Curator's Cut: 'Country Outcasts' and 'The Sunshine Club - Days of Old Darwin'

This event is now booked out. If you would like to be added to the wait list please email libraryevents@nt.gov.au.

Bringing music of the past to the fore, this double screening looks at two different genres of Territory music from two different times. 

Country Outcasts was a band of talented Aboriginal country and western musicians including Harry and Wilga Williams, Mac Silver and Auriel Andrew who toured Aboriginal communities in central Australia in 1977. Narrated by songwriter and former Administrator Ted Egan, this documentary is a fascinating insight into the musicians’ thoughts and feelings as they travel from the more urban Koori scene of the east coast to communities including Alice Springs, Hermannsburg, Papunya and Yuendumu. (28 mins)

The Sunshine Club: Days of Old Darwin looks at the emergence of the rich and culturally diverse music and dance scene in Darwin during the 1940s and 50s. Beginning among Aboriginal and Filipino families, the scene created a fusion of music and dance that helped break down barriers with the wider community. In 2002, the Festival of Darwin revived this unique era with some of the original musicians and dancers, and their descendants. (25 mins)

This is part of the Northern Territory Library’s Curator’s Cut film series, screening rare films from the Library collection followed by a discussion with experts on the subject. 

2018 Curator's Cut program
Wednesday 19 September - How the West was Lost (part of Darwin International Film Festival)
Wednesday 3 October – Buffalo Legends
Wednesday 7 November – Country Outcasts and Sunshine Club: Days of Old Darwin
Wednesday 5 December – The Search for the Shell Encrusted Toilet Seat

Photo credit: Joe Ruddick dancing with Dolly Cardona at the Palais (old tennis courts) next to the Catholic Church. This was a precursor to the Sunshine Club set up by Joe Ruddick in Parap. Joseph M. Ruddick Collection.