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When Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, travels around his 256,643 square kilometre federal electorate, chances are the music of Slim Dusty is keeping him company.
So it’s not surprising that Mr Coulton is among those calling for June 13 to be recognised as National Slim Dusty Day.
Mr Coulton spoke in the Federation Chamber last week, 10 years after Slim Dusty’s death, about the star’s contribution to Australian music and the affec- tion in which he is held by the Australian people.
“Slim Dusty is an icon of Australia,” Mr Coulton said.
“I have been a Slim Dusty fan ever since I can remember. He is without peer.”
Mr Coulton commended the efforts of others who have also publicly supported Slim Dusty Day including Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, Kasey Chambers, Lee Kernaghan, Shane Nicholson, Ray Hadley, Dick Smith, Beccy Cole and Adam Harvey.
“He clearly understood what made people tick in Australia and his songs reflect that,” Mr
Coulton said. Mr Coulton also raised the
impact that Slim Dusty had on the Aboriginal community.
“Slim Dusty is one of the top artists who took the time to trav- el to Aboriginal communities, to the regional areas, to deliver his brand of music to those people.”
The Slim Dusty Birthday Bash will be held at Rooty Hill RSL on June 13 and will mark the push to have National Slim Dusty Day recognised.
June 30 is the birthday of Slim Dusty, who was born David Gordon Kirkpatrick in 1927.