Call him what you want, ‘Mallee Boy’, ‘True Blue’ or just plain ‘Fair Dinkum’, there is no denying that after 40 years in the music industry, John Williamson is an Australian icon. Three ARIA Awards, 24 Golden Guitars, MO Awards, APRA Awards, Platinum and Gold albums, over 4 million album sales and the list goes on. This year John Williamson will celebrate a milestone regarded as a significant achievement in the entertainment industry, 40 years of success, four decades of hits, of celebrity and of sharing his love of Australia and poetry in song with it’s people. It was June 4th 1970 that John Williamson made his debut. On the talent quest TV show, NEW FACES, Williamson competed with his selfpenned and still much loved “silly song” ‘OLD MAN EMU’. He won, and since then has inspired pride in country, love of land and touched millions regardless of age, sex or creed. Look at some of the most significant events in Australia in the past few decades and he has been there. The 2000 Sydney Olympics, Steve Irwin’s memorial, the Bledlisloe Cup, Sir Donald Bradman’s memorial, the Rugby World Cup, the first Bali Bombings memorial service and the list goes on. He is ingrained in Australia’s history as much as its future.