|
|
 |
Country Unknown
| Country Unknown was the band that Ronnie Harrigan
formed in the 1960's in Cooktown. They first played at the old
Hayshed. In those days, they were called The Kookaburras. The
original members were Ronnie, Les Gibson, Paulie Gibson, Alan Hart,
Neville Gibson and Robbie Deemal. Other members included Gerhardt
Pearson, Bennett Walker, Derek Rosendale, Alvie Baird and Maxie
Wilcock. Various band members have come and gone but Ronnie kept up
the band until 1997. |
 |
It was with Country Unknown that most of the Black Image members
were fledged. Under the guidance of their father Ronnie and other
players including their cousin, Gerhardt, the boys of Black Image
embraced music and one by one started to perform with Country
Unknown. Gerhardt, a prominent Aboriginal leader, and Bennett
Walker, a national park ranger and musician from Mossman Gorge,
were mentors and major influences for the boys.
 Ronnie
remembers starting out, "Our instruments were simple and cheap.
I used to keep the band going to make it work. We'd have things
breaking down, problems with wires, we didn't have proper
electronic equipment. We'd get invited to shows - Cooktown races,
Laura races. We were the only band available around this country.
It was too much money to bring a band over from Cairns".
"We have a lot of stories - travelling to Coen, Laura, Wujal
Wujal. We had an old car and we'd get flat tyres. The people would
give us a call and make a booking. Most of the time we'd play
around here (Cooktown)".
 For a long time
Country Unknown was the only country music band in Cape York. The
band travelled all over the Cape and beyond, in pubs, music
festival, rodeos, shows, private events and other venues. Indeed,
the band became a very well known entity around the Cape.
Ronnie's musical talents and work in his band, Country Unknown, is
the ongoing inspiration for the men of Black Image.
|
|
