Book Launch: Freak Out by Tony Wellington (Noosa, QLD)

With special guest Katie Noonan

TONY WELLINGTON wears many hats! He was Noosa Mayor, is the author and photographer of some beautiful books, including the recently published WILD ABOUT NOOSA; he is a conservationist, artist, film-maker and musician. Too much talent for one person, I feel!!! Tony has released his first book on music. His era is the Sixties, but I think, in time, we will see more on later decades – there was just so much to fit into this book! The Sixties was the era when rock and roll really found its feet, and found its way into our homes via television, radio and recordings. Since then rock and roll music has been an integral part of our daily lives, no matter our age and taste. Music is our entertainment, inspiration, therapy, sustenance and often our best friend.

The era was by turns fab, groovy, cool, far out, way-out, hip, boss, outta sight, right-on and a blast, man: enough to make everyone freak out!

Freak Out is Australia’s coming-of-age story, of how we as a nation were dragged into global culture by the unstoppable momentum of rock and pop music. The sixties was an era of extraordinary change and earth-shattering events. The music scene responded with popular anthems that reverberated across the planet. What’s more, the gun was fired on a period of unprecedented musical innovation and creativity, the likes of which have never been repeated. Music spoke to young people in their own shared language, urging them to view themselves as decidedly separate from mainstream society – even suggesting they might ‘drop-out’ altogether. For a brief time, millions of young people across western culture actually believed they could successfully reinvent society. Liberation for pacifists, women, people of colour, homosexuals, students and the oppressed seemed to be just a short revolution away. There was no room for complacency or apathy in the face of the Cold War, Vietnam War, and the constant threat of nuclear annihilation. Australians may have been spared the fear of bomb blasts, assassinations and kidnappings; however, the ructions abroad invaded our national psyche, and the music that was generated in that milieu infiltrated Australian culture and transformed society forever.

Tony Wellington has worked in a broad range of creative arts fields and even dabbled in politics as the Mayor of Noosa Shire.

Tony is the author of Happy?: Exposing the Cultural Myths about Happiness, plus a history book, Noosa and Cooloola, and is co-author (with John Shand) of Don’t Shoot the Best Boy! The Film Crew at Work. He has also produced several photographic books, the most recent being Wild About Noosa. Over the years, Tony has provided articles, op eds and photographs for many newspapers, magazines and books.

Tony graduated from Macquarie University in 1976 majoring in Media and Communications, receiving a university prize for his media studies. For many years he worked on a freelance basis in the feature film and television industry as a scriptwriter, first assistant director, editor and director. He also lectured in media studies and film craft. He has had exhibitions of his quirky, super-realist paintings around Australia, and provided illustrations for book jackets and other publications.

Whilst living in Sydney, Tony ran folk clubs, hosted a radio show, wrote for music magazines and recorded and released his own music.

He has three grown children and lives in the Noosa hinterland with his wife.

AUTHOR TALK WITH WINE & CHEESE – AND A BIT OF MUSIC
LIMITED NUMBERS
THIS IS A FREE EVENT BUT BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL