Christine Anu to receive Lifetime Achievement award

Singer, dancer and actor Christine Anu is the first recipient of the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA)’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Australian First Nations Music.

The presentation takes place as part of the ASA’s annual awards on Wednesday, November 22 in Sydney.

ASA Chairman Denny Burgess said: ‘We are extremely pleased to be highlighting the Achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and Christine is highly deserving.

“Her performance of ‘My Island Home’ at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics is something well remembered around the world.

“But the glory is that she’s not just a wonderful singer. Christine is an accomplished Australian songwriter as well, and this is worthy of great recognition.”

Anu will be given the award by singer Casey Donovan, interviewed on stage by music journalist Bernie Howitt, and then performs two numbers.

One is ‘Kulba Yaday’, which she wrote in her first-language as a tribute to her heritage.

The other is her signature song ‘My Island Home’.

After her dancing ambition took the Torres Strait Islander from Queensland to Sydney, at the NAISDA Dance College, Anu would sneak out to sing backup vocals with former Warumpi Band guitarist Neil Murray at his solo pub shows.

Word got around A&R circles of her singing prowess. Anu didn’t have a song to offer them.

Murray suggested ‘My Island Home’, which Warumpi Band had recorded ten years ago, and which Anu had been taking lead vocals on his solo dates.

The resultant album, Stylin’ Up went platinum. It opened Anu up to film, TV, radio and overseas touring opportunities.

The demography of her following was shown in her wins at music, indigenous, theatre and film awards.

After five solo albums, Anu set up Stylin Up Entertainment, which developed and produced new media brands.

It spawned a new genre of children’s entertainment branded as Chrissy’s Island Family.

Also to be honoured at the National Songwriting Awards are The Waifs, who will perform before being inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The awards are open to the public, at $140 a head with a three-course meal and drinks. It starts at 7 pm at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL bookings through www.eventbrite.com.au.