Quote:
State funeral planned
September 19, 2003 - 5:25PM
The family of country music legend Slim Dusty has accepted the NSW government's offer of a state funeral, a government spokesman said today.
Acting Premier Andrew Refshauge made the offer to family of the singer, who died today at his Sydney home, aged 76.
"The family will work with the NSW Office of Protocol to make the necessary arrangements once the date for the funeral has been set," the spokesman said.
Dr Refshauge said the passing of Dusty was an enormous loss to the singer's wife, Joy, his family, and to the whole nation.
"On behalf of the people of NSW, I pay tribute to Slim's perseverance, modest decency, hard work, and above all, his incredible talent," he said.
"Through an unforgettable career lasting nearly seven decades, Slim Dusty became part of the Australian legend that he celebrated in his music."
Dusty had won the first gold record received by an Australian, awarded for the iconic anthem A Pub With No Beer, Dr Refshauge said.
"Apart from the fact that it's a lovely song in itself, it has special relevance to those of us in the state parliament, having seen Kerry Chikarovski and Bob Carr sing it together," he said.
"It was quite an unusual event in state politics, and the rest of the parliamentarians joining in as a chorus."
Dusty had also won more gold and platinum records, and more Golden Guitar awards, than any other artist, he said.
"When we try to sum up what it means to be Australian, it's often the songs of Slim Dusty to which we turn," Dr Refshauge said.
"That's why it was so appropriate that Slim Dusty sang Waltzing Matilda at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympics Games in 2000.
"Slim Dusty - the undisputed King of Country has gone. But his contribution to Australian culture will live on."
AAP
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well, America, and the rest of the world, has recently lost Johnny Cash...
but today we lost our undisputed King of Country.
Slim had more than 100 albums, with more than 5mil sales.
his most famous song, Pub With No Beer, was even sung in state parliament by all of the politicians.
RIP Slim Dusty.
youŽll be missed.