All eyes will be on Kempsey Racecourse on Saturday night, the 3rd of November, for a very special and extremely rare concert.

Lined up on stage will be the family of Australia's most celebrated and awarded Country Music Legend, Slim Dusty.

The Slim Dusty Country Music Memories Show is headlined by his life long partner and fellow performer Joy McKean. Joy and her family, who will take this opportunity to spend some valuable time at the Nulla, Slim’s boyhood home, is excited by the prospect of being on stage with the Slim Dusty troupe once again.

Proceeds from the Slim Dusty Country Music Memories Show will help fund construction of the Slim Dusty Centre on the Pacific Highway at Kempsey. The Centre will not only create employment and economic prospects for the region, it will provide a uniquely Australian experience and promises to be one of the most significant of its kind, destined to become a National Icon in its own right. It will incorporate a museum dedicated to Slim's achievements and will house an incredible collection of precious memorabilia collected by Slim and Joy during a lifetime on the road.

The Centre will also help keep Australia's country music and bush ballad traditions alive by nurturing up-and-coming performers, giving them the encouragement they need and deserve through Scholarships.

An exquisite Red Cedar coffee table made from timber originating from Slim’s Nulla Nulla property and handcrafted by Mr George Crossingham, along with various other items will be auctioned on the night, with all proceeds being dedicated to Australia’s exciting Slim Dusty Centre project.

What started out in 2004 as a simple local tribute to the memory of Slim Dusty who had passed away just one year before, is now a fully-fledged concert set to attract legions of fans of the man himself, and his style of music.

Now organised and run by the Rotary Club of Kempsey West, the Slim Dusty Country Music Memories Show, was originally initiated by local Rotarian, Bruce Woods, holding a small evening on his Kempsey farm. Who would have imagined that a fun night with a few mates would develop into such a significant and popular event?

Now as the Event Co-ordinator, Bruce Woods is ecstatic about the growing success. “I have been overwhelmed by the many phone calls and widespread interest received for the Concert. Ticket sales have been strong not only from the local community, but as far afield as Toowoomba, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Bribie Island, South Coast, Sydney and inland New South Wales. This will be an opportunity to hear Slim and Joy’s son David and their daughter Anne sing on stage together once again. This will be a very rare performance” he explained from his and wife, Trish’s beautiful country property.

On stage, Slim and Joy's daughter Anne Kirkpatrick, an award-winning performer in her own right and son David Kirkpatrick, taking time off from his busy duties as a doctor, will be joined by fellow award-winning young bush balladeers Amos Morris and Nathan Charlton.

Amos, a local, first sang at the original Memories show when just 16 and is going from strength to strength. Nathan, from Junee, also continues to keep the bush ballad tradition alive for the next generation. And who better to play the Slim Dusty sound to perfection than past members of his Travelling Country Band: Rod Coe, Mike Kerin, Charley Boyter, Michael Tyne and Doug Bligh.

As would be expected from a show featuring such well loved artists, bookings are already booming, with the show just 10 days away. Tickets are just $25, with school-age children admitted free; they are available from In Harmony Music (Centrepoint Arcade, Kempsey) and Travelscene (Belgrave Street). You can also purchase tickets and get further information by contacting Event Co-ordinator, Bruce Woods on
(02) 6562 4795 or on his mobile 0418 491 499.

The Racecourse, at North Street, West Kempsey, will be open from 3pm with plenty of entertainment leading up to the main show at 6pm. Patrons are advised to bring their own chairs and drinks; BBQ facilities, soft drinks, tea, coffee and cakes will also be available.

With such a star-studded line-up to celebrate the memory of Australia's father of Country Music, this year's show is set to be a sell-out, particularly given the larger venue, so make your bookings now!

Further information about the Slim Dusty Foundation and its aims please contact General Manager, Kathryn Yarnold at 02 6562 6533 or 1800 18 SLIM or visit our website www.slimdustycentre.com.au