A highlight on the day will be performances by young country music artists Keely Johnson and Tyson Lucas.

Both of these talented young musicians are set to have an incredible career in country music.

Keely Johnson is mentored by Lee Kernaghan and has performed all across Australia. She was recently in Nashville where she was being coached by Renee Grant-Williams, who has worked with artists such as Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.

In addition to her music career, Keely has raised over $700,000 for children’s cancer charities and founded her own “The Golden Octopus Foundation”, which is raising money to allow children to be able to stay in their own home towns across Australia, instead of having to travel and stay for long periods at major hospitals in the state.

She was awarded the Queensland Young Achiever Award in 2017, and has been nominated for the Young Australian of the Year. Keely is currently recording her first album.

Love and respect of traditional country music sets Tyson Lucas apart from many other artists. He received his big break playing a young Troy Cassar-Daley at the Tamworth Country Music Awards and released his first EP “It’s OK to be me” at the 2018 Tamworth Country Music Festival. “I want to bring the focus back to classic country in Australia,” he said. The award winning singer/songwriter has successfully released 2 singles; one of them titled “We Just Want To Be With You” reached Number 2 on the Country iTunes Chart.

Join us for a BBQ, live music, lucky door prizes and more! Slim Dusty’s wife and partner of more than 50 years, country singer/songwriter Joy McKean will also be joining us on the day. Come and be surrounded by the awards, memorabilia, music and memories of a lifetime as we remember and celebrate the life of Australia’s King of Country, Slim Dusty.

We also invite all to join us on Wednesday June 13, what would have been Slim’s 91 st birthday to come along to the Centre to meet Joy McKean and David Kirkpatrick and enjoy a slice of cake. Every family/couple will receive a free book to have signed by Joy & David with their Museum entry! Dianne Lindsay and Peter Simpson will be providing entertainment from 10am.

Who was Slim Dusty?

Slim Dusty, was born David Gordon Kirkpatrick on 13 June 1927 at Nulla Nulla Creek, near Kempsey. He was an Australian country music singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer, an Australian cultural icon and one of the country’s most awarded stars, with a career spanning nearly seven decades. Slim was the first Australian to have a No. 1 international hit song, with a version of Gordon Parsons, A Pub with No Beer. He has received an unequalled 37Golden Guitar awards, as well as two ARIA awards and was inducted into theARIA Hall of Fame and the Country Music Roll of Renown.

The 2000 Sydney Olympics was very special for Slim. As he had sung it in a hundred country halls and as many tent shows, Slim sang Waltzing Matilda as the last song, the last goodbye to an estimated global audience of nearly four billion. “Just me, the world and my guitar . . . amazing,” he mused after his performance.

What is the Slim Dusty Centre?

The Slim Dusty Centre is the home of the Slim Dusty Museum. In addition to paying tribute to the country music icon, it helps to tell the story of Australia and its history.

The Centre also hosts a travelling exhibition gallery and a function centre. There is an onsite gift shop selling Slim Dusty merchandise, souvenirs and locally made products, and also a café.

The Centre successfully opened its doors to the public on October 17, 2015 with over 200 people per day visiting the multi-purpose facility during the first weeks. Since opening the Centre has received multitudes of visitors of all ages from all over Australia, and has also welcomed many international visitors through its doors.