Visitors, fans, volunteers and staff, along with Slim’s wife Joy McKean and daughter Anne Kirkpatrick, attended the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey – Slim’s hometown – for the annual celebration of Slim Dusty Day.

Held on Slim’s birthday, June 13, Slim Dusty Day was first held four years ago and there has been some talk about the federal government officially recognising the day.

Federal MP for Parkes, Mark Coulton, is one who has called for the day to be officially recognised as a national day because of Slim’s cultural significance to Australia.

“Slim Dusty was an iconic entertainer who holds a special place in the hearts of many people I represent,” Mr Coulton said.

The Parkes electorate covers a large area of North West NSW from Moree down to Condobolin and across to Broken Hill.

“He performed in many western towns and his songs always provide something that country people can relate to. It would be really nice to keep his legacy going.”

Slim was born in Kempsey in 1927.

While plans had started for the Slim Dusty Centre before his death in 2003, it was not until late last year that the facility opened at Kempsey. 

During his 60 years on the road, Slim took the culture of the Australian bush to ordinary people right around the country through his music. 

And he dreamt of a centre where the memorabilia, collected all over Australia during his illustrious career, could be displayed.

The Slim Dusty Centre commemorated the special day with the launch of a new exhibition The Slim Dusty Movie Exhibition in the Nulla Nulla Gallery – a behind the scenes peek at the props, costumes, stills and movie footage, with visitors taking the opportunity to have their photos taken with a clapper board prop on the set of the exhibition. 

Visitors also enjoyed the wandering musicians, guided tours of the museum and the great food and sausage sizzle. 

The piece de resistance was the fabulous cake made by Slim Dusty Centre Café staffer Fiona that Joy and Anne cut, and shared with the crowd.

Joy and Anne had a wonderful time with the fans, sharing their special stories and answering their many questions and thanking everyone for their support and involvement in getting the centre to where it is today.

“Congratulations to our curator, Julia Morrell (and her assistant, Anne Kirkpatrick), for getting the Slim Dusty Movie Exhibition open in time for Slim’s birthday celebrations,” Joy said. 

 “I look around at all the decorations, all our visitors and think what a wonderful team we have here at the centre. 

 “Thank you to all the staff headed by Michele and Kate and to all the terrific volunteers who help keep the wheels turning at the Slim Dusty Centre.”

The Slim Dusty Day was a great success for the centre and for anyone who missed out, the Slim Dusty Movie Exhibition is on display until the end of August. 

Anne Kirkpatrick proposed the home grown exhibition for the Nulla Nulla Gallery.

“The exhibition is fantastic, and especially so, because there are many objects that have never been seen up close before, including costumes and the movie stills,” Anne said. 

Along with the Slim Dusty Movie Exhibition, the Slim Dusty Museum includes interactive displays, listening posts, theatrette, costumes and objects traversing the Slim Dusty phenomenon across Australia and beyond.