Folk music has lost a legend. Ted Egan, who spent his life writing music to preserve the stories, traditions, and songs of the Australian outback, has died at the age of 93.
"It is with sadness, but also great pride that Nerys Evans and the Egan family marks the passing of our beloved partner, Dad, grandfather, great grandfather and best mate Ted Egan," his family have confirmed in a statement.
Born in Coburg, Victoria in 1932, Egan moved to Australia's Northern Territory when he was a teenager, and he never looked back. Visitors to his website took note of his simple, yet memorable introduction: "I am Ted Egan, an old bushy who lives in Alice Springs in the Centre of Australia."
But don't let Egan's humility fool you. Prior to taking up music full-time, Egan worked in the bush as a patrol officer, teacher, and public servant, much of it alongside Aboriginal communities. During those years, Egan's experience shaped the songs he would go on to write and record. The end result? More than 30 albums' worth of music that captured the essence of outback life, history, and the stories of First Nations people.
In 1969, Egan co-wrote the protest song, "Gurindji Blues," with Gurindji leader Vincent Lingiari during the Wave Hill walk-off, giving musical voice to a landmark land rights struggle. His music often doubled as a living archive, documenting characters, events and injustices that might otherwise have been lost with time.
Egan was also known for his famously unpretentious "instrument," a cardboard beer carton he used as percussion. ABC later described him as "a prolific folk musician, using only an empty cardboard beer carton as a percussion instrument alongside his own voice." It was a fitting symbol for an artist who believed powerful songs didn’t need to be elaborate.
His contributions extended far beyond music. Egan served as Administrator of the Northern Territory from 2003 to 2007 and was appointed first a Member, and then an Officer, of the Order of Australia for his service to Aboriginal people and to the community. He was later named an Australian Living Treasure by the National Trust.
His writing didn't stop at music, either. Egan penned an impressive 17 books, all of which pay homage to and capture the history of the land that he cherished so much.
Tributes since his death have emphasized the breadth of that legacy. Country musician Matt Scullion, who worked with him in recent years, remembered him as “my hero and good mate" and added, "Yes we will miss you Ted, long live the legacy of 'The Outback Song Man'."
From beer-box rhythms to protest songs and portraits of life in remote communities, Ted Egan spent his long career turning lived experience into music that remembered, recorded and respected the people and places of the Australian outback. That work now stands as his enduring songbook and a lasting record of the country he loved.
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