Mary musicians put new spin on dam fight

3 August 06 Save the Mary River Coordinating Group

THERE was music in the air at the Kandanga Hotel on Thursday night when musicians from far and wide put a new spin on the fight to save the Mary Valley.

Anti-dam campaigner Lars Hedberg urged them to stand united, and enjoy themselves for a change, as they promoted the powerful message against the damming of the Mary River in the form of a multi-artist CD of songs and poems.

Proclaiming the river’s importance to the people of the Mary Valley, from the Conondales all the way to Hervey Bay, demo copies of the CD aptly named “For the Love of Mary” were handed out to media.

Organiser Tony Hawkyard can’t wait to take delivery of the finished product and expects to have them ready for sale at the upcoming Toyota National Country Music Muster.

The CD project is the latest strategy from the Save the Mary River Coordinating Group.

A total of 22 items are listed on the CD, all original works created by local artists inspired by the Mary and its impending fate at the hands of the Queensland Government.

Brooloo vet Steve Dennis has included “Mary must never be dammed” and Kenilworth poet Ian Mackay’s challenging verse “The Dreaming” are among items, as well as contributions from signwriter and sculptor Keith Gall, Sunshine Coast band Cut Snakes, Curra’s Vic Lanyon and Bella Creek resident Don Gibbs who has penned a blues song.

Mr Hawkyard said all money collected from the sale of the CD will go to the Save the Mary River fighting

fund to help the group mount a legal challenge against the Beattie Government’s flawed Traveston Crossing proposal.

The group has a target of $500,000.

Follow the campaign at www.savethemaryriver.com where you can get a preview recording of one of the songs.

CD LAUNCH: Jacinda Kawkyard (left) and Leah Waldron, of Chancellor Park, were in Kandanga on Thursday night for the launch of "For the Love of Mary", the CD putting a new spin on the Save the Mary River campaign. Jacinda's father Tony has been instrumental in compiling the CD, which features 22 songs and poems lamenting the proposed damming of the Mary River at Traveston Crossing. The CDs will soon be released for sale to raise funds for the Save the Mary River Coordinating Group.

Save the Mary River Coordinating Group
Support and Information Centre, Kandanga Railway, Ph: 5488 4800
http://www.savethemaryriver.com/ savethemaryriver@gmail.com

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