John Williamson (b. 1945), singer songwriter, was born and raised in Victoria's Mallee region. In 1970 he scored a national number one and a Gold Record with the first song he ever wrote - "Old Man Emu." In the years since he has released 32 albums, won 20 Golden Guitars at Tamworth, and received 2 Arias for Best Australian Country Record. Among his greatest hits are "True Blue" - first recorded in 1982, and used as part of the Federal Government's Australian Made campaign in 1986 - and the protest songs "Rip, Rip Woodchip" and "A Flag of Our Own" - a song that saw Williamson banned from several country RSL clubs. In 2000 he performed before a worldwide TV audience at the Sydney Olympics. He is a member of the Order of Australia and in 1997 was inducted into Australian Country Music's Roll of Renown.
