Voices for Generations
National Reconciliation Week Choirs
During National Reconciliation Week 2023 more than 500 choirs and school groups came together to sing From Little Things Big Things Grow by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody.
The response truly epitomised this year’s theme, Be a Voice for Generations, which urged all Australians to use their power, their words and their actions to create a better, more just Australia for all of us.
Thank you...
… to the 500+ choirs and singing groups from all around the country who registered, rehearsed, and rolled out their videos of their renditions of “From Little Things Big Things Grow.”
Click on the image below to hear some of the amazing choirs and school groups who contributed by sharing videos of their performances.
If you would like to see more choirs in action, visit our Facebook event or search hashtags #NRW2023Voices #VoicesforGenerations.
About: From little things big things grow
‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ tells a great Australian story of the Gurindji people’s struggle for their land.
The song describes the Wave Hill Walk-Off in 1966, through to Prime Minister Gough Whitlam symbolically handing Gurindji land back eight years later.
The Gurindji strike was instrumental in heightening the understanding of First Nations land ownership in Australia and was a catalyst for the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, the first legislation allowing for a claim of title if the First Nations claimants could provide evidence for their traditional relationship to the land.
The song is an iconic Australian song, paying tribute to the Gurindji people, and also being symbolic of the broader movement for Indigenous equality and land rights in Australia.
The National Reconciliation Week theme, “Be a Voice for Generations”, honours the work of previous generations who fought for justice in Australia and calls on us to work together today to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation for the generations to come.
There is a long, strong thread in Australian history of people working together and striving to build a just society.
There are many examples of non-First Nations Australians who stood with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during early strikes, protests and notably during the Wave Hill Walkoff
Join together this National Reconciliation Week to honour the work of all those previous generations and reminding us of our obligations to future generations. Your voices will help contribute to a more reconciled Australia.
Check out the video below where Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody talk about writing the song.
From Little Things Big Things grow
Thank you
Reconciliation Australia thanks Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody for their support of Voices for Generations.
Arrangements were written by Emily Irvine for Reconciliation Australia for National Reconciliation Week 2023.
Backing tracks: Zac Olsen: piano, Tim Blunt: guitars & mixing. produced by FVNERAL.
We thank YOU in advance for being part of this project.
