Gum Leaf News – A Letter from John

How y’goin’ folks

I’m just about to head off to Adelaide and then to the Flinders Ranges to start filming a documentary for the Gosling brothers. These two Englishmen will pitch ‘Song of the Outback’ to the BBC and American TV. It will include interesting black and white historical stories of the outback. We will head north from Wilpena Pound to Coober Pedy, Birdsville, Glen Helen, and Alice Springs. The producers have chosen my songs to link the doco together and include Coober Pedy, Lightning Ridge, Alice Springs, Sing You The Outback, Skinny Dingoes, Camel Boy, Old Man Emu, Galleries Of Pink Galahs, Thargomindah and This Ancient Land. I can’t wait to get out there, as so much water has travelled down to Lake Ayre. I’m bound to write some new songs.

Keep those signatures coming in for Variety, folks. All you need to do is sign a postcard size piece of good quality paper in a thick black marker pen (family name or individual) and send it in (to PO Box 399, Epping NSW 1710) along with a cheque for $100 made out to ‘Variety the Children’s Charity’ and your name will end up on the bonnet of my HQ ute which is currently being equipped for the NSW Variety Bash in August. We need those signatures in before the end of July so they can all become a part of a huge decal. (Don’t forget to give us a return address so we can forward a receipt.) This year will be harder on special needs kids that ever because of the economic downturn, so travel with us proudly on the bonnet of the best ute in Australia. Wait till you see it on the website (and in Tamworth in 2010). Just a reminder too, folks. Meg and I are auctioning on eBay another ‘Dinner, bed and breakfast’ for one night for a couple at our mountain hideaway in the QLD hinterland for any night between June 25 to July 31, 2009 but excluding July 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. It’s for Variety as well. If you check the following story you will read how much fun Alan and Lyn had last year. They reckon they will bid again. They are a great couple! The bidding will run from 11th June 2009 on eBay.

Kind regards

Johnno