Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem I am Woman, Radio Cowboy Smoky Dawson and the Vegemite Jingle were among ten ‘iconic sounds’ named in the 2009 National Film & Sound Archive Sounds of
Australia Registry, revealed this week in Canberra.

The announcement of the latest additions to the registry was made by Arts Minister Peter Garrett at a function in the National Film & Sound Archive, which also included the Thomas Rome lecture, this year given by CRA’s Joan Warner, and a special performance of old radio songs, jingles and scripts, by Robin Archer.

Garrett told the audience at the function:

“Sounds of Australia is a fantastic compilation of the Australian songs and recordings that have
endured over the years to become part of our story and these new additions will resonate around
our country.

“From Vic Simms’ 1973 song The Loner about racism and Indigenous dispossession to Dorothea
Mackellar’s recitation of her own iconic poem My Country and Smoky Dawson’s Adventures of
The Singing Bullet, these sounds are very familiar and help tell the Australian story.”

Garrett, in his former life as lead singer of Midnight Oil, had a small part in the production of Yothu Yindi’s Treaty, one of the songs added this year. He told the audience he helped modify some of the lyrics and was there to give advice on the song’s production.

Two songs about aboriginal issues were included in this year’s registry, the Yothu Yindi song, and a lesser known, rare recording of a song about racism by Vic Simms called The Loner. 3DB sports caller Ron Casey’s description of Lionel Rose winning the 1968 world boxing title was included, as was an episode of The Adventures
of Smoky Dawson which went to air between 1952 and 1962.

The Archive’s Sounds of Australia project was launched in 2007 with a foundation list of 10
sounds, and since then the Australian public, through radioinfo and other media, has been invited each year to add to the register.

A 21 member panel sorted through the public nominations and came up with a list of ten sounds
that reflect the breadth and depth of Australia’s concerns and passions. They are listed below, and biographical notes and audio are at the link at the bottom of this page.

1924 London recordings – Newcastle Steelworks Band, conductor Albert Baile

1954 The Vegemite jingle ‘Happy Little Vegemites’ – Alan Weekes (composer)

1955 Smoky Dawson and the Adventure of the Singing Bullet – Smoky Dawson

1958 My Country – read by Dorothea Mackellar

1962 Georgia Lee Sings the Blues Down Under – Georgia Lee

1966 In the Head the Fire – Nigel Butterley

1968 Lionel Rose wins the World Title – broadcaster Ron Casey

1972 I Am Woman – Helen Reddy

1973 The Loner – Vic Simms

1991 Treaty – Yothu Yindi

Full list with biographical notes and all audio samples at the link below.