Salvos a hit with country music couple

She is known as the “grand lady” of Australian country music and her accomplishments are staggering – singer-songwriter, author, music producer and six-time Golden Guitar winner at the Australian country music awards, which she co-founded.

For five decades, Joy (Kirkpatrick) McKean OAM was the wife and manager of Australian music legend, the late Slim Dusty, who died in 2003, aged 77. 

Now in her 80s, Joy says the kindness of country people when the family was travelling and touring helped her truly appreciate the value of caring for others.

Joy says: “Travelling in the early days, when we were struggling, it was the people who had the least who were the most helpful. In areas where you couldn’t get fresh vegetables for the children, local people would drop in fresh produce and help in other ways. We found their kindness so inspirational.”

Joy and Slim (real name David Gordon Kirkpatrick AO MBE) went on to mentor many young country artists (with scholarships and many other training initiatives to continue in the future via the Slim Dusty Centre and Museum).

Salvo supporters

The couple also generously supported the work of The Salvation Army for well over 50 years.

Joy laughs when she recalls the audacity of a Salvation Army officer in Moree, more than 50 years ago, who was holding a street rally. He appeared one day at the door of their caravan and invited the couple to perform.

Joy says: “We had a lovely evening and that really tuned us into the Salvos. What the Salvos do is mind-boggling. We have always tried, even in our travelling, to support The Salvation Army. Once you’re fortunate enough to be able to do it, I think you should help where you can.”

With Joy’s support, Slim regularly performed at Salvation Army events and supported the Red Shield Appeal. He became the face and voice of the Salvation Army’s first Wills and Bequests program in 1993, and left a bequest to The Salvation Army in his Will.

Family connection

Their country-music star daughter, Anne Kirkpatrick, also supported the Salvos’ “Braver, Stronger, Wiser” campaign that saw 500,000 DVDs sent out free of charge to offer tools for managing depression to those facing hardship or disaster.

Asked to name a highlight in a lifetime of highlights, Joy says one of the greatest was watching Slim sing Waltzing Matilda as the closing act of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Joy says: “As Slim walked out, the roar, the enthusiasm and the electric feeling was just amazing. Slim’s connection with those people was very, very heart-warming. It was actually quite staggering!”