From Little Things Big Things Grow - The story behind the song

'From Little Things Big Things Grow' is the anthem of the land rights movement in Australia, telling the story of the proud Gurindji people and their stand against the might of the cattle baron, Lord Vestey. It is a story of hope and optimism first sung by Paul Kelly & Kev Carmody and adapted by The GetUp Mob earlier this year. The song's story has now been made into book, illustrated with paintings by children from the Gurindji community and is a not-for-profit project with all money raised going to the community to create an art room for sharing of skills and stories.

You can buy your copy here. Frank Hardy's daughter, Shirley Hardy-Rix who has coordinated the book writes about how it came to be published. “Gather round people, I’ll tell you a story.

An eight-year-long story of power and pride…” In 1966 Gurindji stockmen walked off the Wave Hill Cattle Station in the Northern Territory led by elder Vincent Lingiari. They walked to Wattie Creek, the heart of their dreaming. When the stockmen and their families walked away from their appalling living conditions and atrocious wages the Gurindji walked into history.

That year my father, author Frank Hardy, was in the Northern Territory and was taken to see the Gurindji by aboriginal union leader Dexter Daniels. The meeting changed my father’s life. He was a man trying to regain his ability to tell stories and write.

They were people looking for someone to tell their story. Frank’s book The Unlucky Australians did just that. He took their story to the south and to the politicians and decision makers.

In 1975 Gough Whitlam came to the Territory and in the gesture that said it all, her poured the sand through Vincent Lingiari’s hand – giving the Gurindji the one thing they wanted – the rights to their land. Kev Carmody knew the story. Over a campfire Kev told Paul Kelly the story.

Together they penned their iconic song From Little Things Big Things Grow. This song became the anthem of a generation. GetUp members made it a hit again with The GetUp Mob’s version earlier this year.

In 2006 One Day Hill re-released The Unlucky Australians to mark the 40th anniversary of the walk off. Renowned Queensland artist, Peter Hudson, himself inspired by the song gave permission to use his painting of Mick Rangiari, then the oldest surviving member of the walk-off from Wave Hill Cattle Station to adorn the new edition of The Unlucky Australians. After The Unlucky Australians was re-published, it was decided that a book of Peter's art together with the lyrics of the famous song aimed at children would be an ideal way of telling the story of the Gurindji and Vincent Lingiari to a new generation of Australians. Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody very generously agreed to allow the use of their lyrics for the book and the Dagaragu council in the NT provided a grant to assist with production.

In February 2008 artist Peter Hudson, publishers Bernadette Walters and Martin Hughes, Shirley Hardy-Rix and education consultant Claire Jennings travelled to Gurindji country. We had three specific reasons for visiting. First, we wanted to respectfully ask the Gurindji for their permission and support to produce the book.

Secondly, we wanted to speak to the community and identify a need, which the proceeds from book sales could meet. And thirdly, we wanted to get children in the school in Kalkaringi to paint scenes from the song and tell their story to children all over Australia. The community told us they wanted an arts centre, a gathering place where children could go after school and learn from their elders by watching them paint.

In Aboriginal culture, they explained, youth learn by watching rather than asking but they’ve got nowhere to go at the moment. And so From Little Things Big Things Grow, the book, was born. It is illustrated by the Gurindji children, the descendants of the men who walked off and Peter Hudson’s paintings of Gurindji country.

We raised all the money required for the book through a private foundation in Melbourne and Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for Youth, which focuses on Indigenous literacy and has graciously agreed to auspice the project and oversee the distribution of all funds raised. Steve Berry of the Music Outback Foundation, which specialises in delivering arts, music and language programmes in remote Indigenous communities, has also come on board to assist us in this project. As you can see, this book is a collaboration worthy of the song’s title. It came about because one person inspired another who inspired another.

A tremendous amount of energy, enthusiasm and passion has gone into producing this book. By buying a copy of From Little Things Big Things Grow you will be helping these proud people keep their culture alive so future generations, the descendants of the strikers know their important place in history. Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for Youth will channel the money raised to the community.

The organisation empowers children, improving their education and health from the youngest age. Through the Literacy Backpack Project in remote Aboriginal communities, Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for Youth aims to help all Australian children read and enjoy their own stories. From Little Things Big Things Grow is just $19.95 for the paperback with special edition hardbacks for $29.95 available to buy on line at www.onedayhill.com.au making a great Christmas gift..

Tue Dec 2008 02:12 (1 month, 1 week ago)