John Schumann to partner with Army’s AACAP team for NAIDOC week concert
PRESS RELEASE:
John Schumann and a couple of his Vagabond Crew members are set to perform, along with an Army band, at a special Naidoc Week concert for the Titjikala community in the Northern Territory. Also attending will be the soldiers who are currently based in the community, helping to deliver infrastructure, health services and training for local people. The concert will take place on Thursday, July 9.
The Army’s five-month deployment in Titjikala began last month as part of the annual Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme (AACAP). The AACAP project sees soldiers working together with other agencies to deliver health, training, arts, culture and sporting initiatives to the community members.
John Schumann is best known for his leadership of the legendary Australian folk-rock band Redgum and for his classic Vietnam veterans’ anthem, “I Was Only 19”. In 2014 John Schumann was awarded an OAM for services to music and the veteran community.
“I’m honoured to have been invited to work alongside the Army in the Titjikala community as part of AACAP – particularly in this, the Anzac centenary year,” John Schumann said.
The centrepiece of John Schumann’s live set for the Titjikala community will be his new track, “On Every Anzac Day”. John was commissioned to write the song by the then Chief of Army, LTGEN David Morrison, who was keen to ensure that the service of Indigenous soldiers was recognised and honoured in the centenary year. The song has been extremely well received by indigenous Australia – and is being played on high rotation on Indigenous radio stations right across the country.
Mr Schumann said, “It’ll be great to honour our Indigenous service men and women by playing the song in the community, on the ground, to the mob. Of course we’ll be playing lots of songs from my catalogue – I was only 19, Last Frontier, Poor Ned, It’ll Be All Right in the Long Run, our unique interpretation of Waltzing Matilda and songs from our Lawson album.”
In recent years John Schumann and his band, the Vagabond Crew, have entertained Australian servicemen and women in East Timor, Afghanistan, the Solomons and Tanzania.
“We’ve all been inspired and humbled by what we’ve seen and the people we’ve met on those Forces Entertainment tours. I’m really pleased that the Vagabond Crew’s engagement with the Army seems to deepen and strengthen with every passing year. As a bunch of musicians, we think it’s one of the most important things we do,” John said.
View the video for ‘On Every ANZAC Day’ and access the broadcast master here.
AACAP is a collaborative partnership between the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), which provides up to $6 million per year. The Australian Army contributes significant personnel and equipment resources for the works.
AACAP is dedicated to improving environmental health and living conditions in remote Indigenous communities. The initiatives have been tailored specifically in collaboration with the community, the local Aboriginal Lands Council and relevant Government agencies.
AACAP has successfully supported 40 Indigenous communities across Australia over the past 18 years and the continued momentum provided by the Army in partnership with PM&C will yield significant results for Titjikala and Australia more generally.
This year, Titjikala will receive significant new infrastructure including a waste water treatment system and duplex housing. Veterinary assistance, health education and clinical treatment will also be delivered in the community, as well as some significant training courses in food preparation, multi-media and basic numeracy and literacy.