Paul Kelly visits WA jail for classes on ‘methods to make gravy’

When Paul Kelly heard a model of his poignant music How To Make Gravy sung within the western desert language of Pitjantjatjara and English, he cherished it.

So when he acquired an invite to go to the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison, in Western Australia, the place they recorded the duvet of his music, the legendary singer-songwriter accepted.

Kelly listened to prisoners carry out some songs earlier than enjoying a couple of tunes, together with fellow musician Jess Hitchcock.

‘Without music, life can be a mistake’

"Music is what’s an effective way of simply being collectively. When you make music with somebody, it is one thing that you just could not do by your self."

Musician Chris Edmondson and jail schooling employees labored with inmates to launch their model of How To Make Gravy on December 21, 2022.

The date is named ‘gravy day’ due to the second line of the music – a love letter residence from a prisoner lacking Christmas along with his household.

"Music is a common language and a superb instance is their recording of the music – there’s a few totally different languages in there, however the feeling nonetheless comes throughout," Kelly mentioned.

"Music actually builds bridges. It goes by means of partitions. It goes by means of the air. It goes all world wide."

"I feel with out music, life can be a mistake," Kelly mentioned.

‘It helps us inform our tales’

Prisoner schooling campus supervisor Cassie Tasker says music was a gateway for inmates to hitch extra teaching programs.

"The guys are very gifted naturally in music, so it is an actual confidence booster for them and it is a means for them to share tradition, to share tales, to share their their items, their abilities, and the music program."

"It’s a strategy to bridge gaps."

Kelly invited one of many inmates to carry out How to Make Gravy with him on the jail.

"You go to a particular place whenever you play guitar," the prisoner mentioned.

"It’s like mentally and bodily it helps with every little thing."

"In jail it helps us inform our tales – to the younger ones on the market and our households. It performs a really huge half in Aboriginal tradition."