New single ‘takayna’ released tomorrow, July 1, in support of the Tarkine rainforest in North West Tasmania, which is currently under threat from logging and mining
‘takayna’ is Goanna’s first new song in 25 years, and comes 40 years to the day after the High Court Decision that prevented the damning of the Franklin River
On the eve of the release of Goanna‘s new single ‘takanyna’, lead singer and songwriter Shane Howard has joined Bob Brown in Hobart for a press conference at Brown’s Hobart headquarters this afternoon. The new single, which is the first new Goanna song to be released in 25 years, was written by Howard in support of the Bob Brown Foundation‘s campaign to save takayne – which is palawa* word the ancient Tarkine rainforest in North West Tasmania – from logging and mining. (NB: * The palawa are the Aboriginal people of the Tasmania. ‘takayna’ and ‘palawa’ are in lowercase in accordance with palawa kani protocols.)
Described as ‘Australia’s Amazon’, the ancient Tarkine temperate rainforest spreads across half a million hectares of mountains, creeks and rivers that run to the Southern Ocean. Unique and brimming with biodiversity, takayna/Tarkine is not protected from logging, deforestation or mining expansion.
Shane Howard describes the new single as, “A hymn to the natural world, to takayna/Tarkine and the palawa peoples long custodianship of that country.”
Bob Brown has said, “This is a great song and a good omen for the Tarkine rainforest. 40 years on, may it work the same magic as Shane Howard’s ‘Let the Franklin Flow’ did in raising everyone’s spirits as we battled to successfully save the Franklin.”
‘takayna’ is release tomorrow (1st July), 40 years to the day from the High Court decision which saved Tasmania’s Franklin River in 1983 and had Shane Howard’s hit song ‘Let the Franklin Flow’ played by celebrating households around Australia. 50% of the proceeds from ‘takayna’ will go to the Bob Brown Foundation in support of their current efforts.
Today’s press conference capped off a week in which Shane Howard has spent time on the ground in the Tarkine with members of the Bob Brown Foundation as well as scientists working on the ground.
Recorded live, last year, at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, as part of Goanna’s ‘Touring on Country’ National Tour, Howard’s poetic song features all the signature sounds of early Goanna recordings: Rose Bygrave and Marcia Howard‘s stunning harmonies, Graham Davidge and Howard’s trademark guitar lines, the solid rhythm section of Ruben Shannon and Marcus Ryan and Richard Tankard‘s soaring Hammond Organ.
Goanna‘s new single ‘takayna’ is a cautionary tale, in this era of climate change and continuing deforestation, of the need to pause and re-evaluate.
“takayna/Tarkine is under threat from clear-felling and mining. We are honour bound to do better, for country, for all the creatures that depend on those forests, including ourselves and future generations”, said Howard.
Chinese government mining giant, MMG, operate a long standing mine in the region, outside takayna/Tarkine, that has two sizeable, toxic, tailings dam and want to build a third toxic acid tailings dam, the size of 70 MCG’s, on public land, beside the beautiful Pieman River.
“We all understand the need for jobs but there are more responsible ways of dealing with ‘tailings’ from a mine than to build a 48 metre high dam of toxic acid right beside a magnificent river in pristine forest”, says Howard.
“It defies logic really. The region is too environmentally sensitive. World’s best practice should be at the heart of what is of greatest value to Tasmania in the long run. There are alternatives.”
Goanna’s old friend and a giant of environmental defence and advocacy since the Franklin River campaign, Bob Brown asks, “Do we have a right to expect the Brazilians to save the Amazon if we can’t protect the Tarkine?”
2023 marks the 40th Anniversary of Goanna’s 1983 anthemic song, ‘Let The Franklin Flow’ and the High Court Decision, on July 1st 1983, that prevented the damming of the Franklin River.
In 2021 Goanna’s lead singer accompanied protestors to blockade the road in the Tarkine that leads to the proposed mine tailings dam site. Two years later, the protesters are still fighting for nature and common sense.
“The song grew out of that experience. I was deeply moved by the awe-inspiring majesty of the forest and the dedication of those ‘voices crying in the wilderness’, young and old, who were defending that country. These defenders of nature are the true heroes of the 21st century. They deserve our admiration and support.”
CHANNEL 7’s SPOTLIGHT EXPOSE
In late May 2023, in a Channel 7 Spotlight exposé, former 60 Minutes presenter Charles Wooley took viewers into the heart of Tasmania’s breathtaking Tarkine Rainforest to expose the looming threat.
“Tasmania still has an ancient rainforest that has long since disappeared from most of the world. Yet, in my lifetime, much of it has vanished. The Tarkine, a half-million hectares of primeval giant forest, stunning rivers and mountains has miraculously survived. Until now,” says Wooley.
Raised in Tasmania, Wooley emphasises the urgency to witness and protect this “last inspiring stand of temperate rainforest” before it’s too late, dubbing the battle to save the Tarkine as potentially “Australia’s next Franklin River.”
You can view the program below.
Howard says, “Our utilitarian approach to nature has to change. We need to adopt the very best principles of stewardship and custodianship of our natural world.”
“Our natural world is not infinite. We’ve done great harm to our planet through not managing our natural world responsibly. It requires political leadership. We have an enormous responsibility to future generations to get these things right. Our carelessness is now coming back to haunt us with accelerating climate change and species decline.”
“We have to ask ourselves, ‘whether the wealth we gain is worth the wealth we lose’.”
SHANE HOWARD RETURNS TO TASMANIA
Shane Howard returns to Tasmania and the Tarkine towards the end of June and will also perform three intimate acoustic concerts in Launceston (29/6), Hobart (30/6) and a very special concert at the Paragon Theatre in Queenstown, on the West Coast, on July 1st to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the High Court decision to save the mighty Franklin River, along with campaigners from the Franklin River blockade.
Thu, Jun 29 @ 8:00PM Royal Oak Hotel, 14 Brisbane St, Launceston, TAS
Fri, Jun 30 @ 7:30PM Republic Bar, 299 Elizabeth St, North Hobart TAS
Sat, Jul 1 @ 6:00PM The Paragon Theatre, 11 McNamara St, Queenstown TAS
Tickets and more info here: Shane Howard – Dates
Goanna’s ‘takayna’ is out now on the independent Goanna Arts label through MGM
Buy/stream here: https://ffm.to/takayna
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GOANNA KICK OFF NATIONAL ‘SPIRIT OF PLACE’ 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR THIS WEEK!
