Singing All The Way
For the past five years, just before Christmas, the Indian Pacific has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Royal Flying Doctor Service by chuffing across the continent with stars on board.
At stations, whistlestops and a crossroads in the middle of the Nullarbor, the star hops off and entertains the crowds that gather for the brief concert (three or four songs, autographs and happy snaps then back on the train).
Stars of the Christmas 2006 were Santa, of course, and brothers Michael and Andrew Tierney, Toby Allen and Phil Burton, otherwise known as Human Nature.
The quartet packed their best black patent pumps, sharp suits, hair gel and climbed aboard at Sydney's Central Station for the three and a half day trip across Australia. With them went their partners, incredibly hardworking sound engineer, management types from Indian Pacific and a mob of journalists.
Nobody knew what to expect and all expectations were confounded. With their most recent album Dancing in the Street: the Songs of Motown 2 a smash hit before its release (entering the ARIA charts at No 1), the four singers performed at each whistlestop as if their lives depended on it. Immaculate harmonies, hair and suits to the fore they smiled and sang through a chilly, rainy night in Bathurst, a crisp bright early morning in Broken Hill; a sultry 32C afternoon in Adelaide; with a thrillingly enthusiastic choir of indigenous kids from Oak Valley Primary (no oaks, no valley) at Watson on the Nullarbor; in a mini-dust storm and 37C at Cook - queen city of the Nullarbor, according to some long-gone wag; and finally to Perth.
It was an extraordinary trip. It made a motza for the Flying Doctors and undoubtedly made scores more devoted fans for Human Nature - including all the journos on the train. We were gobsmacked by their generosity, professionalism and dedication to the job. Their determination to look and behave as if they were performing for thousands instead of a handful of outback Aussies, many of whom had travelled hours just for those 15 minutes in their company, was awe-inspiring.
Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful 2007
