ON THE WALLABY- 3rd September 2006

SLIM DUSTY AND JOHNNY CASH – THREE YEARS ON AND THEIR MUSIC IS CELEBRATED

Food for thought....

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves that dwell inside each of us.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt,resentment, inferiority,lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

THE JOHNNY CASH/SLIM DUSTY TRIBUTE CONCERT

Just under three years ago, two icons of mine passed away within a week of each other in American country music star Johnny Cash (1932-2003) and Slim Dusty (1927-2003).

Following on from their deaths, it was always in the back of my mind, more with Johnny Cash I must admit, to somehow commemorate the anniversary of his death each year with a ”Man in Black” or some other function run with a local hotel or group.

In yet another example of how life goes, I was in my partner Sam Hudson’s Canberra office telling her about it and lo and behold, her accountant, Vicki, had contacts within the Canberra country music fraternity.

She enthused about the idea, took it to the Committee who added they would like Slim included (and which obviously I very quickly and willingly acceded to) and so the “Tribute Concert” was launched.

It will be held next Friday night at the Austrian Australian Club in Heard Street Mawson (a Canberra suburb) and it will be presented by the Country Music Association of Canberra Inc, commencing at 7pm. Entry is open to all and the entry cost is a whopping $6 (yep, six dollars) per head!. Contacts if you are interested in coming along to hear the Johnny Cash/ Slim Dusty contestants are Alan (6299 4628), Laraine (6291 6259) or Susan (6280 9088).

It should be a great night- I have the honour of being the Johnny Cash section judge and it will nostalgia galore. I hope the Slim singers include “By a fire of Gidgee coal” in their repetoire!

VALE STEVE IRWIN

Like I guess nearly all Australians, I am enormously saddened with today’s news of the death of Steve Irwin, the ”Crocodile Man” at age 44 following a diving accident in North Queensland waters on the Great Barrier Reef.

Much will be written and said over the next few days on him so I won’t add to that but to say I admired him enormously.

I admired him because he was himself and in a day and age when pomposity, falsehood and egos drive far too many people, he stayed his core self. As the old adage goes “honour is the gift you give yourself” and he did that in spadefuls.

He was an Aussie and for that he did not apologise. He was not a pseudo Yank or European yuppie – he was 100% dinki di Aussie and as such he should be an inspirational figure to the young of this nation who think it is cool to wear a baseball cap back the front, chew gum and generally imitate all American.

He stood tall and I acclaim him for that and mourn his passing. His death is sad but hey, the man went out doing what he loved and surely that is a long, long way ahead of getting old and whiling away your days in what I call a “fattening paddock for undertakers” in a retirement village!

As we say here “Ava go mate!” , he did and we are very much the poorer for his passing as the next few days will amply illustrate.

Carpe diem

Tony

Tony Fountain

Professional Speaker, auctioneer and author

Sydney NSW Australia

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