Jenny Da Rin - Executive Director
Australian Made Campaign

The True Blue Story

In the early '80s John Williamson was asked by ad-man John Singleton to write a theme song for a proposed TV show called True Blue Aussies. The show didn't make it to air but some years later John Singleton knew the song was tailor made for a new campaign he was working on, and asked John Williamson if he could use it to tell a story about Australian workers in Australian factories, and the importance of buying Australian.

The song was True Blue.

Shortly thereafter, True Blue was playing as the Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, launched the Australian Made Campaign. Two decades on, True Blue is not only synonymous with the Campaign, but has also become one of John Williamson's best-loved and biggest selling recordings.

Recently, over a cup of tea, John told me that he never expected True Blue to be a hit but he always thought the song epitomized what it means to be Australian, and was very proud to donate it to the Australian Made Campaign to promote buy-Australian. To this day John Williamson remains one of the Australian Made Campaign's founding logo members.

In a moving tribute to the song and the campaign that helped to make it famous, John Williamson has re-recorded True Blue with a 24-piece orchestra and backing choir, and will release it later this month on his new album True Blue Two. The music, along with John's voice, will feature on the campaign's new television ads, which will also be released in August.

The campaign's ads are all about people – the factory workers, the managers, the business owners, the sales assistants and the millions of ordinary Australians that back Australia by buying Australian and supporting Australian jobs. All of them, True Blue.

Rupert McCall
Poet/Presenter

Rupert McCall's Tribute to John Williamson

So finally it happened - he was strumming on his bed
He snapped a string so forcefully - the rebound knocked him dead!
For what he brang 'em - what he sang 'em -
what he told 'em - what he taught 'em
I hereby file the facts on the John Williamson post mortem -

On the weight of all the evidence, it stirs me to explain
There were traces of Australia in every single vein
In his eyes - the setting skies - in his nose - the smell of wattle
In his heart - a sense of pride - by God - I wish that we could bottle!
In his ears, the song of morning magpies somehow seemed to linger
There was one star of the Southern Cross on each guitar-scarred finger
His boots contained the samples of his treasure and his toil
From the sandiest of beaches to the driest outback soil
His legs were tied with wire having traveled every track
There was Gunyah in his gully and a number on his back
His shoulders arched with duty while his hat was slightly slouched
His toes shaped like an emu - Christ - they even found a pouch!
And delving deep within to where the nerves and senses flicker
There was Mulga in his memory and Mallee in his ticker
That his brothers and his sisters on this sun burnt land would cope
His fists were Riga mortised in an honest clench of hope
His mind was rich with dreams as where the plains forever roll
There were galleries of pink galahs tattooed upon his soul
To compliment the smile on which a good old mate depends
His tear ducts had been moistened by his family and friends
They didn't have to make the most ungainliest of cuts
To find a loyal slice of courage and some fine old fashioned guts
And just beneath the mouth that flavoured every tale he told
His vocal cords, I'm proud to say, were coloured green and gold
But as his spirit lay enchanted with the ghosts of Uluru
His blood was unequivocally and undoubtedly True Blue

So in reaching a conclusion on the evidence that's stacked
This story is fictitious though, in truth, it's based on fact
For as the world joined in the chorus of the tune that he portrayed
In perfect voice, the doc pronounced - 100% - Australian made
A life he goes on living
A commitment he continues giving
Raise the flag and summons every song that he has played!
For every seed of inspiration positively laid!
I will come out from the shadows and bestow this accolade
Australian born - Australian worn -
Australian proud - Australian made