July 11, 2013 – On June 13, 2013, Slim Dusty’s birthday, the Royal Australian Mint has officially launched a coin recognising Slim Dusty’s contribution to Australian society at the ‘Slim Dusty Birthday Bash’ in Sydney in the company of well-known country music artists including Lee Kernaghan and Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson.
Australia / 1 AUD / AlBr / 9g / 25mm / Design: A. Stokic / Mintage: Unlimited.
This coin is the latest release in the Mint’s Inspirational Australians series which recognises and celebrates individual achievements and commemorates unique Australians who have made an extraordinary contribution to the society.
“The name Slim Dusty has been synonymous with Australian country music for nearly seventy years,” said Royal Australian Mint Chief Executive Officer Mr Ross MacDiarmid.
“Slim inspired many with not only his songs about real Australians but also his passion for life and it’s fitting that he be included in this honoured series and that we officially launch it tonight amongst some of his biggest fans,” said Mr MacDiarmid.
Slim pioneered the bush ballad in Australian country music which brought happiness and joy to many around the country. His incredible career includes over 100 albums, song writing and recording awards, as well as becoming the first artist to have their music broadcast from space on the 1981 Space Shuttle Columbia mission. 2013 also marks ten years since Slim’s passing.
“Slim has so many loyal fans that spread the legacy of Slim but having this coin in this special series will help extend the reach even further and for longer, reminding everyone around the country about the values that Slim loved singing about,” said wife of the late Slim Dusty and Chair of the Slim Dusty Foundation Ltd Ms Joy McKean.
The uncirculated coin design was developed in collaboration with the Slim Dusty Foundation and depicts Slim Dusty, with his famous acoustic guitar in the background, the accessory he never went without.
For more information about or an image of the 2013 Inspirational Australians Slim Dusty $1 uncirculated coin please visit the Royal Australian Mint website.
A percentage of the proceedings goes to the Slim Dusty Foundation.
This is the official Slim Dusty website.
You can find music of the country musician in the National Film and Sound Archive.
On YouTube you can listen some of his famous songs like Waltzing Matilda.