Earlier this year, celebrated country music star Melinda Schneider released the track 'My Voice' which was inspired by #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.
"I hope my song will help end the conspiracy of silence," Melinda says, who co-wrote the song with fellow Australian country artist Tamara Stewart and Nashville songwriter Clay Mills almost two years ago.
A song for the silenced, 'My Voice' speaks to anyone living in fear and shame, who have kept their secrets to themselves for far too long.
With a career that has spanned two-plus decades, six Golden Guitars and eleven studio albums, Melinda will this weekend venture to the Sunshine Coast to play Gympie Music Muster (23-26 August), alongside other headliners Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar Daley, John Williamson, Ian Moss, Beccy Cole and whole lot more.
Melinda, who has a five-year-old son, shares some of his funny sayings. "I've been collecting my five-year-old son Sullivan's funny sayings over the last year, writing them down each time he comes out with a corker – otherwise I will forget them. They are priceless and I am a lucky mummer."
1. Imagination is everything
"Mummy, is it sunny outside?'" Me: "No, look outside, it's very, very cloudy." Sully: "That's because people are smoking up in heaven!"2. They love unconditionally
"Mummy I love you more than anything... even cupcakes!"3. He’s such a joker
Sully: "Mummy, there are only two bosses in this house... daddy and me." Me: 'OK boss, now go and clean your teeth!"4. Charm helps
Sully: "Mummy, come here, I want to show you something." Me: "Just a sec darling, I'm doing something on my laptop." After calling me a couple more times and me telling him to wait, he walks over and whispers in my ear: "Come here beautiful lady." OK, now he has my attention; that worked.5. Little boys are intrinsically good
Sully: "Mummy, I think I want to be a firefighter when I'm a man." Me: "Why a firefighter?" Sully: "I really wanna help people." Me: "Why do you feel you'd like to help people?" Sully: "I Want to be helpful." Made my heart melt. Now if I can just get him to help me pick up his toys.6. They don't care about appearances
On hearing me say "I really must do something about this tummy!" Sully: "No mummy, don't lose your tummy!" as he cuddles into it as if to protect it from harm. "Why not?" I say. "I love it, it's big and squishy and cuddly." "How does it make you feel when you cuddle my tummy?" I ask. "Happy," he says with a smile.It hit me today how much more important Sully's opinion of my tummy is than anyone else's including my own; for him it means comfort and love. He teaches me stuff all the time.
