A celebration of the 80th anniversary of the 1946 Pilbara Aboriginal station workers strike
Honouring one of Australia’s great untold stories - the Pilbara Aboriginal station workers strike of 1946, with around 800
people involved in a walk off that affected over 20 pastoral stations. The strike is often recognised as one of the longest running industrial actions in Australian history, coming 20
years before Wave Hill, and a highly influential event in Australia’s Land Rights movement.
Headlined by Shane Howard, who returns to WA to perform with his Great Western band – featuring Fremantle favourites Lucky Oceans, David Hyams, Roy Martinez and Todd Pickett.
Shane is well known as a long time supporter of Aboriginal rights and his work has endeared him to Aboriginal Australia. His iconic song “Clancy and Dooley and Don McLeod” inspired
by the strike, will be performed along with Goanna classics like “Solid Rock”.
The show also features a special collaboration between David Milroy - a Paylku man with family connections to the Pilbara, Dave Johnson, and the show’s musical director David
Hyams, with songs connected to the strike and the Pilbara region.
The Yurti band from Strelley station in the Pilbara combine blues and desert rock in their Nyangumarta language, sharing stories about their land, culture, and traditions. Strelley was at the forefront of the Strike and settled in 1976 by the
strikers and their families.
Barry ‘Turtle’ Taylor is an up and coming Pilbara singer songwriter who has just returned from the 2026 Tamworth country music festival. The grandson of Peter Coppin, one of the key figures of the strike, he honours his family connection and the legacy of the strike with songs and stories that celebrate heritage, resilience, and community.
The music will be complimented by stories and truth telling from members of the striker families and others with connection to the strike.
EARLYBIRD AND CONCESSION TICKETS AVAILABLE – for details see:
https://www.moshtix.com.au/.../remembering-the-strike/191186
Media contact:
Ross McCallum
0409 899 867
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Also check out other Music events in Fremantle, Entertainment events in Fremantle, Festivals in Fremantle.
