This
Easter at the National Folk Festival in Canberra,
I was very fortunate to catch Jeanette Wormald’s
performance when she premiered her production Horizons
and Heartlands. Jeanette comes from the northern
Mallee district of South Australia where she and
her husband Dean are grain farmers. Horizons and
Heartlands aims to acquaint us with this area through
words, music and a changing backdrop of associated
images.
Jeanette
has a warm, confident and engaging stage presence.
She took us with her on a delightful hour-long journey
of discovery. It was soon apparent that we were
in the company of someone to whom the Mallee area
is significant and very special. “The more open
your heart and mind to it,” she explained, “the
more you understand.” This sentiment was also expressed
in her song To The Mallee Born, when she sang about
a country that “takes your heart and soul”. But,
she informed us, it is also a country that comes
with certain responsibilities. Through the original
songs featured in Horizons and Heartlands, Jeanette
shared her love for the Mallee and how this area
must be carefully maintained.
The
upbeat song If This Ain’t Country effectively served
to establish Jeanette’s credentials. Her thoughtful
and clearly articulated comments between each song
were enlightening. I felt as if this is what it
would be like to walk with her through her beloved
Mallee. Walking across a landscape is, in my opinion,
the best way to learn and understand more about
the area you are traversing. Jeanette obviously
subscribes to a similar belief. In her song Acres
of Blue she is walking.
“As
I walk these limestone ranges
Seeking out your history
I can hear in distant whispers
Your ancient spirit speak to me.”
The
imagery in this song and others demonstrates the
close relationship she has with the landscape. Her
acute observation and willingness to listen have
led her to a greater awareness and understanding
of, as well as a deep respect for, her environment.
Despite
indigenous inhabitants of her area no longer being
present, Jeanette acknowledged in Horizons and Heartlands
the importance of their presence in the history
of the area. The sensitivity expressed in the song
Walk With Me comes from her work with neighbouring
indigenous people. Just as an understanding of the
land can start with a walk, Jeanette uses this same
idea metaphorically when it comes to learning from
and about people.
The
represented history of Australia has been male dominated
up until recent years. This is also true when discussing
farming practices. What makes Horizons and Heartlands
so relevant and refreshing was the opportunity we
were afforded to hear first hand from the experiences
of a woman farmer who is also working in sustainable
farming practices. The consequences of a woman expressing
an opinion in what was traditionally considered
a male domain was explored by Jeanette in the song
Tall Poppies.
The
festival production included a selection of nine
of Jeanette’s songs. They were used to celebrate
the Mallee, which in Jeanette’s own words, “is a
magnificent, ancient living landscape that can teach
us so much about this whole nation.” These songs
were beautifully presented by Jeanette, whose warm,
expressive vocals were a delight to hear. Besides
her own sensitive guitar playing, she was assisted
by John Bridgland’s tasteful guitar and mandolin
accompaniment.
The
organisers of the National Folk Festival are to
be commended for their inclusion of Horizons and
Heartlands in this year’s programme. |
