Join us for a very special event on Channel 44 and CTV+ when we bring you the 2023 Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia.
Premieres Sunday 9 July at 7pm on Channel 44
or catch up on-demand at ctvplus.org.au
The 2023 oration ends with a video of First Nations musician Rob Edwards performing We Shall Overcome, recorded by the C44 production team.
Beautifully shot by Brad Halstead with sound by Victor Ivchenko, edited by Clare Elvia and produced by Lauren Hillman, the video captured Rob Edwards’ soulful performance of the civil rights anthem, leading a singalong which has become tradition at the end of the annual oration.
Notably, the song was performed on former premier Don Dunstan’s own piano at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, in a fitting nod to Dunstan’s long-held respect and admiration for Dr O’Donoghue and her work.
Rob Edwards is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who combines his passion for culture, his Indigenous roots and his family’s story through the stolen generation, with heavy influences of new-wave soul makers.
Dr O’Donoghue famously led singalongs to We Shall Overcome following previous orations. However, Dr O’Donoghue’s advancing years now prevent her from participating and Rob Edwards was asked to record the song, to be played following Mr Albanese’s oration at the University of Adelaide‘s Bonython Hall, and the audience in attendance upheld the tradition and joyfully sang along.
Image: Creative Commons
