Don Henderson was one of the first in the Australian folk revival to
take up the pen to write about things happening around him, in the
cities, the mines, the building industry, the maritime industry. He
took up 'issues' too with many anti-war songs prominent in his work.

Although Don died in 1991 a number of his songs found a new use
particularly in opposition to the Iraq War and in the struggle to
protect Rights at Work. In 2003 three of Don's songs were featured on
the Maritime Union of Australia centenary CD 'With These Arms'. Don's
work shows that he was a crosser of musical boundaries, folk, country,
rock, blues, rock opera and talking blues.

A striking example of the continued popularity and spread of Don's
songs is that in early 2003 at a New York peace concert, protesting
against the looming war in Iraq, Dan Zanes (2007 Grammy Award winner
for Best Musical Album for Children) sang Don's Vietnam War song
'Boonaroo'.

Sally Henderson and Mark Gregory set up the Don Henderson Project to
begin the process of producing an up to date selection of Don's songs
on CD and introduce his songs to a new generation of the folk song and
labour movements in Australia and elsewhere.

The project is established under the auspices of the Queensland Folk
Federation. The project has the support of many singers of Don's
songs: Gary Shearston, Alex Hood, Helen Rowe, Dave de Hugard, Danny
Spooner, Tommy Leornard, Anne Bermingham, Bill Berry, Griff Bignell
and Craig McGregor.

The Don Henderson Project is funded through a sponsorship system
whereby a donation of $150 entitles the donor to 3 of the double CDs
when they are published as well as being named in the CD booklet (
more info at http://donhenderson.com.au/sponsor.html ). To date the
sponsorship has raised more than $4000 from individuals, folk clubs,
folk festivals, folk federations and union and labour history branches
and even a foundation.

We are getting close to our target, but hope this update will
encourage further sponsorship!

Please visit the website at http://donhenderson.com.au/ to read more
about the Don Henderson Project and download a sponsorship form.

best regards

Mark