn't the best, but we made ourselves understood after a while!). He wanted to meet Slim to shake his hand. I wondered just how we would manage this, and then remembered that Slim's granddaughter Katie did German at school and had also spent some months in Germany as an exchange student so Katie saved the day! Slim met with Mike and Katie was able to translate and a wonderful day was had by all. Mike went home with some very fond memories of Australia. 
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DESPERATELY SEEKING Thea Kendrick wants to know if anyone has a spare copy of "The Best of Slim Dusty/Country Living", "Slim Dusty Sings his Favourite Songs" or "A Guitar and a Hat". These are the only albums she needs to complete her collection. Barbara York is also seeking a copy of each they are very hard to come by! If you have a spare copy, please get in touch with Thea or Barbara:
at the Slim Dusty Fan Club, PO Box 1257, Lane Cove NSW 2066. |
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SLIM DUSTY FAN CLUB Are you a Slim Dusty fan, supporter or mate? For just $22, you can join the Slim Dusty Fan Club and receive:
To join, or renew your membership, simply send a cheque or money order for $20 to
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specially
commissioned book were launched to the public.