The Bushwackers perform Australia’s unofficial anthem, I am Australian, on The Voice 2023.
We are excited to share with you all the news that Dobe and Roger performed on The Voice Australia, Monday August 21st at 7.30pm on The Seven network.
Singing Australia’s unofficial anthem, which Dobe co-wrote with Bruce Woodley, of The Seekers, people might wonder why we are performing on Australia’s post-popular reality TV show.
Back in the 70’s 80’s 90’s and noughties, TV was part of the band’s publicity trail. With regular appearances on The Midday show, The Mike Walsh Show, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Bert Newton and right back to Hey Hey It’s Saturday and even GTK on the ABC for our older fans, TV was a part of the music world back then. These days it has changed a lot, so this was a great chance for us to let Australia know that we are still around, playing great music and playing gigs to audiences around Australia. We are just as excited about The Bushwackers now, and we’d like to say in this moment, but Dobe and Rog are both feeling rather overwhelmed and seem to have leaky eyeballs from the response.
“The Voice Australia was an interesting choice for us. I wanted to take on the challenge as it was a chance for a much wider and diverse audience to engage with our music, and I also wanted to see Dobe get the chance to play “I Am Australian” and be recognised for his part in the creation of such a unifying song. “I Am” is truly a national treasure of a song and it is so humbling and special to see it greeted with so much respect, love and joy on national TV. We are excited for the next chapter in this crazy ride” Roger
“Some of you will know that on rare occasions I may come across a tad cynical. I know – what a shock! Anyway, that night on The Voice Australia was totally memorable and involving. All the people on the story, wardrobe, artist and production teams were a joy to work with, but I certainly didn’t expect such heartfelt (and they were) words from the judges. A unique experience… straight to the pool room! – Dobe
We both want to thank you for all your kind words to the reponse and thankyou for being a part of our journey!
WATCH IT HERE:
If you miss the show catch up on 7Plus app and look for The Voice episode 7.
what part of the hunter valley is roger from?
HI Eden. Thanks for the message. I live in Lorn near Maitland.
Loved the rendition and a great advert for the No campaign. Well done in showing we are already a united country
Thanks Kay
Is the band played waltzing matilda on any of those albums, I used to have a record I loved but it’s long gone. I’d love to get it again (not on vinyl though )
Hi Margaret The Song ‘And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ is on The Songbook Collection on Volume three. You can buy this from our website if you like and I’ll send it out to you. Cheers Roger
Very powerful moment. So good to see you on tv again! I kind of feel like you guys should be one of the coaches! Anyway can’t wait to see what you do next! Please bring out the lagerphone and your fancy suits Dobe! Love you guys.
Thanks Greg, We’ve had lots of great feedback from our appearance. Stay in touch with our Facebook and the Website and come and say Hi at a gig sometime. Cheers Roger
What a joy it was to see and hear you both on The Voice. You both are amazing.
You showed Australia 🇦🇺 that no matter the age you can still get up there and put on an amazing show.
What you did by stepping down was so selfless, you could have gone all the way but you decided not to.
Thank you for a wonderful time. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks Cheryl. We’ve had a lot of response to our appearance and lovely comments. I don’t know about goign all the way but it was a great thing for us to do at our great age. Cheers Roger
It was a joy to watch that story play out with such authenticity and genuine generosity and heart … I enjoyed lots of your gifs and loved seeing you energy and passion.
I was curious to know if it was a directive from execs to ‘not’ sing the first verse of ‘I am’ – which of course tells
The indigenous story … it made
Me wonder in light of Jess being the coach … it didn’t diminish the experience and I hope it gets everyone listening to the lyrics again- as let’s face it – this should be our story and our one voice .. wondering if now might be a good time to release a YouTube of this – for the occasion – like Paul Kelly and John Farnham? Maybe a live aid opportunity??
HI Fiona. Thanks for reaching out. we’ve had great response so far to our appearances on The Voice. When that happened in the moment we did sing the whole song but air time is precious on the Voice so they edited a short bit. Jess sang the whole thing with us and tears running down her face. Mine too. Thanks again Cheers roger
Thanks so much for your reply – I am so glad that you got to sing the whole thing – such a beautiful song. Also glad to hear there was no agenda – have worked in TV and there can be.
Not surprised that Jess was in tears – you played a pivotal role in her biography 🙏🏻🥰
Dear Bushwhackers – sharing this piece of writing, which I will be trying to have published somewhere…and interested in your thoughts.
All I really needed to know I learned from the TV Show
Most unexpectedly, the best preview of an Australia that voted ‘yes’ can be found in recent episodes of Seven’s top-rating reality TV show The Voice. The Bushwackers duo Dobe Newtown and Roger Corbett’s audition on The Voice was ‘I Am Australian’ (co-written by Dobe). It’s the anthem that tells all the intertwining Australian stories, not just those of the last few hundred years, and so no viewer was surprised by the tears shed by Indigenous woman Jessica Mauboy.
But in the end we were surprised. There was shared history – in 2004 Jessica was a teenager about to compete at Tamworth. The Bushwhackers (middle-aged white musicians with a huge Australiana back catalogue) volunteered themselves as her backing musicians: giving both emotional and practical support to a nervous fourteen year old. They helped her be heard. From winning that competition she has gone on to contribute to Australian public life. So significant are her contributions that her win was something we’ve all benefitted from. And this week another surprise, because these two gentlemen have again acted with the generosity we all have the chance to show soon. ‘This is about the future,’ said Dobe, as he and Roger stepped out of the competition so a young voice could be better heard.
The Voice is our chance to say to government – ‘ Yes, we want you to actually listen to Aboriginal people’. Let’s seize that moment – take stock of our shared history, be the good friends that the Bushwhackers were for a young singer, support the voices of our young people who overwhelmingly support the Voice – and end the era of Indigenous voices being drowned out in deciding Indigenous policy.
We could’nt agree more Joanna!
I am an American, watching The Voice Australia on YouTube frequently. I recently had the privilege of watching Dobe and Roger on The Voice Australia. I enjoyed the performances, and I admired their actions. I am also an older man [66] and think that their consistent history of helping newer, younger talents is truly noteworthy.
Thanks Mate, we really appreciate your support watching from the USA and your comments!