Ten iconic songs make Australian music history

Midnight Oil’s protest anthem Beds Are Burning is among the first 10 songs to be inducted into the National Songbook. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

By Helen Musa

Waltzing Matilda and Midnight Oil’s protest anthem Beds Are Burning are among the first 10 songs to be inducted into the National Songbook, a new initiative launched by APRA AMCOS and the National Film and Sound Archive.

Announced at a gala cocktail event at the NFSA in Canberra on Wednesday, the inaugural collection spans more than a century of Australian songwriting, from Banjo Paterson and Christina Macpherson’s traditional bush ballad Waltzing Matilda to The Presets 2007 dance anthem, My People.

To qualify for inclusion, songs must have been written or co-written by an Australian APRA member, have been released at least 10 years before consideration and demonstrate significant cultural impact in Australia.

The selection also includes Friday on My Mind, the 1966 international hit by George Young and Harry Vanda; Helen Reddy and Ray Burton’s feminist anthem I Am Woman (1971); and Beds Are Burning (1987), written by Midnight Oil members Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett and Rob Hirst.

Another landmark protest song, Treaty, written by Dr M Yunupingu and collaborators including Stuart Kellaway, Witiyana Marika, Peter Garrett and Paul Kelly, is also among the inductees.

The remaining selections reflect the breadth of Australian musical composition, including Ruby Hunter’s Down City Streets (1990), Neil Murray’s My Island Home (1987), made famous by the Warumpi Band and later recorded by Christine Anu, Peter Sculthorpe’s orchestral work Earth Cry (1990), and the score for the 1998 Australian film The Boys, composed by members of The Necks, Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck and Lloyd Swanton.

The inaugural collection will be preserved as a permanent digital archive, recognising songs and compositions that have made a lasting contribution to Australia’s cultural heritage.

APRA AMCOS chief executive Dean Ormston said the 10 songs could never tell the whole story of Australia, but together they offered an insight into the nation’s history, identity and values, while NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader said the collection reflected the remarkable breadth of Australian songwriting.

The launch also featured new interpretations of some of the selected works, including I Am Woman, performed by Deline Briscoe, music from The Boys by Emma Donovan.

The National Songbook can be viewed at nfsa.gov.au.

First published at Canberra City News, November 4, 2026

'An icon of Soviet space exploration': The Russian stray dog that beat humans into orbit

By Fiona Macdonald

In November 1957, Soviet scientists sent Laika on a one-way voyage, making her a tragic national hero. Nearly sixty years on, one scientist's son told the BBC about playing with her as a boy.

A lesser-known aspect of the Cold War space race involved Soviet scientists scouring the streets of Moscow for stray mongrels. Before the earliest human spaceflights, female canines were trained to undertake the highly dangerous journey – and on 3 November 1957, a dog called Laika was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, becoming the first ever living creature to orbit the Earth.

Sadly, though, Laika did not survive her voyage. The tragic part of her story is that the Soviets knew all along that hers would be a one-way trip. "Scientists then did not know how to return living creatures from orbit back to Earth," Prof Viktor Yazdovsky told the BBC's Witness History in 2017. "Everyone was very concerned for Laika. They knew that she would not return from her journey."

Yazdovsky's father Vladimir had been in charge of the medical side of the Soviet space programme, and Viktor recalled playing with Laika as a nine-year-old child shortly before her launch. "She was a very patient dog, very affectionate. She was easy to train. She was considered very clever. She had very expressive dark eyes… 

My father brought her to my granny's house, not far from Moscow, and my sisters and I played with her. Dad thought that she needed this experience of being at home before the flight."

Read full article here.

First published at BBC, November 1, 2026

Revealing the unsung hero of Everest climb

Tibetan actor Genden Phuntsok plays the title role as Tenzing Norgay, the Nepalese sherpa who climbed Everest
with Edmund Hillary Photo courtesy Canberra City News

He stood alongside Sir Edmund Hillary at the top of the world, but few know his story. Streaming columnist NICK OVERALL says the new film Tenzing puts the spotlight on the Nepalese Sherpa whose courage helped make history.

There have been a mountain of movies and TV shows made about conquering Everest over the years and yet none have properly explored the story of one of the most critical members in the history of expeditions to the earth’s tallest peak.

Many people know about the incredible feat of NZ mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and his team who in 1953 became the first to make it to the roof of the world. 

Far fewer, however, know about Tenzing Norgay, the Nepalese sherpa who helped them get there. He was 39 years old when he joined Hillary’s expedition to reach the top. Tenzing was instrumental in battling the fierce conditions of the mountain in order to set foot on the peak.

By the time of this journey he had already participated in six Everest expeditions, most notably the year before in which he made it 8598 metres up with explorer Raymond Lambert. Everest’s official height is 8848 metres.

The two had to turn back due to poor weather, low resources and exhaustion. 

For years Tenzing had dreamt of being the first to conquer the mountain and with Hillary he finally had the chance.

Now streaming on Apple TV Plus, Tenzing tells this remarkable story with a blockbuster budget.

Tibetan actor Genden Phuntsok plays the eponymous hero while Avengers star Tom Hiddleston plays Hillary.

For a long time there was some mystery that surrounded which of these two men was the first to officially take that first step on top of the mountain.

That’s because the team who made it to the top deliberately left it a mystery, saying they wanted the achievement to be remembered as a team effort rather than have it belong to any one individual.

Later in his autobiography, Tenzing did in fact reveal it was Hillary to go first.

However, with this new film audiences are treated to a new first: a thrilling, in-depth look at the man who may have been second on the top but without whom, the expedition never would have made it. 

First published at Canberra City News, November 1, 2026

George Michael's Faith guitar sells for £180k after auction row

By Katie Razzall and Helen Bushby

The guitar George Michael performed with in his 1987 Faith music video has sold for £180,000 at auction, after a row over the sale of memorabilia related to the singer.

The guitar was one of more than 30 items auctioned by Sworders from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, Michael's long-time personal assistant. The sale fetched a total of £238,000 excluding buyers' premium.

Bailey died in 2014 and the items were sold by her estranged husband Ian Belcher, who inherited them after her death.

Gerard Bailey, Siobhan's brother, told the BBC she "would be horrified at the prospect of the auction being held in her name and that her personal, cherished possessions are being sold off to the highest bidder". Belcher declined to comment.

Sworders chairman Guy Schooling said Belcher had been "nothing but delightful" during their interactions over the past two-and-a-half years.

"There are two ways of looking at this - it can be cashing in, or it can be a bit of a memorial and a tribute to Siobhan, and that's the way we've looked at it," he told BBC News.

The auction house billed the 32 lots, including signed photographs, invitations to events and presentation CDs and discs, as a "remarkable group of memorabilia from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, George Michael's long-time personal assistant and trusted confidante".

'Dishonourable and shameful'

Siobhan was in the process of divorcing Belcher when she died, but was legally still married to him. She did not leave a will.

Her brother claimed she had started to draw up a will shortly before she died, which would have left the items to her nieces and nephews, but it was not registered.

There is no suggestion that Belcher did not have the right to sell the items, because her estate legally passed to him when she died.

Bailey said if his sister had lived a few weeks longer, the items would not have passed to Belcher because he would not have been considered her next of kin.

In a letter to the auction house seen by the BBC, Bailey said the rest of the family considered the auction a "breach of [Siobhan's] privacy", adding that the use of her name was "disingenuous" and "wholly unethical".

He told the auction house that Belcher's "misuse of my sister's name" was "frankly dishonourable", and profiteering from the items was "egregiously shameful".

Bailey asked that the auction should not go ahead, or be in Belcher's name rather than Siobhan's.

The memorabilia on sale includes signed photographs of Wham! and George Michael on stage.
No photo credit could be found.

Siobhan Bailey began working as Michael's personal assistant in 1984, joining him in the year Wham! had their first number-one hit with Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

She remained his PA for 20 years, and her brother told BBC News she avoided the limelight and guarded the pop star's privacy, despite the attention of tabloid journalists hoping for stories.

"I think she was one of the few people George trusted and whose opinion he valued," Bailey said.

"She was always honest and straight with him. I guess that's why she stayed working for him for so long through the very, very good and not so good times."

The guitar was "a gift" to his sister because the singer "thought so much of her", he said.

The instrument had a key role to play in Michael's reinvention from teen pop idol to serious solo artist.

In the 1987 video for Faith, Michael - in ripped blue Levi's jeans, white T-shirt and black leather biker jacket - strummed the vintage acoustic guitar that he reportedly picked up in a shop in Los Angeles shortly beforehand.

Guitarist magazine recently billed it as "arguably the most famous Gretsch Synchromatic in the world".

The auction's biggest sales

£180,000 - The Rockabilly Rebel guitar from the Faith video, with original hardshell case and leather guitar strap

£7,000 - A Queen Five Live EP sleeve signed by Brian May, John Deacon, Roger Taylor, George Michael and Lisa Stansfield

£5,000 - A Faith Tour ring-bound itinerary from George Michael's 1988 world tour

£4,800 - A presentation CD of George Michael's Older

£4,500 - A gold disc of Wham!'s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

£4,200 - A gold disc of George Michael's I Want Your Sex

Other items on sale included a note written "with love and admiration" from Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, an official Wham! photograph signed "To Siobhan (Special...)", and an invitation to Ridgeley's 21st birthday party.

"I know she was proud of the various personalised gold and platinum discs she got, though she was very modest about it all," Bailey said.

Speaking before Thursday's auction, he said "she would never have consented" to it, adding that the sale "breaks my heart".

"I think she'd be devastated that something as personal as her Filofax [tour itinerary] and notes from George are up for grabs. It's just so tawdry and contrary to how she was," he said.

Siobhan died suddenly and unexpectedly of natural causes at the age of 56. 

According to her brother, she wanted the possessions to "have remained with her family and we would never have sold".

He accused Belcher of deciding "12 years after my sister's death to cash in".

Bailey acknowledged that Belcher had a legal right to sell the items but called it "disingenuous" that the sale was being promoted in her name.

George Michael grew up in Hertfordshire and shot to fame alongside Ridgeley in pop duo Wham! He went on to enjoy solo success with hits such as Faith, Careless Whisper, Father Figure, Outside and Fastlove. He died in 2016.

First published at BBC, October 29, 2026

Joan Collins, 92, is a 1960s fashionista in unearthed photo – and her sparkly tights are incredible

By Katie Daly

Lifestyle Writer

The Dynasty actress took to Instagram to share a throwback photo from the 1960s, in which she donned a Pucci mini dress and glittery tights

Dame Joan Collins has long been a fashion icon and the actress proved that her legendary fashion status goes back decades as she took to Instagram earlier this week with an unearthed photo from the 1960s.

"I always loved 60s style, and I often wore this Pucci dress. It was extremely comfortable and the sparkly tights were good too!" the Dynasty actress, 92, captioned the photo in which her thirty-something-year-old self lounged on a checked sofa in a blue printed mini dress.

The dress featured three-quarter-length sleeves and was cut above the knee, as per the style of the era. She also wore silver glittery tights, as referenced in her caption, and her makeup look featured heavy eye makeup, glossy lips and a pale complexion.

Her brunette locks had been swept up and featured a full fringe. She looked absolutely fabulous as she sipped a stiff drink on the rocks with her record player stationed behind her.

Joan's fashion rule

Joan has long been known for her glamorous style of dress, stepping out at red carpet premieres and glitzy evening events in elegant attire. When it comes to her look, the star has one non-negotiable.

"Everybody’s going to end up in jeans and T-shirts, which I think is tragic… I hate jeans. I hate them, they’re so unflattering," the star of The Stud told Vogue in 2019. 

"And I hate jeans with holes in the knees, or holes anywhere. I'm not keen on T-shirts with logos, either. I like to be comfortable, but I want to be elegant, too."

Her latest look

That isn't to say that the star, who has been married to producer and actor Percy Gibson, 61, since 2002,  exclusively wears skirts and dresses. In fact, just last week she stepped out with her husband to attend the M&S Sparks Launch at 180 The Strand in London.

The author of Prime Time and St. Tropez Lonely Hearts Club wore an all-silver outfit featuring tapered trousers, a satin cowl-neck top, and a longline herringbone coat. She accessorised with peep-toe white wedges and a black clutch.

Aside from her wardrobe, Dame Joan's youthful look is a result of her healthy and active lifestyle.

Dame Joan with her 61 year old husband of 24 years Percy Gibson

In a recent HELLO! exclusive Joan revealed that "if you feel good, you look good", saying that she exercises up to four times a week. "I think it's important, but it's not terribly strenuous anymore. You don't get legs like this if you don't!"

Of cosmetic surgery, Joan added: "I don’t believe in needles and things. I've never had Botox or anything in my face."

First published at HELLO!, April 26, 2026

The 2026 Red Cross Ball in Monte Carlo

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco were joined by their niece, Camille Gottlieb, as they presided over the 76th annual Gala de la Croix Rouge Monégasque (Monaco Red Cross Ball) in the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club of Monte-Carlo.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II

Also in attendance was Dame Shirley Bassey.

The Monaco Red Cross was founded by Prince Louis II of Monaco in 1948 and the first Monaco Red Cross Ball was held that same year, becoming one of the largest charity galas in the world, which is the culmination of the summer season in Monaco.

The Monaco Red Cross Gala is one of the most prestigious events in the Principality of Monaco. H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco will be presiding at this event and SOUL! Where legends come back will give an incredible concert at Salle des Étoiles.

The Monaco Red Cross is presided by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II. He is assisted by a 17 member Board of Directors nominated for 3 years by Sovereign Ordinance.

The Monaco Red Cross was created on 3 March 1948 by Prince Louis II. The same year, it was recognised by the International Committee of the Red Cross and admitted to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Monaco Red Cross National Society respects the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

First published at The Royal Watcher, July 18, 2026

Related site: Dame Shirley Bassey blog

‘Parky’ takes centre stage at British Film Festival

Parky in his heyday, surrounded by fans.

By Helen Musa

The opening film of the British Film Festival this Wednesday will be My Duchess, starring Joan Collins as Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, but as the 2026 event progresses, all eyes will be on a star of a very different kind, Sir Michael Parkinson.

The life and career of the veteran broadcaster will take centre stage in the world premiere of Parky, a documentary about the man who interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment, sport and politics.

Remarkably, it was co-directed by Australia’s Luke Mazzaferro with Englishman Luke Cornish (not ELK the stencil artist).

Three other films have Australian connections. Cynthia Erivo stars in Prima Facie, adapted from Australian playwright Suzie Miller’s award-winning play, in A Talent for Murder, Helen Mirren plays Patricia Highsmith, author of The Talented Mr Ripley in a script based on Joanna Murray-Smith’s play Switzerland, and the closing-night film is the Australian premiere of Elsinore, directed by Australian filmmaker Simon Stone.

When I catch up with Mazzaferro by phone, he has only just finished watching the final version of Parky, about the man who became one of Britain’s best-known television interviewers over a career spanning decades, earning a knighthood and the affection of millions of viewers.

An incredibly intelligent man, Mazzaferro tells me, Parkinson seemed equally at ease with Princess Anne, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm Fraser, Madonna and Tony Blair, although his personal leanings were perhaps most apparent when he interviewed Dr Jacob Bronowski, the scientist and presenter of the BBC documentary series The Ascent of Man.

It all about two years ago, when Parkinson’s youngest son, Mike Jr, approached the Australian team through a mutual friend, James Erskine, although much of the film has come together this year.

“It’s not a best-of clip show,” Mazzaferro assures me. Rather, the documentary peels back the layers to reveal the man behind the famous television personality.

Mike Jr had wanted the film to be made in Australia, and Mazzaferro believes there was good reason for that. Parkinson had a strong connection with Australia, where he lived for a time and felt a certain affinity with the underdog. As a working-class boy from Yorkshire, he recognised something of his own experience in Australian attitudes to class and regional identity.

Parkinson believed Australia was a more relaxed society, without the rigid class system he knew in Britain. As Mazzaferro recounts, Paul Hogan once put him right on that score, telling him, “We have it here but we hide it better.”

Nevertheless, Parkinson clearly felt at home here. He became the first non-Australian to deliver the official Australia Day Address.

“Mile told us his father’s show was a window into who he was,” Mazzaferro says, explaining how the filmmakers approached the vast archive of material available to them. They sifted through footage spanning more than 650 programmes and thousands of interviews to discover the questions and themes that repeatedly drew Parkinson in.

For Mazzaferro, the real achievement of the documentary is to show that those conversations revealed not only something about the people in the interview chair, but also about the man asking the questions.

Addiction fascinated him. Parkinson himself struggled with alcohol, and Mazzaferro says the filmmakers noticed how quickly he would steer conversations towards the subject when interviewing people such as Richard Burton, David Bowie and Naomi Campbell.

The complications of celebrity life were another recurring interest, explored in conversations with Goldie Hawn, Robbie Williams and Madonna.

His own family life also emerges as an important thread. Born in the South Yorkshire mining village of Cudworth, the son of a coal miner, Parkinson grew up between two powerful influences. His mother was determined that he would not end up in the pit village and introduced him to the movies, where he became fascinated by Fred Astaire. His father, meanwhile, instilled in him a love of sport.

The documentary suggests that the tensions between these influences helped shape a man who could command a television studio yet remain burdened by self-doubt.

That insecurity extended into his family relationships, seen in one revealing conversation with Tom Hanks, revealing about Parkinson’s relationship with his three sons than anything.

Despite his immense success, Parkinson apparently never entirely abandoned his youthful ambition to become a Hollywood star, although he was happy to make fun of the idea.

He was, Mazzaferro suggests, a man of contradictions, combining the assured manner of the celebrated interviewer with the insecurities of the working-class boy.

One fascinating thread is the longevity of his interviewing career. Parkinson spoke to both Bing Crosby and Michael Bublé. Well before the carefully managed publicity circuits, social media and the short soundbite, Parkinson excelled at the long-form conversation. At his peak, his program attracted as many as 15 million viewers per episode.

Parkinson was a devoted husband to Mary, although her own rise to prominence elicited envy.

His interests went well beyond television, into writing, sports journalism and radio, where hr presented Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 and hosted a long-running jazz program on BBC Radio 2.

“He ran the whole gamut,” Mazzaferro says.

The British Film Festival, Palace Electric Cinemas, October 28 to November 29.

First published at Canberra City News, October 27, 2026