I can still feel the warmth of the red dust beneath me as I sat there as a little girl in Alice Springs. The sun was beating down, but I didn't care. I was lost in the music coming from our old radio - Slim Dusty's twang, Dolly Parton's sweet voice, and Charlie Pride's soulful tunes. I'd close my eyes and dream of being up on stage in Tamworth, singing my heart out to a cheering crowd.
You know, it's funny how life works out sometimes. That little girl's dream? It came true. Years later, there I was, standing on stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. My niece Monica and friend Emma was right there beside me, I felt my sister Letty inspirit there., and we were singing our hearts out at the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase. It was like everything had come full circle.
Getting to that stage wasn't easy, mind you. It took years of hard work, writing songs, and finding my voice. But every time Sing, I could feel the spirit of my ancestors guiding me. My music became a way to tell our stories - stories of love, heartbreak, and life out here in the red centre.
Performing at the Aboriginal Cultural Showcase in Tamworth was more than just fulfilling a personal dream. It was about contributing to something bigger. It was about sharing stories, through song. It's what our people have been doing for thousands of years, and there I was, continuing that tradition in a contemporary way.
Every time I step on stage now, I think about that little girl sitting in the red dust, dreaming big dreams. I sing for her, and for all the other little ones out there with stars in their eyes and music in their hearts. Because dreams do come true - mine sure did. I hope I can sing again at Tamworth in the future.
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