Walgett Warriors - 'The Gate'

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Full album coming July 11

Song Nation Volume 1 - Track 9

'The Gate' was created over just five days in August 2012 with students from Walgett High School - a partnership with Outback Arts and Walgett Shire Council.

'The Gate' begins with an excerpt from a speech made by Charles Perkins, who was a prominent Australian activist in the 1960's & 1970's -- he was responsible for 'The Freedom Rides' -- a protest movement that revealed for the first time the shameful discriminations suffered by Indigenous people in Walgett, and around Australia.

This story acknowledges the struggle for social change for Indigenous Australia -- creating dialogue around the issues that effect young people today - such as teenage pregnancy, school attendance and lack of opportunities in remote and regional communities to name a few.

But most of all, this song is an anthem for change -- a call to arms for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people around Australia, to 'stand up and be counted' -- take responsibility for change, and work together to create a positive future for all Australians.

Thanks to Roslyn McGregor, James Pike, Anne Dennis, Tanya Coelho, Rob Holden, Walgett Local Aboriginal Lands Council, Susan Lawrence, Outback Arts, Walgett Shire Council and the Walgett community.

We pay our respects to the Gamilaraay / Yuwaalaraay people - traditional owners of the country upon which this story was told.

*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that photographs/videos may contain images of deceased persons, which may cause sadness or distress.

STARRING

Tyson Tyera Jones
Marnia Khauri
Margaret Sullivan
Suzie West
Monique Sullivan
Allan Kennedy
Dale Jones

LYRICS

Let's take a ride way back in time
To 'The Gate' in 1965
My Kamileroi people lived a life
In the shadow of cultural genocide

No pride, no rights like a living hell
Black warriors banned from the RSL
Flora and fauna, break the spell
Walgett mob got truth to tell

Freedom fighters - freedom riders
White students stood beside us
Despite those laws that tried to divide us
Still one people - blood unite us

Past behind us - future ahead
But we never be forgetting about the bloodshed bred
Raise ya hands, shake a leg,
One mob, one people. Nod your head.

Time's right now to stand up and be counted
Black fella, white fella, gunna get it together to do better
Can you hear this listen when we shout it
Black fella white fella. Blue, white, red, black and yella.

Yo - Time passed, not much has changed
In some ways things stayed the same
Still have a hard time playin' the game
Still get held back by fear and shame

Kids having kids, think school's a joke
No education, no job, no hope
Rope gets tighter - gap gets wider
Time to release that spirit inside ya

Anyone can talk the talk
It takes courage to walk the walk
Coz this is a new age and the main attraction
Close that gap, cause chain reaction

Shoulder to shoulder, black and white
See through the darkness, shine the light
Takes understanding, knowledge and insight
If you're with me, bounce on the track tonight

Time's right now to stand up and be counted
Black fella, white fella, gunna get it together to do better
Can you hear this listen when we shout it
Black fella, white fella. Blue, white, red, black and yella

Toby Finlayson - Director/ Co-Writer/ Cinematographer/ Editor
Joel Westlake -- Composer / Music Director/ Co-Writer
Rosalyn McGregor -- Cultural Consultant/ Mentor
Reyne House -- Audio Mixing