Young Australians Booklet - Buywell

476 8473 

SONGS OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION 

YOUNG 

AUSTRALIANS 

VOICES OF ACHIEVEMENT 

SING NSW CHOIR 

SIROCCO

Expressing the journey of our lives 

through song is a fundamental 

part of who we are. We sing for the 

past and the present, we sing for 

the future, we sing in times of joy 

and times of sorrow, and we sing 

to find our place in the world. 

2 

Young Australians 

Voices of Achievement 

‘Young Australians – Voices of Achievement’, conceived by Paul Jarman in 2003, is exciting new choral 

music inspired by, written for and performed by our youth. Composed by Paul Jarman and Andrew 

DeTeliga in 2004/05, the project has been commissioned and supported by Jenny Gregory, director of 

Sing NSW, Department of Education and Training. 

Expressing the journey of our lives through song is a fundamental part of who we are. We sing for the 

past and the present, we sing for the future, we sing in times of joy and times of sorrow, and we sing 

to find our place in the world. ‘Young Australians – Voices of Achievement’ is a unique opportunity to 

reflect on our identity, celebrating through song the accomplishments of our youth. 

The rewards of this project have been numerous. The Sing NSW Choir, boys and girls, 10 to 16 years 

of age from across the state, have had the opportunity to work directly with the composers and 

performers of the piece. During rehearsals and recording, crucial artistic decisions were made 

collectively, and the children assisted as extra instrumentalists or with arrangement ideas. They have 

seen first hand how to express a powerful concept through writing words and music. Additionally, 

the young ladies and gentlemen who inspired these songs are their peers and have become heroes to 

the choir. The diversity of their achievements has been a great source of inspiration for all involved. 

This diversity lends itself to the musical accompaniment of Sirocco, pioneers of the global sound 

within Australia. Through orchestrations, words and melodies which evoke the vast sense of Australia 

and our mix of cultures both ancient and new, Paul Jarman and Andrew DeTeliga’s new song cycle has 

touched on many genres, yet defined its own, appealing to a broad, contemporary audience. 

The process of searching for the dedicatees of ‘Young Australians – Voices of Achievement’ is a 

journey into the heart of Australia’s future. Among those chosen are mountaineers, magicians, 

refugees, artists, dancers, adventurers, community leaders and aid workers. Some are household 

names, some have achieved personal triumph. Some have had to overcome severe hardships, while 

others are helping those in need. Each of these Australians will have a document of their own journey, 

expressed through song, to take with them through life. 

We salute our young Australians. 

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Young Australians 

Voices of Achievement 

1 Follow Your Dreams Dedicated to Jesse Martin 6’18 

Music & lyrics by Andrew DeTeliga & Paul Jarman 

Orchestration by Paul Jarman 

Paul Jarman bouzouki, Andrew DeTeliga guitar, Peter Jacob puk & percussion, 

Jonathan Zwartz double bass, John Smiley harmonium, Michelle Kelly, 

Narine Melconian, Liisa Pallandi, Raj Kumar violin, Nicole Forsyth viola, 

Rosemary Quinn, Kaari Pallandi cello 

2 Better World Dedicated to Hugh Evans 4’01 

Music & lyrics by Paul Jarman 

Paul Jarman piano & whistle, Andrew DeTeliga dobro, Peter Jacob djembe, 

Jonathan Zwartz double bass, Jessica Stocker percussion 

3 World of Magic Dedicated to Joel Howlett 3’42 


Paul Jarman piano, Peter Jacob puk, Jessica Stocker percussion, 

Jonathan Zwartz double bass, Arlene Fletcher narrator 

4 Time Enough to Give Dedicated to Natasha Eggins-Allman 4’27 


Cheryl Fitzgerald piano, Jonathan Zwartz double bass, Liisa Pallandi violin 

5 Children of the Dreamtime Dedicated to Stacey Kelly-Greenup, 

Becky Chatfield & Mitchell Chatfield 3’54 

Music & lyrics by Andrew DeTeliga & Paul Jarman 

Paul Jarman piano, Andrew DeTeliga dobro, Peter Jacob puk & percussion, 

Jonathan Zwartz double bass, Adam Hill didjeridu 

6 Freedom Cry Dedicated to Judy Bennett 7’13 


Paul Jarman bouzouki & tarogato, Peter Jacob djembe & percussion, 

Jonathan Zwartz double bass, Annabelle Prunster soprano 

7 Run the Gauntlet Dedicated to Sing NSW 3’36 

Music & lyrics by Andrew DeTeliga 

Arranged by Paul Jarman 

Andrew DeTeliga frame drum, Peter Jacob tapan, Jessica Stocker djembe, 

Paul Jarman bombarde 

8 Mia’s Song Dedicated to Mia and Jane 5’24 


Paul Jarman piano, Lauren Easton solo vocal 

9 Set Me Free Dedicated to Salima Haidary 5’45 

Music, lyrics & orchestration by Paul Jarman 

Paul Jarman piano, tarogato & whistle, Peter Jacob darabuka, Jonathan Zwartz 

double bass, John Smiley harmonium, Michelle Kelly, Narine Melconian, 

Liisa Pallandi, Raj Kumar violin, Nicole Forsyth viola, Rosemary Quinn, 

Kaari Pallandi cello, Andrew DeTeliga revop 

4 5

0 The Will to Climb Dedicated to Christopher Harris 4’04 


Orchestration by Chris Gordon 

Paul Jarman piano, Peter Jacob djembe & percussion, Jonathan Zwartz double 

bass, Michelle Kelly, Narine Melconian, Liisa Pallandi, Raj Kumar violin, 

Nicole Forsyth viola, Rosemary Quinn, Kaari Pallandi cello 

! Young Australians 3’18 


Arranged by Paul Jarman 

Cheryl Fitzgerald piano, Andrew DeTeliga guitar, Peter Jacob tapan & percussion, 

Paul Jarman tarogato 

Sing NSW Choir 

Sirocco 

Jenny Gregory conductor 

Total Playing Time 52’30 

revop – snakeskin lute from Western China (Uigher People) 

tarogato – keyless wooden saxophone made by Linsey Pollack (Australia) 

tapan – large double-sided drum made by Mark Binns (Australia) 

bombarde – Breton double-reed woodwind instrument made by 

Bill O’Toole (Australia) 

bouzouki – Greek lute 

darabuka – hand drum from the Middle East 

harmonium – bellows-blown organ from India 

dobro – resonator slide guitar 

djembe – African hand drum 

puk – double-skinned traditional Korean drum 

1 Follow Your Dreams 

Dedicated to Jesse Martin 6’18 


& Paul Jarman 

Additional inspiration, 

Colin Offord 

Most Australians are 

familiar with Jesse 

Martin’s incredible 

story of courage and 

strength. ‘Lionheart’, 

his journey of the 

human spirit, earned him a place among the 

world’s greatest explorers and adventurers. He 

was 18 years old. 

In 1999, Jesse became the youngest person in 

history to sail solo around the world. His voyage 

began in December 1998, from his hometown of 

Melbourne, and won the hearts of millions 

across the globe. He was personally thanked by 

President Bill Clinton, and received recognition 

from many world leaders and fellow international 

yachtsmen and women. For ten months, Jesse’s 

adventure brought the world together. 

As a young boy backpacking around the world, 

Jesse quickly developed a taste for adventure, 

and by the age of 14 he had sailed a catamaran 

along Australia’s tropical coast. At 16 he had 

kayaked through the remote islands of Papua 

New Guinea, and then crewed on a yacht sailing 

from Belize to Tahiti. All this time he knew of his 

greatest dream. Nothing would get in his way. 

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Jesse has followed many pursuits since 

Lionheart. He is an active member of the Reach 

organisation and has also chartered the Kijana 

voyage, which gave his peers the chance to join 

Jesse on a similar quest. He is the author of two 

books, Lionheart and Kijana: The Real Story, the 

former produced as an award-winning 

documentary film. In his own words, “There are 

many people out there dreaming of great things, 

and it’s a good chance that your son, daughter, 

brother, sister or friend is one of them.” And 

from musician Ben Harper, “What you have 

done makes me proud to be a human being.” 

Jesse Martin inspires us all to follow our dreams. 

Whatever your dream, enjoy the adventure. 

Whatever your dream, don’t fear the unknown. 

Whatever you do, see where it takes you. 

You’re never alone. You’re never alone. 

Follow your dreams. 

Follow your dreams. Follow your heart. 

Fill your sails. Make a start. 

Time is flying on angel wings. 

Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. 

Waves are crashing over my boat. 

My friend my enemy keep me afloat. 

Day into night, night into day, 

Wild wet wind blow me away. 

The wind in the sky, the sky in the wind, 

Journey’s beginning, journey will end.

Don’t you be lonely, make her your friend. 

Hope on horizon, sunrise again. 

Ever so lonely, ever so lonely tonight, 

Surrounded by water, nothing but water in sight. 

Storm is coming, hold on tight. 

Waves are crashing through the night. 

Follow your dreams. Follow your heart. 

Fill your sails. Make a start. 

Time is flying on angel wings. 

Follow your heart. Follow your dreams. 

Follow. Follow your dreams! 

2 Better World 

Dedicated to Hugh Evans 4’01 


At just 21 years of 

age, Hugh Evans is 

dedicating his life to 

helping the most 

underprivileged people 

in this world. 

Hugh’s passion for 

helping others began 

when he was 12 and became involved in World 

Vision’s 40 Hour Famine. Over the next few 

years, his school became the highest fundraising 

school for the 40 Hour Famine in Australia. At 

age 14, a sponsored trip to the Philippines to 

see World Vision’s work first hand impacted on 

Hugh’s life immensely. 

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This experience led him to found the Oaktree 

Foundation, Australia’s first entirely youth-run 

and youth-driven aid and development agency. 

With over 250 volunteers under the age of 25, it 

is a movement of young Australians who seek to 

empower developing communities through 

education in a way that is sustainable. In its first 

year, Oaktree raised over $100,000 to develop a 

community resource centre in the Valley of 

Embo in South Africa. This centre now provides 

more than 1,000 people with the opportunity to 

receive education for the first time in their lives. 

Hugh believes young people can do anything 

given the opportunity. The Oaktree Foundation 

“provides an avenue for many other young 

Australians to also make a difference in this 

world.” Hugh also established the Youth 

Ambassador Program with World Vision, which 

enables young people to go and see the work 

and participate themselves. Following its 

approval, Hugh travelled to South Africa as World 

Vision’s first Youth Ambassador. 

In 2004, Hugh became the youngest ever 

recipient of the Young Person of the World 

award. Incredibly, Hugh was also awarded Young 

Australian of the Year, adding to his title of Young 

Victorian of the Year. Hugh’s sincerity, humility 

and genuineness are what have inspired so 

many people, young and old, to work towards 

helping those less fortunate. 

We are young, we are free. 

Fight for what we believe in. 

It’s time for change, time to give. 

The future’s in our hands. 

Starting now, search inside, 

Find the strength of forgiving. 

Freedom comes from deep within. 

We can do anything. 

Give us the chance. 

Heal the wounds of the past, 

Open up to compassion. 

Give yourself to those in need, 

They will understand. 

Fight for truth, serve the poor, 

End injustice for all. 

We can make a better world. 

We can do anything. 

We can do everything. 


Believe in what we’re fighting for. 


Whatever it takes, whatever the cost. 

We’ve nothing to lose and everyone gains. 

Whatever we make, whatever we give. 

We’ve nothing to lose and everyone gains. 


Believe in what we’re fighting for. 


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3 World of Magic 

Dedicated to Joel Howlett 3’42 


Joel Howlett is one of 

the country’s finest 

magicians. Already, he 

has embraced 

Australia and the 

world with a unique 

performance, winning 

major competitions, 

performing regularly 

on television, and making special appearances for 

various charity organisations. He is 15 years old. 

Joel’s career began in 1996, and by the time he 

was seven, Joel was making numerous public 

appearances. His special combination of magic, 

charm, surprise and wit earned the entertainer 

great respect among fellow magicians, some of 

whom are more than four times his age. 

In 2000, Joel was the Australian representative 

at the Millennium Dreamers Awards in Florida, 

and has since returned to the USA as a special 

guest in the Stars of Tomorrow Show, at Las 

Vegas. His talents were noticed by some of the 

world’s finest, appearing twice on Channel 

Nine’s Today show. He has also performed on 

Hey, Hey It’s Saturday when he was only nine 

years old, and in 2001 his achievements were the 

focus of the award-winning short film Joel’s 

Dream. He was chosen in 2001 as the ‘Face of

Newcastle’, just north of his home in Charlestown, 

and appeared in numerous radio, TV and press 

campaigns. In the following year he won various 

awards at the Australian Convention of Magicians. 

Joel engages in extensive charity work for the 

elderly, hearing impaired, Rotary, Red Cross and 

the Lions Club. Bruce Kalver from the Society of 

American Magicians says of Joel, “His warm 

personality as well as his sense of humour was 

gushing throughout his act. His polite manner 

and professionalism show us that this kid will be 

going places.” 

As this piece was recorded, Joel had just won 

the Australian Music and Arts Talent Search. 

Look into my eyes. Closer. Closer. 

Look into my eyes. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. 

Welcome to my magic show. Mystery, surprise. 

Cunning tricks and wizardry. Look into my eyes! 

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to JD’s ‘World of 

Magic’ show. 

The youngest magician in Australia to hit the 

international stage. 

An award-winning, charitable, man of style. 

A fun-loving, high-achieving Novocastrian, and all-round 

man of surprise. 

The boy wonder will trick you, taunt you, tease you 

and haunt you. 

Scare you, dare you, make you scream! 

Watch him. Watch him take the world by storm! 

First a wink, and then a smile. A sudden flash of hand. 

Watch me now; the card appears right before your eyes. 

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I hold it in my hand. A sudden fleeting glance. 

And with a flash, it disappears. 

No more wallet in your pants! 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! 

In my eyes there’s a world of magic. 

In my hands, holding dreams. 

Young and free, in a world of magic. 

Magic made of dreams. 

I’ll trick you, taunt you, tease you and haunt you. 

Scare you, dare you and make you scream. 

Delirious with splendour, you take my youthful bait. 

I’ve got you in my clutches now. 

Time to meet your fate! 

In my eyes there’s a world of magic. 

In my hands, holding dreams. 

Young and free, in a world of magic. 

Magic made of dreams. 

Look into my eyes! 

4 Time Enough to Give 

Dedicated to Natasha Eggins-Allman 

2 April 1993 – 25 July 2004 4’27 


While we search for 

heroes and leaders 

among our society, 

we should never 

forget the 

achievements and 

dreams of those who 

struggle with illness. 

We pay our respects 

now to the children from the Oncology Ward, 

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. 

This year, through the healing work of music 

therapy, Bonnie Nilsson was fortunate to meet a 

very special girl – Natasha. In October 2003, at 

the age of ten, Natasha was diagnosed with 

leukaemia, and admitted to The Children’s 

Hospital. It was here that, through their love of 

music and other interests, Bonnie and Natasha 

would form a close friendship, resulting in them 

writing and playing songs together. In Natasha’s 

words, “I can’t wait to get out, just to run and 

shout. I can’t wait to get out, to jump about. I 

can’t wait to be free and just be me. I want to 

be free and just be me.” 

Natasha enjoyed swimming, boogie boarding, 

horse riding, shopping with her friends and 

spending time with her mum, dad and brother 

Kyle. She especially loved her dog, Indy. She had 

only one fear – not to be forgotten. Like most of 

the children in the Oncology Ward, Natasha felt 

that although she was only young, she had time 

enough to give. 

From Natasha’s mother Sonja, “We may not 

remember everything you said. We may not 

remember everything you did. But we will 

always remember how you made us feel.” 

This piece is dedicated to Natasha and her 

family. Thank you, Bonnie, for your inspiration 

and help with this song. A donation to the 

Natasha Foundation will be made from the 

Young Australians Project. 

11 

These are the times I remember. 

These are the days we have shared. 

This is my time. I will surrender. 

It’s never a short time, 

When there’s time enough to give. 

These are the years held so tender. 

Hold on to the good times we have. 

All of my years, a time to treasure. 

It’s never a short time, 

When there’s time enough to give. 

Every day, I feel you closer. 

Every way you touch my fragile heart. 

Stay close beside me. 

Find hope in my dreams. 

These are the dreams I hold on to. 

Hope finds a way every day. 

There will come a time for going home. 

This is my time, our time. 

There’s time enough to live. 

5 Children of the Dreamtime 

Dedicated to Stacey Kelly-Greenup, 

Becky Chatfield & Mitchell Chatfield 3’54 

Music & lyrics by 

Andrew DeTeliga 

& Paul Jarman 

We are proud to 

present as part of 

Young Australians the 

achievements of three 

extraordinary youths,

each a proud ambassador of their Aboriginal 

heritage. 

Stacey Kelly-Greenup was named NAIDOC Youth 

of the Year in 2002, at the age of 17. As a young 

Aboriginal woman, she has overcome many 

barriers, and in doing so has been actively 

involved in the Indigenous community at a local 

and national level. From her hometown of 

Kempsey, Stacey works tirelessly for the 

Aboriginal youth as part of the Regional 

Extended Family Services, and continues an 

education, her passion – law. 

Stacey received the Kempsey Shire Council 

Citizen of the Year award in 2003. She 

established the NSW Youth Advisory Group 

Website, and became an active member of 

various Indigenous support programs including 

the NSW ReconciliACTION Youth Group. 

Becky and Mitchell Chatfield are two young 

Kamilaroi performers, who continue to promote 

their Aboriginal heritage through working 

together as a contemporary and traditional 

music and dance team. Becky is 16 and Mitchell 

is 12. From their home in the Blue Mountains, 

they are continuing to develop a strong 

appreciation of their culture, and with the help of 

their mother Elly, the family offer their services 

to the local Indigenous youth. Becky has 

recently been accepted into NAISDA. 

The duo have performed for many national 

events including the Sydney Olympic Games, 

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Schools Spectacular, and recently the Pan Pacific 

Games, for an audience of 80,000. They have 

represented their people at citizenship 

ceremonies, conferences, for NAIDOC Week, 

the Deadly Awards and performances for the 

Department of Education. In 2003 they were 

invited to perform at Parliament House. 

Indigenous Australian. 

We are the children of the dreamtime. 

Forty thousand years, we roamed this mighty land. 

We are the rivers, rocks and mountains. 

The spirit of our ancestors guides us through the night. 

The power of the dreaming holds our future. 

We have hunted in the valleys, gathered on the plains. 

We are swimming in the billabongs and oceans. 

With dignity and pride, we watch our culture grow. 


Higher, high, see the boomerang fly, 

Across our native land. 

In the city and the country, we lend a helping hand. 

Courage to our people, young and old. 

It’s time to stand as one and throw away our fears. 


Higher, high, see the boomerang fly, 

Across our native land. 

Stand up! Sing it to the world. 

Stand up! So we can be heard. 

Stand up! Aboriginal flag flying. 

We are the children of the dreamtime. 

6 Freedom Cry 

Dedicated to Judy Bennett 7’13 


Freedom Cry is dedicated to Judy Bennett, who 

passed away not long after the commissioning 

of this work. She stood for all the values of 

justice within this piece. The work is inspired by 

the Vietnamese folk song Dan ca Nam bo, and 

was commissioned in 2004 by Joan Wright for 

Ogilvie Choirs. 

Freedom is calling, cry freedom. 

For all the children who lay awake in fear, 

There are freedom songs. 

For every day spoilt by greed and treachery, 

Hear the freedom cry. 

For wasted dollars spent, every treaty bent, 


For shifting blame, all the selfish cruel intent, 


There is time enough to learn, and the time enough to give. 

Forever, live together all as one. 

Voices gather strong, listen to your heart. 

It’s never too late. 

Sing together freedom songs. 

For years of torture inflicted on the land, 


For the pain and grief of the punished innocent, 


13 


The past is written, lessons learnt are soon forgotten. 

The same mistakes, different victims. 

Uncertain years, uncertain fears. 

Life goes on and on. 

There is time enough to learn, and the time enough to give. 

Forever, live together all as one. 

Voices gather strong, listen to your heart. 

It’s never too late. 

Sing together freedom songs. 

For those who suffer their lives for liberty, 


For those who march hand in hand for amnesty, 



7 Run the Gauntlet 

Dedicated to Sing NSW 3’36 


Run the gauntlet of your fears. 

Run the gauntlet of your tears. 

Run the gauntlet like there’s no tomorrow, 

And fly like a kite in the high wind 

Fly like a kite in the high wind. 

Just like a kite in the high wind. 

Embrace the power of your goals. 

Embrace the power in your soul. 

Feel the sun upon your skin, 

And fly like a kite in the high wind,



We’re here; we’re here for a purpose. 

We’re here; we’re here for the long run. 


We’re here; we’re here to live, 

To live this life! 

Throw down the gauntlet, stand your ground. 

Throw down the gauntlet; sing your sound. 

Throw down the gauntlet; stand in the wind, 

And fly like a kite in the high wind, 




We’re here; we’re here for the long run. 


We’re here; we’re here to live, 

To live this life! 

8 Mia’s Song 

Dedicated to Mia and Jane 5’24 


Mia’s Song was commissioned in 2002 by one 

of Paul Jarman’s friends, Jane Hunt, for her best 

friend Mia’s 40th birthday. It celebrates the 

wonder of youth, change and growing together. 

She gleams with style, her charms her smile. 

I walk so proud beside her. 

A palace of pleasures, her finest tastes. 

14 

Through the days we’ve shared, the times she cared. 

That’s Mia, the best of friends. 

Vivacious charms have paved the way, 

For a life so rich with splendour. 

Her wildest dreams, she’s lived to tell. 

Through the days we’ve shared, the times she cared. 


Mia, my Mia. 

I trust you with my heart. 

Mia, my Mia. 

Now I thank you for trusting in me. 

And so the years pass quickly by. 

With smiles and cheers to guide her. 

Indulge with me life’s charming ways. 

Through the days we’ve shared, the times I cared. 

For Mia, the best of friends. 

We gather now as faithful friends, 

To toast a life so rare. 

With tears of joy we honour you. 

Through the days we’ve shared, the times you cared. 


Mia, my Mia. 

I trust you with my heart. 

Mia, my Mia. 


Mia, my Mia. 


Through the days we’ve shared, the times you cared, 

We’ll forever be best of friends. 

9 Set Me Free 

Dedicated to Salima Haidary 5’45 


Salima Haidary was 

born in Ghazni near 

Kabul, Afghanistan in 

December 1998. After 

suffering years of 

perpetual abuse under 

the Taliban regime, 

Salima’s family 

embarked on a 

desperate mission, to flee their homeland and 

escape to Australia. Salima put her experience 

into words in November 2003, and the remarkable 

story became the winner of the National Literary 

Award for youth the following year. 

For most of her life, Salima had lived in fear, 

without any sense of freedom or rights. She 

witnessed the brutal murder of both her two 

younger brothers by Taliban soldiers, and had not 

seen or heard from her father in over five years 

after he had been captured by soldiers and 

possibly escaped to Pakistan. In desperation, 

Salima’s grandfather gave her mother his life 

savings and demanded that the surviving family 

leave Afghanistan immediately. 

Under darkness they journeyed to Pakistan and 

paid US$4,000.00 each to organise an attempt 

to reach Australia. They travelled overland to 

Karachi in the south and then flew to Indonesia, 

15 

waiting weeks for a promised boat. With more 

than 300 people crammed in the tiny vessel, the 

four-day voyage cost many lives. Upon arrival at 

Christmas Island, the family were jailed for three 

months and Salima feared the worst. 

Finally, Salima, her mother, sister and brother 

were given a home in a small suburb of 

Canberra. Then, without warning her father 

miraculously appeared, and the family reunited 

for the first time in nearly a decade. When Paul 

Jarman wrote the lyrics to Set Me Free Salima 

was still waiting to hear from the government 

regarding their right to stay in Australia. She said 

that she would kill herself if deported back to 

Afghanistan. Ironically, a couple of days after the 

piece was written, she was given her freedom. 

This piece is dedicated to Salima and her family. 

Nowhere to run and hide, there’s danger in the night. 

Nothing safe, no one escapes, there’s fear across the land. 

No warmth around the fire, we suffer through the cold. 

Mothers scream and babies cry, they’re sick and so afraid. 

No hope to make a life, they take our dreams away. 

This tortured land we once adored has crumbled to its knees. 

We see our brothers die; our fathers disappear. 

We stand in line to meet our fate, no hope of liberty. 

Set me free, oh set me free. Please, set me free. 

Now we’re on the run cross the great divide. 

Hide your faces, don’t be seen, don’t trust in anyone. 

Risking certain death, plunge into the sea. 

Day and night of misery, surrounded by disease.

Bodies overboard, hunger and despair. 

A desperate bid for freedom if we ever make it there. 

A new land in our sight, more trouble lies ahead. 

Locked into a prison cell, committed not a crime. 

Set me free, oh set me free. Please, set me free. 

Freedom! Freedom, hear my plea. 

Freedom! Freedom, rescue me. 

Let me stay. Can’t you see that I’m afraid? 

Set me free. Set me free! 

0 The Will to Climb 

Dedicated to Christopher Harris 4’04 


Christopher Harris is 

an inspiration to us all. 

The keen adventurer 

aims to be the 

youngest mountaineer 

in history to climb the 

seven summits. He is 

14 years old. 

Christopher’s challenge began when he climbed 

Mount Kosciusko at the age of eight, in winter 

on alpine grade two route up the cornice. Over 

the next few years, he participated in several 

mountaineering courses, went white water 

rafting and rock climbing in the Blue Mountains 

NSW, and climbed the Three Sisters at age nine. 

In 2002, at the age of 12, Christopher became 

the youngest person to climb New Zealand’s 

highest peak, Mt Cook, gaining instant 

16 

international recognition. He was awarded Young 

Adventurer of the Year by Australian Geographic 

for this achievement. 

In 2003 he climbed Africa’s highest peak, 

Mt Kilimanjaro, earning him legendary status 

among the local Tanzanian guides. Christopher 

continued to train hard and in 2004 became the 

youngest person to complete the Oxfam 100km 

Trailwalker. A week after completing the race in 

under 24 hours he flew out to Russia and was 

successful in summiting Europe’s highest 

mountain, Mt Elbrus, under extremely cold 

conditions. The extraordinary team of father 

(Richard Harris) and son attempted Mt McKinley 

in June 2005, but were turned back by bad 

weather. Later in 2005 they will attempt 

Mt Aconcagua. 

In 2003 Christopher’s dreams and achievements 

were honoured live across the globe as The Will 

to Climb featured in the finale of the Rugby 

World Cup Opening Ceremony, performed by 

the Sydney Symphony and World Choir. 

Christopher will attempt the summit of 

Mt Everest in 2006 and become the youngest 

person in the world to do so. The Will to Climb 

was commissioned in 2003 by Lyn Williams for 

Gondwana Voices. 

I have this adventure in me, the will to climb. 

I walk into the pages of history. 

My journey has just begun. 

Reach up, look out, there’s a world around me. 

Stand up, speak out, far horizons reach me. 

By endurance I’ll shine. 

My heroes will guide me. 

I will conquer my fears. 

The dawn is at hand. 

I have the will to climb. 

All the mountains are calling. 

I’ll rise to my dreams, with courage at hand. 

Reach up, look out, there’s a world around me. 

Stand up, speak out, far horizons reach me. 

I have the will to climb. 

And my journey has begun. 

! Young Australians 3’18 


Our future lies before us. 

Stretched out like a long summer day. 

The sun shines bright, there’s promise in the night. 

And the world is just a walk away. 

We have the keys to the city. 

We have the power in our hand. 

We know there’s need, there’s hunger and greed. 

We are the future of this land. 

We are Australians, youth of the nation. 

We are the future of this land. 

17 

Paul Jarman 

Paul Jarman (b. 1971) 

is a versatile Australian 

composer and 

performing artist. 

Through his music he 

is searching for and 

celebrating a deeper 

understanding of 

Australian culture and 

history, and has worked extensively throughout 

Australia, Europe, Asia, North America and the 

Pacific with theatre productions, dance 

ensembles, Aboriginal-Anglo Celtic performance 

groups, choirs, orchestras and Sirocco. He plays 

more than 20 instruments including Irish 

whistles and pipes, tarogato, piano and strings. 

Paul has composed music for some of 

Australia’s most significant events including the 

Centenary of Federation, the Bicentenary of the 

Battle of Vinegar Hill, and Year of the Outback, 

the Olympic Arts Festival, the Rugby World Cup 

and the Australia Day Spectacular. He toured 

Europe as resident composer with the Sydney 

Children’s Choir for World Song Beat Festival and 

the International Youth Summit at the Geneva 

Convention, and also with Sing Armidale for the 

D-Day 60th Anniversary in Normandy. He has 

composed and performed music for various 

Sydney Festival events including Sam Shepard’s 

Angel City, Aerial Art and ID Dance, and was a

featured soloist for the Imax film Equus. He 

composed and performed the music for William 

Yang’s Objects for Meditation, performing in 

Sydney, Brussels, Manchester, Paris, Rome, 

Oslo and Rotterdam. In 2003 he was the 

Musical Director for the Deadly Awards, 

collaborating with Jimmy Little and Troy Casser- 

Daley. 

In 2005 Paul performed for the international 

premiere of his critically acclaimed cantata I Will 

Ride at the Jordan Hall in Boston, with the PALS 

Children’s Chorus and Boston City Singers, and 

Island Heroes, dedicated to the Torres Strait 

Island peoples, premiered at the Sydney Opera 

House. Paul was composer in residence for Let’s 

Sing in Tasmania 2004, also composing music 

for the United Nations Year of the Mountain, 

Hobart. Paul writes school anthems, 

commemorative town songs, and has 

collaborated with students to compose song 

cycles including Beyond the White Sails 

(Caulfield Grammar) and Yennibu, with Aboriginal 

leaders and the combined schools of the 

Kuringai in Sydney. With this approach to an 

appreciation of our identity through music, Paul’s 

words and song touch many hearts. 

18 



(b. 1951) is the main 

composer for Sirocco 

and was a founding 

member in 1980. 

His background is in 

rhythm and blues 

guitar and he played in 

numerous groups 

throughout the 1970s including Jimmy and the 

Boys and Tansy’s Fancy. He now performs on 

more than 20 stringed instruments from across 

Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, 

including classical violin, blues guitar, bouzouki 

and Chinese harp and has toured Australia 

and the globe as a cultural ambassador for 

three decades. 

From a classical repertoire Andrew turned to the 

Irish fiddle and to the music of the different 

ethnic groups in Australia. His inspired 

compositions have been used around the world 

by dance groups, ensembles and choirs, in film 

and on the stage. He has collaborated with 

Aboriginal dancers including Yothu Yindi, 

Pakistani Kwali singers, Vietnamese vocalists 

and bagpipe bands among many others. His 

music has been recorded on 12 Sirocco albums 

and played in festivals, events, schools and 

unique natural settings across Australia. He has 

composed music for Australia Day, the 

Centenary of Federation, United Nations Year of 

the Mountain, The Wetlands Suite and the D-Day 

60th Anniversary in Normandy, where he 

performed with Sing Armidale choir in 2004. 

Jenny Gregory 

Jenny Gregory, Sing 

NSW Coordinator and 

Conductor, NSW 

Department of 

Education and Training, 

is widely experienced 

in developing and 

conducting choirs. She 

has conducted for the 

Primary Choral Concert 

Series and the ArtsNorth Festival of Music and 

at the Sydney Opera House, and was Coconductor 

for the Pacific Schools Games. Since 

2000, Jenny has conducted the Sydney Public 

Schools Junior Singers, an ensemble of talented 

singers auditioned from Sydney metropolitan 

public schools. The group also performs with the 

State Sing NSW choir. In 1999, Jenny toured the 

USA with the Sydney Public Schools Singers as 

part of the Olympic Arts Festival, “Reaching the 

World”. In 2001, to celebrate the Centenary of 

Federation, Jenny produced major Sing NSW 

concerts at Corowa and Tenterfield. 

In collaboration with Sirocco, Jenny has 

produced and conducted the Sing NSW mass 

choir in regional areas of the state, including the 

19 

Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo; Jenolan Caves; 

University of New England, Armidale and the 

Central Coast Conservatorium. 

As a regional arts consultant, Jenny has been 

active in facilitating a new commissioned work, 

Yenibu, composed by Paul Jarman, for the 

ArtsNorth Festival of Music 2006, which will 

feature a massed choir of public school students 

from the Northern Sydney Region performing at 

the Sydney Opera House. 

The premiere of Young Australians – Voices of 

Achievement will be conducted by Jenny at a 

performance by Sing NSW at the Sydney Town 

Hall in September 2005. 

Sirocco 

There is no group in Australian history with the 

qualifications of Sirocco. The art form of music 

and their attitude of inclusiveness have allowed 

them to perform with all kinds of musicians, 

from Russian rock bands in Vladivostok to a Dan 

Boa singer in Hanoi to folk dancers in a tiny 

village in Nepal. Formed in 1980, they are 

irrepressible, always coming up with innovative 

projects. Their signature is their event in the 

superb Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales. 

The concert was broadcast around the world and 

remains a unique celebration credited with 

saving the wetlands. Their dozen albums 

chronicle Australia’s coming of age in music. In 

Sirocco’s music you experience the uniqueness

that is Australia – its environment, its vibrant 

cultures, its turbulent history, and of course, its 

youth. www.siroccoz.com 

Sing NSW 

Sing NSW is an exciting music program for all 

NSW government schools. It is a developmental 

singing and dance program with the added 

benefit of outstanding performance 

opportunities for students. Sing NSW is open to 

all government school students in Years 5 to 12. 

Formerly Sing/Dance 2001, the program extends 

on the five years of training already experienced 

by ensemble members. All district choirs have 

performed in the Opening Ceremony of the 

Pacific School Games, Sydney 2000 Olympics 

and events associated with the Centenary of 

Federation. In 2004 all ensembles performed 

with renowned world music group Sirocco at the 

Sydney Town Hall and the University of New 

England, Armidale. Other highlights were 

performances at Jenolan Caves, Western 

Plains Zoo, the State Dance Festival and the 

Schools Spectacular. 

Regional choirs are located throughout the state 

of NSW. Students benefit from a diverse choral 

and dance education program and expert tuition 

provided by conductors and choreographers of 

the highest quality, and are enthused through 

interaction with other singers and dancers. 

20 

Sing NSW Staff 

Department of Education and Training 

Jennifer Bell Western Sydney 

Robyn Bradley Armidale 

Margaret Burns Mudgee 

Heather Causley Sutherland 

Meg Davey Lake Macquarie 

Kathryn Derrin Coffs Harbour 

Cheryl Fitzgerald Sutherland 

Helen Ford Central Coast 

Jenny Gregory The Arts Unit 

Julie Hodge Lake Macquarie 

Sue Lane Central Coast 

Fay McCabe Orange 

Deborah Mulcair Sutherland 

John Smiley PortJackson/Bankstown 

Kay Taylor Port Jackson/Bankstown 

Renate Turrini Coffs Harbour 

Cathy Welsford Armidale 

Denise Wood Mudgee 

Philippa Wood Hornsby 

Sing NSW 

‘Freedom Cry’ Choir 

Erin Bailey 

Lyndal Butler 

Victoria Campbell 

Anthea Conyngham 

Laura Cowie 

Donna Curtis 

Niamh Day 

Adelle Dunshea 

Arlene Fletcher 

Duncan Fredericks 

Mikayla Glover 

Kieren Gulpers 

Courtney Harris 

Chloe Harrison 

Adriana Lane 

Emma Lyons 

Rhia Parker 

Annabelle Prunster 

Kathryn Sinclair 

Alyson Smith 

Ayla Smith 

Madelyn Smith 

Jessica Stocker 

Bronwyn Swindells 

Grace Teece 

Camilla Tafra 

Lauren Ware 

Sarah Watt 

Marlou Werner 

Kate Williamson 

Gemma Wood 

Sing NSW ‘Young 

Australians’ Choir 

Erin Bailey 

Nat Bain 

James Beck 

Corinne Beckman 

Toby Beckman 

Emily Bee 

Tim Bennett 

Genevieve Borg 

Erin Bowcock 

Lauren Brain 

Jessica Broom 

Rachel Browne 

Elleisha Burke 

Alice Burrell 

Lyndall Butler 

Grace Cameron-Lee 

Victoria Campbell 

Lauren Christenson 

Ella Collins-White 

Anthea Conyngham 

Charlie Cooper 

Elisabeth Cooper 

Laura Cowie 

Jessica Cox 

Alison Crowe 

Donna Curtis 

Niamh Day 

Sarah DeJong 

Nicky Dellagiacoma 

Sophie Dellagiacoma 

21 

Amy Rose Dooney 

Adelle Dunshea 

Helen Eade 

Amelia Eagan 

Casey Fahey 

James Flanagan 

Rebecca Flanagan 

Arlene Fletcher 

Duncan Fredericks 

Elizabeth Fredericks 

Bryce Furner 

Eliza Garton 

Nigel Garton 

Lauren Gilders 

Anna Glen 

Mikayla Glover 

Emma Goddard 

Katie Goddard 

Kieren Gulpers 

Courtney Harris 

Chloe Harrison 

Dawn Ho 

Tom Hughes 

Ruby Jackson 

Meagan Johnson 

Elise Karrour 

Do Veen Kim 

Christina Kinley 

Raj Kumar 

Adriana Lane 

Hamish Lane 

Todd Lawson 

Teagan Lee

Amy Lindsay 

Emma Lyons 

Sean Moloney 

Cassarn Malone 

Nicole McGrath 

Eloise McIntyre 

Lauren Meredith 

Brianna Miller 

Rebecca Mooney 

Elise Newman 

Dominic Ng 

Elizabeth Nolan 

Michael Nolan 

Kathleen O’Donnell 

Brendan Oates 

Kaari Pallandi 

Liisa Pallandi 

Rhia Parker 

Brendan Passey 

Tara Pearson 

Chloe Phillips 

Elizabeth Propsting 

Annabelle Prunster 

Belinda Prunster 

Melanie Prunster 

Julia Readett 

Tjanara Ridgeway 

Maya Schwenke 

Karen Short 

Kathryn Sinclair 

Alyson Smith 

Ayla Smith 

Madelyn Smith 

Talei Smith 

Eamon Sparkes 

Tessa Sparkes 

Ella Stathis 

Jessica Stocker 

Huw Strachan 

Emily Suann 

Bronwyn Swindells 

James Swindells 

Matthew Swindells 

Camilla Tafra 

Ryan Tan 

Grace Teece 

Jennifer Thurgate 

Mitchell Trench 

Fiona Van De Weyer 

Liesl Van De Weyer 

Tara Voulgaris 

Lauren Ware 

Phillip Watt 

Sarah Watt 

Elyshia Weatherby 

Lachlan Weekes 

Marlou Werner 

Amanda Willey 

Carrissa Williams 

Kate Williamson 

Tara Wilson 

Gemma Wood 

Sara Wynn 

Executive Producers Robert Patterson, Lyle Chan 

Recording Producer Virginia Read 

Recording Engineer, Editor and Mastering 

Virginia Read 

Assistant Engineer Daniel Taylor 

Editorial and Production Manager Natalie Shea 

Cover and Booklet Design Imagecorp Pty Ltd 

Artistic/Musical Director and program notes 

Paul Jarman 

Sing NSW Project Coordinator Jenny Gregory 

ABC Classics Project Coordinator Alison Johnston 

Recorded 4-7 July 2005 in the Eugene Goossens Hall 

at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Ultimo 

Centre, Sydney. 

Paul Jarman thanks Jenny Gregory and the Sing NSW 

Staff, Department of Education and Training for support 

of this project, Sirocco, Musica Viva, Lyn Williams, 

Sydney Children’s Choir, Bonnie Nilsson, Children’s 

Hospital at Westmead (Donations can be made to 

Natasha’s Foundation c/ PO Box 357, Cherrybrook NSW 

2126), Colin Offord, William Yang, Jonathan Zwartz, 

Adam Hill, Chris Gordon and Andrew Walsh. Special 

thanks to all the incredible young achievers who 

inspired us and the singers who made magic happen. 

‘Young Australians – Voices of Achievement’ is 

dedicated to youth and their dreams for the future. 

� 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 

© 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Distributed 

in Australia by Universal Music Group, under exclusive 

licence. Made in Australia. All rights of the owner of 

copyright reserved. Any copying, renting, lending, diffusion, 

public performance or broadcast of this record without the 

authority of the copyright owner is prohibited. 

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