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It's fantastic to be back in Tamworth

19-01-09

Country star Lee Kernaghan says his time on the road visiting drought-affected farmers and their families as Australian of the Year is the inspiration for his new album.

Kernaghan was named Australian of the Year in 2008 and spent the year touring the nation visiting farmers.

While reporting back on his experiences to all levels of government, Kernaghan also got some new songs out of his year on the road.

“I’ve had an enormous amount of experience that I’ve been able to put on paper now for the album out in October and I can hardly wait,” Kernaghan told AAP in Tamworth.

For the past decade, the Boys from the Bush singer has been travelling around regional areas for his famous Pass the Hat Around tours which have raised over $1 million for communities in need.

Farmers epitomise what being Australian is all about, Kernaghan says. “Our farmers have taken on everything the climate can throw at them. ...and for over 200 years, the Australian economy has really ridden on the back of our agriculture.”

Kernaghan will continue to raise awareness about what life is like in rural Australia for as long as he can.

“I care about families and there is an enormous amount of hardship in some of those drought-affected regions,” he said. “I’ve concentrated this year on highlighting the issues that are affecting people sitting around their kitchen table on a drought-affected part of the country.”

Kernaghan is in Tamworth for the Country Music Festival, the place where some of the best moments of his career have occurred. He has won 27 Golden Guitars, three ARIAs and had 26 number one songs on the ARIA Country Chart.

Coming back to Tamworth is always amazing, he says. “It’s fantastic to be here.

“Seeing people from all over Australia converging here...it creates a real electricity in the air.”

AAP - TAMWORTH

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