Walgett is a small town in northwest NSW, on the junction of the Namoi and Barwon rivers. ‘Get Movin’ is a classic from the archives, created over 5 days in August 2012, in partnership with Outback Arts and Walgett Shire Council. On the date of this release this song already has over 36,600 views on the DPM Youtube Channel.
Written with young people from Walgett High School, this song advocates awareness around local culture and social issues, acknowledging the bleak social history in Australian Indigenous communities, whilst challenging young people and local community members to create change for the future.
A special thanks to Roslyn McGregor for her ongoing support, her unwavering strength and her commitment to her people and their cultural identity.
Thanks to James Pike, Anne Dennis, Tanya Coelho, Rob Holden, Walgett Local Aboriginal Lands Council, Susan Lawrence, Outback Arts, Walgett Shire
Council and the Walgett community.
We pay our respects to the Gamilaraay / Yuwaalaraay people - traditional owners of the country upon which this story was told.
lyrics
This is for the Gingie, The Namoi, the Up-Town Mob
Warriors, worm eaters and the water dogs
This for the young fullas, the mud runners
My sisters, my brothers – the young mothers
Yaama (welcome) cuz, welcome to Walgett - The Gate
Where the Barwon meet the Namoi - Northwest of the state
Appreciate. We all over the track
Kamileroi - black land, bringin’ it back
Yulagi Yugul (song & dance) in the sand hill
Spirit make a man stand still - shape my life like an anvil
Black land still - bawal and dhagan
Back from the dreaming to a hip-hop yarn
We’re movin, lookin for change
We’re young, back and proud and we’re still in the game
Get movin - we’re our own worst enemy
Stompin up the sand on Kamileroi territory
Minya! (what’s that) Who’s that fella ridin’ up the track
His name is Thomas Mitchell and his skin ain’t black
That’s a fact - black people rounded up around the nation
Stolen generation to Angledool Station
Facin’. Something called segregation
Invasion, racism for a whole generation
My ‘lation - Charlie Perkins on the bus
Riding for freedom said, “enough is enough”
We’re movin, lookin for change
We’re young, back and proud and we’re still in the game
Get movin - we’re our own worst enemy
Stompin up the sand on Kamileroi territory
credits
from Song Nation Volume 1,
released July 11, 2014
Toby Finlayson - Director/ Co-Writer
Joel Westlake – Composer / Music Director/ Co-Writer
Rosalyn McGregor – Cultural Consultant/ Mentor
Reyne House – Audio Mixing
Creating change through collaborative storytelling - empowering Indigenous young people through truth, hope and a mantra of
positivity.
Our journeyman team of artists work in remote and regional Indigenous communities all over Australia - working with young people, elders, schools, and many more to create dialogue around social and cultural issues, through music, film and performance....more