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The duet – Here We Are – is the first single to be lifted from Anne's upcoming career spanning album Annethology. The new collection, featuring 21 of Anne's classic tracks plus two brand new recordings, will be released on August 28 on the Slim Dusty & Joy McKean family label Nulla Records. Annethology will be released as a digital download and for a limited time only... the CD will be available in a special 2 x CD Bonus pack. A brand new rose, bearing the name of Australia's King of Country Music, will be officially launched on March 24th at the opening of the 2010 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. The Slim Dusty Rose, named after the Aussie music icon, will be unveiled at the Show by Slim Dusty's wife, manager and co-songwriter... Joy McKean OAM. Joy is herself a six time Golden Guitar / CMAA Award winning artist and regarded as a pioneer of our Australian music industry. The rose has been introduced into Australia by Landsdale Rose Gardens of Perth WA and will be made available from leading rose growers around the country. The Slim Dusty Rose is a rich golden orange colour with copper bronze tonings that blend with the outback colours of Slim's beloved Australian bush. Joy will be in Melbourne especially for the launch of the Slim Dusty Rose. Joy (who turned 80 in January!) is also the Chair for the Slim Dusty Foundation Ltd, the organisation established to build and operate the Slim Dusty Centre in Slim's home town of Kempsey, NSW. Lansdale Rose Gardens will donate part proceeds from the sale of each rose towards the Slim Dusty Foundation. The Slim Dusty Rose will also be a special feature in the garden landscape around the Slim Dusty Centre. The Slim Dusty Centre, which opens later this year, will be a cultural centre featuring a museum celebrating Slim Dusty's life and his many extraordinary achievements over his long and successful career... a career covering six decades and a staggering seven million record sales. Golden Guitars Head To Sydney For A One Night Only Country Hoedown A host of high profile Country entertainers, Golden Guitar winners and members of the Slim Dusty Family will help celebrate 'The Slim Dusty Country Ball' from 6:30pm at the Westin Hotel Sydney on Wednesday 31st March 2010.
Patrons of the Foundation, Alan Jones AO, John Singleton AM, Dick Smith and Lee Kernaghan OAM invite everyone who loved Slim Dusty AO MBE and his thousands of songs to come and enjoy an evening in loving memory of one of Australia's best Country singers. Located at No. 1 Martin Place, the venue will be turned into a real Country Ball with all proceeds from the event being donated to the Slim Dusty Foundation Ltd, set up to build a Centre in Slim's hometown of Kempsey, NSW, to honour his long and illustrious career. Construction of the Slim Dusty Centre is underway and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2010. The Slim Dusty Centre will keep the memory of this Australian Legend alive with memorabilia collected by Slim and Joy from all over Australia. It will give visitors an opportunity to experience an interactive journey through the heart and soul of Australia through Slim's eyes – as well as developing a scholarship program to assist young talented musicians obtain the best possible start to their Country Music careers. The Museum will be an iconic Australian experience built around Slim Dusty, his links with the Nation's Indigenous people, and his vision of Australian culture, as depicted through Slim's eyes and the lyrics of his timeless songs. 'The Slim Dusty Country Ball' will be a tribute to Slim Dusty AO MBE in aid of the Slim Dusty Foundation Ltd. For further information about the Slim Dusty Centre, please visit; www.slimdustycentre.com.au Tickets for 'The Slim Dusty Country Ball' are available for $250 per person. Corporate and VIP packages are also available; please contact Martine Buchter on (02) 8306 9555. Click here to download information brochure. New Signs Show the Slim Dusty Centre Has Started Two billboards announcing the beginning of the construction phase of the Slim Dusty Centre have gone up next to the Pacific Hwy.
The poster has been designed by Port Macquarie based graphic design company Hot Graphics, which is owned and operated by former Kempsey sisters Kylie Morris and Tennille McEwan. The signs are also proudly supported by the new owners of the Kempsey McDonald's franchise, Sean and Katie Davis. The Davis's will officially take over at McDonald's next month and are excited to be involved with the Slim Dusty Centre. "Being new to the area it is a great way for us to contribute. McDonald's is such a community oriented company and to be associated with one of Australia's real icons is a privilege," Mr Davis said. "Katie and I have big plans for McDonald's in Kempsey and we are thrilled to be getting off to such a good start." Kylie and Tennille said it was good to give something back to Kempsey. "Being local girls we are excited to be sharing the experience of the Slim Dusty Centre," Kylie said. "We are very fortunate to have an attraction which will benefit the economy and to have something the locals can be proud to have in their home town." Sydney based company Sports and Outdoor Media have also been supportive of the billboards and the Slim Dusty Centre Project with the construction of the billboards eight years ago. Slim Dusty Centre CEO Kathryn Yarnold said that while the end of the road was in sight, it had been a long journey. "I think back to 2001, when our first highway billboards went up – and The Macleay Argus took a photo of Slim standing in front of the sign which said 'Proposed Home of the Slim Dusty Centre'," she said. "Now they say 'Construction Underway' – what a mammoth achievement from a small town with a big dream and with the help of such a united and strong community team!" For information regarding the Slim Dusty Foundation and its aims, please contact Kathryn Yarnold, CEO on (02) 6562 6533, or 1800 18 SLIM, or visit the website at www.slimdustycentre.com.au Photo – Long Journey: Slim Dusty Centre CEO Kathryn Yarnold, Kylie Morris and Tennille McEwan of Hot Graphics, new McDonald's Kempsey owners Katie and Sean Davis, and Slim Dusty Centre Executive Assistant Tracey Parker. The Macleay Argus, Tuesday February 23, 2010 Help the Slim Dusty Foundation uncover lost treasures It was the dream of the late Slim Dusty to build a Centre where the memorabilia collected all over Australia during his long and illustrious career could be shown and where visitors would be involved in an interactive journey through the heart and soul of Australia. With the Slim Dusty Centre now finally under construction and an anticipated opening of December 2010, the call for assistance from the Australian public now goes out to seek specific items for the museum that will help to complete some of the stories of Slim Dusty's life. It is evident that many Australians hold the memory of Slim Dusty and the 'Country Music Family' of his era close to their hearts and may have memorabilia hidden away in their homes, or more than likely, on display in their homes. The curator for the Slim Dusty Centre, Linda Raymond would like to invite Slim Dusty fans and their families to consider donating items of memorabilia as a part of one of the many significant displays within the Slim Dusty Centre. "Since starting work on this project I have come to appreciate the deep affection held by Australians and overseas country fans for Slim, Joy and the whole Kirkpatrick family. I want to ensure that those fans have a chance to be involved in this important new national cultural centre, and to see their personal memories become part of Slim's story" commented Linda. The 'Dusty' family members have contributed their significant collection for display at the Slim Dusty Centre, material which has been gathered from over 50 years of traveling the length and breadth of Australia. Missing pieces of memorabilia and stories and photographs of Slim with truckies and Aussie folk to complement these displays will be a priceless addition. An example of the items of interest to the Curator would include Western or 'Tex Morton' style clothing, young girl's cowgirl outfits, jodhpurs, boots, belts, neckerchiefs or pipes etc from the 1940s or 50s. From this era Ms Raymond also has an interest in an EZ guitar tutor or any other guitar methods or, something every young boy would have possessed at the time, Tex Morton or Smoky Dawson comics. Undoubtedly, any posters, tickets, programs or advertising material collected from Agricultural shows, rodeos or sideshows in which Slim and Joy are mentioned would be cherished as an exciting part of the museum displays. During his lifetime, Slim Dusty developed a great affiliation with our 'Truckies' and to complement the 'Truckies Tribute to Slim' Paver Program in the courtyard of the Slim Dusty Centre, the Curator is also calling on the many truckies who have memories, photos or memorabilia relating to Slim. Ms Raymond will also welcome any pieces of dashboard decoration and truck artwork or relevant photographs that members of the public may be kind enough to donate to the Slim Dusty Centre. If you have any items of interest that may be donated to the Slim Dusty Centre please email your contact details and stories with photographs attached to slimdustycentre@midcoast.com.au who will contact you for further detail. Alternatively, please call (02) 6562 6533 or 1800 18 SLIM. Joy McKean headed for another milestone! Without doubt one of "the" events of the 2010 Tamworth Country Music Festival will be the "Happy Birthday Joy" Tribute Concert on Thursday, January 21.
Joy's contributions to the Australian country music industry are unparalled. In a career spanning almost 70 years, she has been a 20th century Australian pioneer in so many ways - as a performer, songwriter, touring artist, concert promoter and country music radio broadcaster (weekly radio show on 2KY [in the 1950s]). Then there's Joy McKean the country music industry benefactor (one of the founders of the Country Music Festival & the CMAA), a self-taught Australiana historian and a successful biographer ("Slim Dusty: Another Day, Another Town"). Since Slim passed away in 2003, Joy has been the driving force behind the Slim Dusty Foundation, an organisation established to raise funds and generate support for the building of the Slim Dusty Centre in Slim's hometown of Kempsey, NSW. The Foundation's efforts have been so successful that construction of the $10 million Centre is confirmed to commence in 2010. Not only was Joy Slim Dusty's wife and manager for over 50 years, she also somehow managed to raise two children while on the road. The "Happy Birthday Joy" Concert will be the first time many of the members of the family have performed together since their very successful 2008 Slim Dusty Family Reunion Tour. Slim and Joy's two children, Anne and David Kirkpatrick, will be there both as performers and also to co-host the afternoon's proceedings. They will be joined on stage by members of Slim's Travelling Country Band, other family members... and some very special guests. It will be a unique afternoon featuring some Joy McKean stories, many classic songs penned by her and, of course, a guest appearance by the Slim Dusty family matriarch herself: the great Joy McKean. What a show it is going to be! Capitol Theatre Tamworth... 2pm Thursday, January 21. TICKETS NOW ON SALE Bookings available online (click here) to go direct to the concert booking page) or in person at the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre, or telephone 02 6767 5300. On Saturday October 31st (2009) at the Slim Dusty Memories event in Kempsey, the official announcement was made that the Federal Government has honoured the commitment made by the previous Government of a grant of $6 million for the building of the Slim Dusty Centre at Kempsey. The announcement was made on stage before the crowd of 700 people by the Hon. Maxine McKew MP who also congratulated the successful tenderer for the building, Phil Lahey of Lahey Constructions in Kempsey. Later in the evening, Joy McKean signed the contract authorising Lahey Constructions to begin building the Centre. The contract was signed as it rested on top of Anne Kirkpatrick's guitar case, a fitting place for such a contract to be signed!
Items made from the Homewood Farm Nulla red cedar were auctioned by auctioneer Dennis Mitchell and altogether brought $7000 in funds for the Foundation. Artists appearing this year included Clelia Adams, Jeff Brown backed by Lyn Brown and Ricky Shipp, Amos Morris, Lou Bradley backed by Phil Chaffer and Rod Coe, David Kirkpatrick and Anne Kirkpatrick. The Travelling Country Band appeared and backed some of the artists besides David and Anne; Charley Boyter and Mike Tyne also lent their talents to the music. There was some great country music on the day. Homewood visit Slim's original home still stands, and visitors were shown many interesting and historical sites in the valley as they drove along the Nulla Nulla Creek Road up to Homewood. The old house and the roses growing around it still, the site of the old dairy bails where Slim wrote When the Rain Tumbles Down in July were among the things they wanted to see. Morning tea with home made jam drops and scones, served in the house paddock finished off the experience for folk like Spud Corbett and his mate Wally who had come from Tasmania. Slim's truck compilation Sittin' on 80 is still selling well, with the treasure track, as we call it, of Give Me Room at the top of the track list. The Tarcutta Truckies' Memorial weekend fell on the same weekend as the Slim Dusty Memories event, and Joy was unable to be there in person but sent a recording to be played at the service. As patron of the Memorial, Joy has close ties to the truckies on the road, and to those organising the Memorial weekend and caring for the actual Wall. It is sad to think that John Dohling, who wrote some great truck songs, is no longer with us, like the truckies he wrote about. Nulla Records announces exciting new signing!
"I’Äôm very proud to welcome singer/songwriter Lou Bradley to Nulla Records. Lou is a fine songwriter and someone who we strongly believe will make her mark in the Australian music industry. Her approach to her music and performance is refreshing in its honesty and difference." The talented Mullumbimby based singer/songwriter has just recently completed her second album. Lou’Äôs debut Nulla album La La La Not Listening will be rush released by EMI Music late October. Photo: The First Ladies of Nulla (Anne Kirkpatrick, Lou and Joy) celebrate their new relationship.
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Ray Hadley OAM will host the evening with musical performances by Country superstars Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey, The Bushwackers, The Sunny Cowgirls and Lou Bradley joining special guests Joy McKean OAM, Anne Kirkpatrick and Dr David Kirkpatrick to kick their heels up for charity.
The Slim Dusty Memories day has grown to be a very successful event, run by the West Kempsey Rotary Club.
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