I have made no secret of my love of Midnight Oil- Australian rock band legends.
It was 1986. My collection of cassette tapes was expanding. Most of my music collection was made up of songs taped off the radio or compilation hit tapes like:
“1982 – Out of the blue”
“1983 – The Hot Ones!”
“1984 – The Music” and “1984 – Hits Huge” (I must have earnt some good pocket money that year!)
“Choose 1985”
As some of my past school friends remind me, I also went through a Billy Joel stage as I wanted to progress my piano playing abilities to that of “The Piano Man.”
Alas, my piano playing never really reached that status, but musical tastes changed the day I saw the Midnight Oil clip “Short Memory” and the U2 clip “Pride”. My musical tastes changed overnight, and I purchased Midnight Oil’s “10,9.8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1” and U2’s “Unforgettable Fire”. They became constant companions on our holiday road trips and on my walkman.
Last night, Saturday 9th April, here on the Sunshine Coast, I have most likely watched Midnight Oil for the final time in concert. Our cynicism may suggest that we may see them again. Musical artists never retire and “the last tour” will become “for the last time” or “for one night only” another time.
Lead singer Peter Garrett, and all the other original members of the band, are in their 60s. They have battled ill health, COVID, injuries on stage and they have incredible energy for blokes in their mid 60s.
Their bows at the end of the concert last night confirmed in my mind that this is it.
As the stadium lights came on bright, as the melodic strains of indigenous singer Gurrumul (who also sadly has passed) began over the speakers, words on the screen on stage had the touching tribute to former Midnight Oil bass player “Bones” Hillman who passed away in 2020. I stood as the throngs of people filed passed me. I brought Belinda closer and I put my arm round her, closed my eyes and just said, “This is it.”
What do I have to thank the Oils for?
My Christian walk began a couple of years after I first purchased that Midnight Oil cassette tape. I began purchasing (or taping!) more of their music. I loved the teenage angst I could display as I pumped the music loud and screamed the lyrics to many of the Oils past and current hits.
It became more than the music for me though. I devoured the lyrics and made sure I always bought the albums or tapes with the lyrics attached. I became politically and socially aware through their music.
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow's cause,” (Isaiah chapter 1 verse 17).
The land Australia is the land they love, and I fell in love with Australia through their music. As Garrett said last night, “We love Australia and Australians wherever they are. We are always here for each other wherever we may be and whatever they are going through.”
They also made me want Australia to become a better place.
A place that cares about the proliferation of weapons of war and mass destruction around the world.
A place that cares for the environment. You only have to go overseas or travel this vast country to appreciate what we have and that it should not be destroyed but preserved. (NOTE: if you are a concert goer and cheer about your support of the environment and how we should protect it, please put your rubbish in the bin- Sunshine Coast, you can do better than that!)
A place that cares for indigenous Australians. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Australia’s colonial history is characterised by devastating land dispossession, violence, and racism. Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.
A place that cares for refugees and the displaced. For those who have come across the seas, we do have boundless plains to share.
In 1987, the band’s incredible album “Diesel and Dust” set me on a path towards God and my eventual short term mission trips to the Torres Strait and spending 4 years in Alice Springs teaching at an indigenous boarding school.
My move towards God and finding Jesus was a direct result of the evangelist John Smith (founder of Christian biker group God Squad) challenging my views on life and through the words of Peter Garrett. He said to me, “You like Midnight Oil? I’ve spoken with Peter Garrett. What does he say? What do you think he would say to you? “Who can stand in the way, when there’s a dollar to be made?” Pick me Lord! What about you?”
And that was part of my conversion experience and my life henceforth. It led me to become a teacher. It led me to strive to put people before programs. I wanted to promote Jesus’ teachings through how I lived my life, how Jesus lived his and I wanted to care about the things I really think Jesus would care about.
I don’t think I have ever been good at “playing church” or “being in church”. I want to be Jesus to those around me. I don’t think people really care how much I know, but I am sure they know how much I care.
I think this was the way of the Oils for so many years of my life as I watched, listened, observed, and read about what they did and believed.
I think this is what God expects of us. I think this is the way of Jesus.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah chapter 6 verse 8).
Jesus told us to bring justice by loving and caring for those around us. He told us to not neglect the poor and marginalised. According to Jesus, we do the work of bringing justice through our love and persistence.
As Garrett so eloquently said at the end, “Bring peace, love and kindness to each other and the world will be better. Australia will be better.”
Russell Modlin is in his 30th year as a Secondary English and Physical Education Teacher. He has taught in Mackay, Brisbane, Alice Springs and currently on the Sunshine Coast. He is married to Belinda (26 years) and they have three sons- 2 have finished High School, 1 to go!