Auriel Andrew facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Auriel Andrew OAM
Background information
Birth name	Auriel Marie
Born	1947 Darwin
Origin	Arrernte people
Died	2 January 2017 (aged 69) New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Aboriginal country
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Guitar

Auriel Andrew OAM (1947 – 2 January 2017) was an amazing Arrernte country music singer from Australia's Northern Territory. She won many awards for her music.

Her Life Story

Auriel Andrew was born in Darwin. She grew up in Mparntwe, Northern Territory. Her family belongs to the Arrernte people, who are the Traditional Owners of Alice Springs. Her special skin name was Mbitjana. Her totem, which is like a spiritual symbol, was the hairy caterpillar.

Auriel was the youngest of seven children. She started singing when she was only four years old. When she was 21, she moved to Adelaide, South Australia to start her music career. She worked with famous singer Chad Morgan. Auriel also appeared on live TV music shows. These included programs hosted by Roger Cardwell, Johnny Mack, and Ernie Sigley. She became a regular on Channel Nine's Heather McKean & Reg Lindsay Show. In 1973, she moved to Sydney. She toured with another famous singer, Jimmy Little. They performed in many clubs and pubs across New South Wales.

Her Music Career

In the 1970s, Auriel Andrew was a regular guest on popular TV shows. These included The Johnny Mac Show, The Reg Lindsay Country Hour, and The Ernie Sigley Show. Her first album was called Truck Driving Woman. It came out in 1970. This was only the second album ever released by an Indigenous woman in Australia.

Auriel performed at the Sydney Opera House when it first opened. She also sang "Amazing Grace" in the Pitjantjitjara language for Pope John Paul II. This happened during his visit to Australia. Some of her most famous songs are "Truck Drivin' Woman" and Bob Randell's "Brown Skin Baby". She performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and the Woodford Dreaming Festival. She also sang regularly at clubs in the Newcastle area.

Auriel appeared in a special TV show called Buried Country: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music. This was an SBS documentary from 2000. In it, she sang "Truck Driving Woman". She also appeared in short films like BeDevi and Hush.

Auriel Andrew was part of a stage show called Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word. This show was written by English artist Christopher Green. She performed in it at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2007. She also appeared in Melbourne in 2011. Auriel was also on several Australian TV shows. These included A Country Practice, Blue Heelers, Playschool, and the mini-series Heartland.

Her 2013 album, Ghost Gums, featured new songs. These songs were about her own life and her childhood. For 20 years, Auriel taught Aboriginal culture in classrooms. She shared her knowledge in schools in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and New South Wales. In 2016, she joined the cast of the stage version of Buried Country. This show first opened in her hometown of Newcastle.

Awards and Honours

Auriel Andrew received many important awards for her music and community work.

• In 2008, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Deadly Awards 2008. This was for her great contribution to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander music.
• In 2011, she was given the Order of Australia Medal (OAM). This award recognized her work as an entertainer. It also honored her help to communities through charity events.

Her Passing

Auriel Andrew passed away from cancer on January 2, 2017. She was 69 years old. She died in Hunter Valley Private Hospital in Shortland, New South Wales.

Her Albums

• Truck Driving Woman (EP) (1970)
• Just For You (Nationwide, 1971)
• Chocolate Princess (Opal Records, 1982)
• Mbitjana (Imparja, 1985)
• Ghost Gums (2013)

More Awards

• 1991 Tamworth Hands Of Fame
• 2005 NT Indigenous Music Awards: inducted into the hall of fame
• 2008 The Deadlys: Jimmy Little Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Music
• Order of Australia Medal 2011 (Hunter Region) for contribution to art, music and education.

See Also

In Spanish: Auriel Andrew para niños