Mary Mihelakos, Chris Wilson set for Music Victoria hall of fame

Music Victoria has unveiled its two Hall of Fame inductees for this year.

They are industry stalwart Mary Mihelakos and late blues singer-songwriter Chris Wilson, with seven industry awards also presented last night (October 8).

The inductions will be held at the awards ceremony on Wednesday, December 9 at Melbourne Recital Centre, to be live-streamed on musicvictoria.com.au and broadcast on Channel 31.

Wilson’s family accepted his induction with Sarah Carroll, Fenn Wilson and George Carroll Wilson performing his ‘Hand Becomes Fist’.

Mihelakos has worked the across the entire spectrum of the industry – running her own PR company, booking a wide range of venues, music editor of Beat, the Sticky Carpet columnist for The Age, and running the Music Victoria Awards for a number of years.

Mihelakos mortgaged her home to co-deliver the first Aussie BBQ showcases at SXSW – an initiative now adopted for industry events around the world to spotlight Australian acts.

Blues singer, harmonica player, guitarist and saxophonist Chris Wilson passed away on January 16, 2019, aged 63, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

After his beginnings in Sole Twister, Harem Scarem and Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls, he went on to front his own bands as Crown Of Thorns and issued a series of acclaimed albums.

Such was the regard he was held in, that a GoFundMe campaign to help with his medical bills raised $100,000 in just a few days.

Also last night, the inaugural Outstanding Woman In Music category went to Sarah Hamilton for her work with her One of One website which highlights women in the industry.

Joelistics collected Best Producer for Mo’Ju Ghost Town EP and Golden Plains for Best Festival.

The Gasometer Hotel for Best Small Venue (under 500 cap) and the Forum for Best Large Venue (over 500 cap). Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong won Best Regional/Outer Suburban Venue.

Music Victoria also announced the nominees for the public- and industry-voted categories, with the winners scheduled to be revealed on December 9.

Voting for all public-voted categories open until November 6.