Category: Hume Travel Radio Network

The Slim Dusty Centre was the scene of the sixth annual Slim Dusty Community Mateship and Youth Awards, however, the first time the awards were presented at a gala dinner. More than 130 people attended and helped celebrate and acknowledge some of the key values supported by the Slim Dusty Foundation, in memory of Slim, including community, mateship, learning, fairness and family.

Two awards were presented on the night and they were awarded to two very worthwhile people. The recipient of the Community Mateship Award was David James from the Northern Territory. Keenly community minded, David is often called upon to help out family, neighbours and the broader community. He is a great believer in learning from the past and applying that knowledge to the future. Renowned for supporting the underdog, David has assisted many a needy mate into work opportunities, improving their lives. “I was absolutely stumped out for words. It was the last thing that I would have expected,” he said. David, 74, was unable to travel to the gala dinner due to bushfires threatening his and neighbouring stations. “Some of our country has paddocks that are 20km in and no road access. You just have to wait for the fire to come out. We have just sacrificed our paddock to save our neighbours’ paddock. It is what you do.”

David waited on the telephone and heard the announcement live that he was the Mateship winner. As he responded, his voice was clearly heard throughout the gallery and it was obvious to everyone in the crowd how moved he was. Following his win, David spoke of his admiration of Slim Dusty “If you asked someone on the street who the Prime Minister was, say eight years ago, or 30 years ago, most wouldn’t know. But if you asked who the King was, every Aussie knows that would be Slim Dusty. “He was the King when I was a boy, and he’s still King today.”

Melbourne’s Khurram Jahangir Khan won the Community Youth Award. Khurram, at 19 years of age, is largely involved in volunteering his time for the community, including helping senior citizens, young refugees and people with disabilities. He sees his community work as a tool to assist him when he obtains his goal of becoming a Doctor of Medicine. “I am highly pleased to say that it was an immense honour to arrive at Kempsey, and meet such beautiful, loving and generous people,” Khurram said. “I can never ever explain my excitement and heartfelt honour due to the award I have received. Also, at last, I got to know the song of Slim Dusty my grandma loves and it is ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and I love this song too. I am highly grateful for all things the Slim Dusty Foundation mates have done for me.” Khurram is completing a Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne. His acceptance speech at the gala dinner inspired all those who attended.

Kempsey man, Brian Irvine, who was one of the Finalists on the night added “Having events like this highlights the importance of the Slim Dusty Centre to our community and beyond. Last Friday night was a great success and the entertainment, food and presentation was very classy.”

Master of Ceremonies, Tania Kernaghan, entertained the crowd and shared the microphone with Anne Kirkpatrick, local talents Tommy Kennedy, Amos Morris and Slim’s own Travelling Country Band. “I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Awards on Friday night and it was particularly fitting that they were held at the superb Slim Dusty Centre. After having the opportunity to meet with the finalists and to chat with them about all they had achieved so far, each and every one of them, I believe are winners in their own right. I encourage everyone to support these Awards in the future, they are a reminder of how proud it makes you feel to be an Australian”.

Keynote speaker for Mates, Keith Thompson, from Thompson’s Transport, cleverly engaged the crowd with his humour and reflection on the famous trucking journey across the Nullarbor with Slim Dusty at the wheel. Representing Youth, keynote speaker Tom Burton, Director of Communications for the North Coast Institute of TAFE, was a positive advocate for improved futures for youth through education, and reinforced the progress being made under the MOU between TAFE and the Slim Dusty Centre as a workplace training facility.

Organisers would like to sincerely thank all the sponsors who supported the gala dinner and congratulate everyone that was nominated for an award.

Country rockers The Wolfe Brothers are thrilled to announce a very special guest for their show at the 2015 Tamworth Country Music Festival. Aussie rock legend and Rose Tattoo front man Angry Anderson will be joining them for their only Tamworth Festival show. After an impromptu performance together at a charity event earlier in 2014, Angry and the boys resolved to join forces again and the festival proved the perfect place for that wish to come to fruition.

In recent months, Nashville heavyweights have been collaborating with their rock n roll counterparts to create an incredible partnership of country-roots-rock. One recent example is former Nirvana drummer and now head Foo Fighter Dave Grohl teaming up with the Zac Brown Band for several memorable performances. Modern country and rock genres seem to effortlessly combine, giving a new vibe to some classic hits. It was only a matter of time before this unique collaboration of rock and country made its way to Australian shores. With The Wolfe Brothers live shows well reputed for their high energy performances, the upcoming Tamworth concert with a bona fide rock legend is guaranteed to be high voltage and unforgettable.

“It’s no secret that we like to rock our country and we’re very excited to have the original bad boy and Aussie rock legend joining us on this one,” says Nick Wolfe. “I think it’ll push some boundaries and challenge some traditional ideals, but hey, that’s just what we do”. With their new album Nothin’ But Trouble riding high in the charts, fans can expect a new re-energised show. “We’ll aim to push our usual 110% energy levels to 120% and make this special event with Angry a night to remember – for us and the audience.”

Like the true champions of country music that they are, The Wolfe Brothers always look forward to catching up with music-lovers at the festival each year. “Tamworth is a special place for all in the Australian country scene,” says Nick. “I think it brings out the best in artists, to see the dedication of fans who’ve travelled country-wide and often return year after year, makes us want to pull a bit extra out of the tank and give them all we can.”

The Wolfe Brothers have experienced an incredible year in 2014. With the release of their second long-player Nothin’ But Trouble their music has been searing up the charts and winning them the hearts of a whole new legion of fans. The album burst onto the ARIA Country Chart at #2 and entered the ARIA mainstream chart at #16. The first single from the new release – That Kinda Night – smashed into #1 position on both country radio and the CMC video charts. It’s no surprise that their latest album was so warmly received by Australian audiences, after all, their debut It’s On rocketed through the charts, firmly cementing the band as one to watch.

The band are the first to point out that they couldn’t have achieved so much if not for the backing of the Australian public. “This past year has been a dream,” says Nick. “From recording and releasing the new album to the countless shows right across the country, we’ve been blessed with the support of our very loyal and dedicated fans. To see our new music being embraced the way it has is astounding, and it only makes us want to work harder and be better at what we do.”

Tamworth Country Music Festival is the start of another big year for The Wolfe Brothers. It kicks off the start of a huge national tour that will take them to all corners of Australia. “We’re gonna play as many places as we can, write the best music we can and keep being ourselves cos that’s what has got us this far,” says Nick.

The Wolfe Brothers have also received two nominations at the 2015 Golden Guitar awards; Group or Duo of the Year and Single of the Year. Don’t miss your chance to be part of country rock history as The Wolfe Brothers and special guest Angry Anderson rock Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2015. Tickets on sale now.

YOU are invited to the inaugural Slim Dusty Community Mateship and Youth Awards Gala Dinner Event.

It is the sixth year the awards have been staged, but the first time they will be announced at a special function.

The gala dinner will be held at the Slim Dusty Centre on Friday, November 28.

Popular Australian Country Music Singer Tania Kernaghan will be the MC for the evening.

“I am thrilled to be the MC for the Slim Dusty Mateship and Youth Awards this year,” Tania said.

“I love that these Awards celebrate life values, like fairness, mateship, family, community and life-long learning.”

Tania has hosted the Tamworth Songwriters Awards numerous times, co-hosted the CMA’s prestigious Golden Guitar Awards and emceed a wide range of gala events for the highly regarded Outback Trailblazers Angel Flight Charity. She has also presented and been an integral part of various Outback Queensland Tourism Awards and Events.

Dress will be semi-formal and entertainment for this special evening will be Anne Kirkpatrick and Slim’s own Travelling Country Band.

A lucky door prize will be available for one lucky guest – a Gold Coast Accommodation Package will be given away courtesy of The Macleay Argus. The package includes four nights accommodation for two people at a resort on the Gold Coast.

Tickets to the prestigious dinner are $85 per person or a table of 10 is only $75 per person.

Members of the Slim Dusty Centre, the ‘Mates of Slim Dusty,” will receive a 10 percent discount off their ticket price.

Amber Lawrence has been nominated in two different categories for the 2015 CMAA Golden Guitar Awards, including Toyota Heritage Song of the Year for “The Lifesaver”, and Female Artist of the Year for her album, ‘Superheroes’, released in September through Social Family Records.

When Amber wrote “The Lifesaver”, she wrote it with the love of her late father, a well known Maroubra Beach surf lifesaver, in her mind and heart. She knew it was a special song from the moment it started to come together, and it’s now apparent that the rest of Australia agrees with her, with her nomination for Toyota Heritage Song of the Year.

“I cried when they read out The Lifesaver. This song means everything to me – I am so happy! And Female Artist of the Year is super cool, too!” said Amber Lawrence, following the exciting news.

Always the hard worker not afraid to get out there and just do it, Amber contributes her love of music and life to her mother and father, and is grateful for every opportunity that comes her way, including previous nominations for what has so far been an elusive Golden Guitar for the popular country singer. With the strength of her new album, ‘Superheroes’, and touching tribute to her father with “The Lifesaver”, 2015 could well be Amber Lawrence’s year to shine and take home her first gong.

The CMAA Golden Guitar Nominations Ceremony, hosted by Catherine Britt and Morgan Evans, also saw Amber perform the first single, “Superhero”, from her new album, ‘Superheroes’.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival takes place from January 16th to 25th, 2015, with Amber performing at Blazes on Friday, January 23rd. The Country Music Awards of Australia (The Golden Guitars) will be held at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre on January 24th.