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The CD accompanying the new book I've Been There (And Back Again) has been released and debuted at number 20 on the ARIA Australian Country Chart. The CD provides the soundtrack for the book (see story here) and the history of the 25 tracks on the album.
I've Been There (And Back Again) This October, Hachette Australia will publish I'VE BEEN THERE (And Back Again) – Slim Dusty and Joy McKean's Lifetime of Travel, Stories and Songs written by Joy McKean.
A special limited edition (print run of 1927 only) collector's set with special release CDs (pictured) will be available for $100. Shared by his wife Joy McKean – the songs, lyrics and life with Australia's country music legend, Slim Dusty. Through the lyrics of their much loved songs, Joy McKean takes readers into the life she shared at home, on the stage and on the road with her husband, country music legend Slim Dusty. Married for more than 50 years, Slim and Joy toured all over Australia singing, writing and performing. I’VE BEEN THERE (AND BACK AGAIN) will include many never seen before photographs from Slim and Joy's own family albums and also an extensive range by the internationally acclaimed photographer John Elliott, who has been photographing Slim and Joy, their band and family for decades. Including many lyrics from the iconic songs they sang together, Joy reminisces about each song – who, how, when and where they were. The bush ballads and the bush life are recounted in detail as Joy tells of an Australian way of life that is almost gone. From the old showgrounds of the 1950s to the grand theatres of the big cities, the old-time music halls of country Australia and some of the most remote areas of the continent. This is a country music love affair. Slim Dusty sold over 7 million albums in Australia and was our most prolific recording artist. Even today, he is still one of Australia's all time biggest selling recording artists. Slim passed away on September 19, 2003. Joy has been awarded six Golden Guitars for her songwriting, and her skills as a writer and storyteller shine in this beautiful book. Joy wrote the bestselling biography Another Day, Another Town about Slim's life. To coincide with the release of the book, EMI Music Australia will be releasing the CD I've Been There (and Back Again. The album will act as the soundtrack, providing the 25 songs featured throughout the book. The album will be released on Friday 28th October.
"Key" achievement for Slim Dusty Centre Friday 18th November was a proud day for The Slim Dusty Foundation is it took yet another major step closer to the highly anticipated opening of The Slim Dusty Centre.
In lieu of the cutting of the ribbon to celebrate the Handover, Minister Crean happily "strummed the first chord" of the red cedar Maton, which was modelled on Slim's own guitar and recently played on tour by fellow Australian Keith Urban. Ensuring the look was complete, Akubra's Roy Wilkinson presented the Minister with a 'Cattleman Sand' Akubra hat – another of Kempsey’s icons. The completion of the Slim Dusty Centre building was largely funded under the Australian Government’s Better Regions Program. Kempsey's Slim Dusty Centre will house Slim and Joy's vast collection of memorabilia from their 50 years of touring around Australia. The Centre will also be the major facility for the region in hosting community events and major touring exhibitions. As the only major all-weather facility in the region the Slim Dusty Centre has long been anticipated as an opportunity to generate a major economic boost to the Mid North Coast Tourism Industry. Slim's strong affinity with the indigenous people of Australia was reflected in the opening ceremony with Colleen Campbell of the Dunghutti People, the traditional custodians of the land, greeting the dignitaries with a traditional Welcome to Country. This occasion was not only an acknowledgement of the Foundation's achievements but it was also a tribute to what can be achieved when a regional community has a unified goal. One of the guests on the day Cr Liz Campbell, the new Mayor of Kempsey Shire said "the completion of the building of the Slim Dusty Centre is significantly important to the whole of the Kempsey Shire, and also to the Mid North Coast Region as a unique Australian Cultural Centre... to the Foundation Board and the Foundation CEO Kathryn Yarnold… the passion and belief that has gone into this project is remarkable." So it is with pride and appreciation that the Slim Dusty Foundation were honoured with the attendance of not only Minister Crean and members of the Slim Dusty Family but also Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, CMAA President Joan Douglas, Phil Lahey/Lahey Constructions, Project Director John Kent, Joel de Carle/Schreiber Hamilton Architects, Jason Becker/Tyrrells Wines, Roy Wilkinson/Akubra, John Sheppard/Golden Chain Australia and other Foundation Donors & supporters. As the Mayor said at the ceremony… "thank you all for the vision of what we see here today." The Slim Dusty Foundation team will now continue to work toward the final stage… exhibition fit out, with an opening date anticipated to be announced in 2012. Slim Dusty lived his life through the ideals of fairness, mateship, family and community as well as a strong desire to learn. Those same ideals that Slim strived for – in life as well as his songs – are now celebrated through the annual Slim Dusty Community Mateship Awards.
Now in their third year, nominations are open for the NAB Slim Dusty Community Mateship Award. "Since we first started the concept, these Awards have proven extremely popular," Slim Dusty Foundation Interim CEO / BDM Kathryn Yarnold said. "The Awards have been based around the qualities and values Slim aspired to live his life by." Nominations are also sought for the Essential Energy Slim Dusty Community Youth Award. Open to youth between the ages of 12 and 18, the award recognises those who have made a positive contribution to their community and society. Nominations close on October 7. Award winners will be announced on Saturday October 29 during the Slim Dusty Country Music Memories Week.
Blue skies shine over the Slim Dusty Centre! In latest news from the construction site of the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey, Kathryn Yarnold (Interim CEO of the Slim Dusty Foundation) had this to say... "After years of anticipation, people can now actually see something really tangible happening on the site of the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey. The excitement is growing... people driving by have been watching the steady completion of the building and the landscaping now starting to appear.
The structure has now reached such an advanced stage that local events are currently being scheduled in the Function Rooms and in fact the Slim Dusty Foundation offices are now operational out of the Centre's main building. Ms Yarnold also expressed the significance of the support received thus far: "The latest stage of Kempsey's Slim Dusty Centre has been strongly supported by local companies getting behind the project by donating major components and much needed services to the development, as it poises to commence the exhibition fit out. "Companies from Macksville, Kempsey and Port Macquarie have recognised the benefits that will flow to their communities from this iconic attraction and have rallied behind it in a big way. "We could not have come this far without donors and supporters. This is a community project, proudly owned by the locals... we are lucky to have a strong and dedicated area that has proudly stood up to be counted, when it counted." The Slim Dusty Centre is expected to be officially ready and open to the general public in 2012... updates will be available via www.slimdustycentre.com.au or for more information please call 1800 18SLIM. Tyrrell's Wines Support the Slim Dusty Foundation
The winery is a great supporter of the Slim Dusty Foundation, having donated wines to be included in auctions of a wine cabinet at the recent SD Country Ball, and having donated wines for the fundraising dinners of the Foundation. We have greatly appreciated their support and encouragement over the years. Tyrrell's now offer a Collectors' Series of Gold Record label wines to be sold on behalf of the Foundation. Every sale will create a generous donation to the Foundation. As well as providing top class wines of Private Bin standard for drinking now, the annual series will be the basis of a collection of fine wines celebrating events and Gold Albums in the life of Slim Dusty. Take a look at the specially labelled wine bottles, and try the contents! (in moderation, please). Click here for details. "I've had an interesting time just lately. Landsdale Roses from Perth launched the Slim Dusty Rose at the Melbourne International Garden and Flower Show recently. I was there for the launch, and enquiries were coming in thick and fast.
I was given a posy of Slim Dusty Roses on Tuesday, and though they had flown from Perth on Monday night, they were still beautiful and fragrant the following Saturday after flying to Canberra with me! See you soon! © Copyright, Slim Dusty Enterprises |
An illustrated hardback edition will be published on October 25, 2011 at $39.99
"Of course the sudden appearance of the 40ft Windmill (donated by Comet Windmills) is the talk of the town and has added something very special to the ambiance of the entire site."
It was the first time I had seen the rose 'in person' as we say, and it is lovely. The colour is such a deep, almost copper golden colour and the perfume is strong and stays with the rose the length of its life in a vase. In the photo you will see the colour of the rose but photos never capture the depth of colour really.