2006 Australia's Year of the Outback
The spontaneous, spirited response of city and country Australians to 2002 Australia's Year of the Outback detonated an unstoppable chain reaction. The "Year's" 
success and the benefits it generated far exceeded expectations.
It was this spirit, supported by persistent nation wide calls for the process to continue, that led to the introduction of Year of the Outback 2006 - once again presenting the challenge to Australians of all ages, city and country, to respond to their innate identification with the Outback.
Unlike 2002, a special theme was incorporated in Year of the Outback 2006 - Australia's Youth Infront.
The announcement of the Countdown to the Year of the Outback 2006 was held at the Royal Canberra Show on the 25th February 2005. It was a gala event, attended by many who had been Ambassadors in 2002 and who had again taken up the invitation to be involved. Patron of Outback Calling (then AODC), His Honour Mr Ted Egan AO and Emeritus Patron, Mrs Nancy-Bird Walton AO, OBE, Hon.D.Sc, Hon ME were both in attendance and Mrs Nancy-Bird Walton made the official announcement of the commencement of the Countdown.
Mr John Williamson was there to sing several of his most famous songs and it was announced that his song, Sing You The Outback was to be the Official Song for Year of the Outback 2006.
Event coordinators Australia-wide were invited to register their Events, Activities and Projects so as to become part of a never ending Outback Exposition accessible to city and country Australians and visitors. In keeping with the theme of the Year, AODC (now Outback Calling Ltd) was particularly excited to learn of the many events involving or intended for, the youth of our great land.
AUSTRALIA'S OUTBACK The Accessible Frontier the bridge between an ageless past and the products of human fortitude, endeavour and ingenuity, the fountainhead of great industries, enterprises and opportunities.
Australia's most valuable, yet most underestimated natural resource.
Year of the Outback 2006 Theme: Australia's Youth Infront
Australia's Youth Infront was the theme of Year of the Outback 2006. The Outback is one of Australia's largest and most underestimated resources. Another of Australia's amazing resources is its Youth. In 2006, we celebrated all that the Youth of Australia have to offer, now and in terms of their bright future.
Like the Outback itself, Australia offers endless possibilities for those who want to take advantage of them. In Year of the Outback 2006 we offered Youth, particularly those from rural, regional and remote Australia, the opportunity to have a voice by organising Youth Forums and Discussions.
Events registering for Year of the Outback 2006 were encouraged to integrate this theme - Australia's Youth Infront - and is was extremely pleasing to receive such a positive response.
We thank all those who joined with us to help keep Australia's Youth Infront
Year of the Outback 2006" Official Song: 'Sing You the Outback', John Williamson
"The Outback is impossible, forever and it's free, no way can I find an answer to what it means to me."
That's the chorus of the official song which carried imagery of the magnificence of the Australian Outback into the minds of millions of people for the "Year of the Outback' in 2006.
In announcing John Williamson's 'Sing you the Outback' as the 'Year of the Outback 2006' official song, Bruce Campbell, AM MBE, Chairman of the Australian Outback Development Consortium Ltd, said the song created the same sort of imagery that made it impossible to define the Outback.
"We don't put a metaphorical fence up and say "This is where the Outback is'," Mr Campbell said.
"It's as much a place in the hearts and minds of millions of Australians, as it is red dust or flooding plains."
Perhaps as iconic as the Outback itself, Mr Williamson said he used his music to convey his partisanship.
"Through music I describe this pride of things Australian," Mr Williamson said.
I implore every young Aussie to walk around the Rock at Uluru, work on a station, respect Aboriginal Elders by seeking their knowledge, at least take a few months to really see our Outback and know what it is to be a real Aussie."
"It is easy to take Australia for granted and travel overseas instead, but we really need to get around and know in our own hearts that we are really lucky to be a part of such a huge, free and diverse land," Mt Williamson concluded."
Our thanks to John and his Manager Phil Matthews for their support of "Year of the Outback 2006" and the ongoing four yearly cycle and for their genuine passion for the 'Bush' and all things Australian.
Click here to listen to 'Sing You the Outback'
Sing You the Outback
I'll sing you the desert, where blackmen sailed
Waterhole to water, where whitemen failed
See the face of dreamers, forgotten souls
Hear the voice of cattlemen crackle in the coals
Maybe we will learn what's written in the sand
A thousand generations living off the land
I'll sing you the waters, runnin' through the town
Wildflowers and Wattles when it settles down
The Outback is impossible, forever and it's free
No way can I find an end to what it means to me
The Outback
I'll sing you the miners, steel and coal
Opals and diamonds, silver and gold
Emeralds and sapphires, I wish for you
Holes in the outback, down below
There's lakes and there's rivers, caves to be found
And there's another landscape underground
I'll sing you the waters runnin' through the town
Wildflowers and Wattles when it settles down
The backbone of the women who fight on and on
The healing of the sunset when all is said and done
The Outback is impossible, forever and it's free
No way can I find an end to what it means to me
To what it means to me
The Outback
John Williamson
Year of the Outback 2006 Official Poem: "The Outback"
THE OUTBACK
There's a place where daily hardships are the making of a man
Where learning skills come less from books than a knowledge of the land
Where a rough and kindred mateship can be built on work and trust
And a fair day's work reaps just rewards for a fair day's work's a must
Where an unforgiving landscape boasts extremes of flood and drought
And a sheep walks miles 'tween blades of grass or it has to go without
Where the pestilence of rabbit, fox and feral takes its toll
And the red hills rust with iron ore and the valleys seam with coal
Where gold and light-rich opal can be wrested from the earth
And a man can find a solitude to test his very worth
Where a woman's sense of humour is a valued prize and dear
For a woman holds the heart of man when it's more than he can bear
Where a team is all that matters when the river's running rife
And a single strand of radio can be all there is to life
Where age is often listened to for experiences gained
And helping out a neighbour is an ethos much maintained.
It's a place they call The Outback and we're never far apart
For the Outback's not a place at all it's the beating of my heart.
(C)Watts
Year of the Outback 2006 Official Floral Emblem: Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon'
The Australian Outback Development Consortium Ltd extends appreciation to Myall Park Botanic Garden, the 'home' of the 'Robyn Gordon', for their support of the 'Year' in presenting us with this magnificent Australian Native for this purpose.
Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon' was created by Dave Gordon, Founder of Myall Park, situated in Glenmorgan, Quueensland.
Dave envisaged creating new plants by hybridising certain desirable grevillea species, and on three different occasions he was rewarded by the discovery of new seedlings in his grevillea section. He named them after his daughters, Robyn Gordon, Sandra Gordon and Merinda Gordon. The first two have become best sellers in the Australian nursery industry, thanks to Dave's generosity in giving away cuttings without thought of remuneration. His reward has been to see them growing successfully in private gardens and public displays throughout Australia and overseas.
Sadly, Robyn Gordon passed away at the age of 16, however her memory lives on through this beautiful plant which has given so many pleasure and was infact the first plant officially registered in Australia.
Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon' is an appropriate emblem, reflecting both the outback and youth - with its origins in the "bush" at Glenmorgan and also as it honours David and Dorothy's daughter. It is a flower for the whole of Australia as it marries both sides of this vast continent, having one parent originating from eastern Australia and the other from western Australia. It's also hardy, extremely adaptable and can be found in each State and Territory of Australia - all in all, the perfect floral representative for the Australian 'Bush' and "Year of the Outback 2006."
Year of the Outback 2006": Messages of Support
MESSAGE FROM THE HON. JOHN HOWARD MP, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
The Australian Government has always recognised the importance of rural and regional Australia to the national economy and our cultural identity, and it is with great pleasure that I officially mark the beginning of the countdown to Year of the Outback 2006.
The 2002 Year of the Outback was a tremendous success and a useful platform to raise awareness of rural and regional Australia. As a quadrennial event, there is an opportunity to build on this and once again celebrate the role of the outback in our nation's history and future.
I understand that the 2006 celebration will focus on youth as an integral part of outback Australia. The Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Young People's Rural Development Awards and the Young Rural Leaders Course are current government initiatives that present exciting opportunities for Australia's regional youth. Not only is 2006 an occasion to highlight the contribution young people in our regions make, it is also an opportunity for youth in metropolitan areas to seek an outback experience and develop an understanding of this important part of Australia.
The goodwill and effort of those behind the Year of the Outback 2006 should guarantee its success and I am sure that Australians will once again embrace this event.
John Howard
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MESSAGE FROM THE HON. JOHN ANDERSON MP, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
The Australian Government was very pleased to provide financial support to the Year of the Outback 2002, which succeeded to a degree that no-one had expected.
I participated in a number of its activities in rural and remote areas. I was, as always, greatly impressed by the positive spirit of the people, despite the devastating drought.
I was pleased to learn that Bruce Campbell has assembled a new team to continue the Year of the Outback process every four years. The next will be in 2006, with a specific focus on youth.
I am confident that the city and the country will again rally to the Outback banner and that its benefits will exceed its 2002 results.
I wish the Year of the Outback 2006 every possible success.
John Anderson
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MESSAGE FROM HIS HONOUR MR TED EGAN AO, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND PATRON OF THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM LTD AND 'YEAR OF THE OUTBACK 2006'
I believe that all initiatives that lift the positive profile of the Outback are of enormous benefit and I was particularly proud to be invited to be Patron of the Australian Outback Development Consortium Ltd and "Year of the Outback 2006". An invitation I was delighted to accept. I believe there can be no question that the quadrennial cycle is an extremely proactive, practical and positive initiative, attracting a lot of public attention to Outback Australia and we of the Outback invite Australians to get involved wherever possible.
I would also encourage Australian and overseas travellers alike to travel out here and take advantage of all that this wonderful land has to offer.
We are a friendly people and would like to welcome visitors and extend a friendly handshake to all those who come out here to see us - particularly in 2006.
Ted Egan
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MESSAGE FROM MRS NANCY BIRD WALTON AO,OBE,Hon.D.Sc.,Hon ME PATRON EMERITUS OF THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM LTD AND 'YEAR OF THE OUTBACK 2006'
In 2002 it was my very great pleasure to be invited to join Mr R.M. Williams as joint Patron for "2002 Year of the Outback".
Throughout the Year I attended a great many events in this capacity and without exception was inspired by the enthusiasm and the energy with which individuals and communities alike took hold of this "Year' with both hands, worked together and flew the Outback flag - tall and proud.
I have had the privilege of spending a large part of my life in (and above) the Outback and feel a great passion for it, a passion which is shared by Founder and Chairman of the "Year of the Outback" Bruce Campbell. I was thrilled to be a part of 2002 and equally, if not more pleased to hear that the process will continue through a four yearly cycle.
Just as I committed my support in 2002 I am pleased to be doing so again in my capacity as Patron Emeritus for the Australian Outback Development Consortium Ltd and "Year of the Outback 2006".
I look forward to being a part of this exciting project and to seeing AODC, and Australia, build on the successes of 2002.
I join with the team in inviting all Australians to be involved and once again fly the Outback flag proudly.
Nancy Bird Walton
