Slim Dusty, Australian Legend.

This plaque, one of perhaps 50 (I didn't actually count them) set on large rocks at the front of the Country Music Centre at Tamworth NSW commemorates the life and achievements of my favourite Australian Country music artist, Slim Dusty, I was disappointed to find that in 2005 they had not updated the plaque with Slim's death in 2003, I hope that this has been done now.

David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE (13 June 1927—19 September 2003) was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning six decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush Lifestyle, and also for his many trucking songs. Dusty was the first Australian to have a No. 1 Hit song with Gordon Parsons (Pub With No Beer).^[1] He received an unequalled 37 Golden Guitar and two ARIA awards and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Country Music Roll of Renown. At the time of his death at the age of 76, Dusty had been working on his 106th album for EMI Records. In 2007 his domestic record sales in Australia surpassed seven million.

Among Slim's huge tally of awards and achievements there is one that can never be taken away or equalled... The first artist broadcast from Space....

    ·  ·  The first artist broadcast from space when astronauts played his rendition of Waltzing Matilda from Space Shuttle Columbia as it passed over Australia on its maiden flight in 1981

Slim was the recipient of Australia's first Gold record and he also won more Gold and Platinum records than any other Australian artist.

Slim was honoured with an O.B.E. (order of the  British Empire) and an O.A. (order of Australia) for his services to the entertainment industry.

Slim won an unprecedented 37 Golden Guitar Awards from his 72 nominations,at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, this festival is Australia's equivalent to Nashville USA Grand Ole Opry, yet another triumph for Slim was his invitation to perform at the Opry.

Slim shared "pole" space with another artist Rex Dallas in 2005
















Not my best photos I'm afraid but good enough to get the general idea.


Please click to enbiggen.

Come on down!!!

Could it be that I'm getting cynical?????

 
   Good Day and welcome to a brand new edition of : 
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Today's program features another chance to take part in our exciting competition: 
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accosting drivers at traffic lights.
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buy a ticket to Indonesia 
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All you have to do is destroy all your papers or burn your boat once you enter Australian waters,and remember the magic password 
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They joined tens of thousands of other lucky winners already staying in hotels all over Australia
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Leadership???

This is a sad comment on the effectiveness of our first woman Prime
 Minister, Julia Gillard has been an unmitigated failure,almost from
 day 1, she will undoubtedly be replaced at the next general election
 but we will bear the scars of her time of leadership??? for years to
come.