Time to Roam Magazine Issue 9 - June/July 2014 | Page 51

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out the back celebrity camper

JOHN WILLIAMSON has
penned several of Australia’s
classic bush songs, sold
millions of albums and also
used his fame to fight for
environmental causes.

“ Sleeping under the
stars is my idea of
wonderful. I dream of
going camping again
maybe in 2016 when
I will be seventy and
semi-retired. I hope I
don’t feel too old and
take a caravan!”

Williamson grew up in Victoria’s
Mallee region, although his family later
moved to the Moree district in NSW
and some of his early performances
were in the Newell Highway town.

two-storey motels with swimming pools.
This was how I eventually discovered
Springbrook, in the Great Dividing Range,
that looks over the Gold Coast. That is my
favourite place and where my dreamtime is.

Williamson grew up in Victoria’s
Mallee region, although his family later
moved to the Moree district in NSW
and some of his early performances
were in the Newell Highway town.
He first shot to national fame in 1969,
performing the song “Old Man Emu” on
the New Faces talent search program, but
it wasn’t until the 1980s that Williamson
achieved his greatest success with
the breakthrough album “Mallee Boy”.
Released in 1986, it stayed in the charts
for more than a year and contained the
classic songs “True Blue”, “Raining on
the Rock” and “Cootamundra Wattle”.
He was awarded the Order of
Australia in 1992 for his contribution
to country music and for raising
awareness of environmental issues.
Perhaps the best remembered
causes he supported through music
are the songs “Goodbye Blinky Bill”
and “Rip Rip Woodchip”, the former
dedicated to koala preservation and
the latter landing him in hot water with
fans who were forestry workers.
John Williamson has also done his bit for
tourism with his 2004 song “We love this
Country” used to promote caravanning and
even featuring in a Jayco TV commercial.

Tell us about some other favourite
memories exploring Australia.
I think camping along the Gibb River Road
in the Kimberley is amazing. I love the
boab trees and discovering magic lagoons.
For song writing, Grawin opal mining village
is inspirational for its characters. I have
also camped all the way up Cape York
Peninsula, which I highly recommend. I
must say that being invited onto stations
all around the country is a privilege. You
get to see and be shown a lot more. It
would be impossible over four lifetimes to
discover all the wonders of Australia if you
are inspired by the ancient nature of it.

Do you have any camping tips?
Tell us any must do’s and don’ts

Where did you go for camping
holidays when you were young?

I reckon simplicity is the key to camping.
I’d rather not tow a trailer but if you do,
make sure th