Canterbury Bankstown’s very own Human Nature recognised in Australia Day honours
Human Nature, who had their humble beginnings at Panania, say it is a “very loving feeling” to be recognised for their services to the performing arts in the Australia Day honours.
HUMAN Nature, who had their humble beginnings at Panania, say it is a “very loving feeling” to be recognised for their services to the performing arts in the Australia Day honours.
All four members of one of Australia’s most successful musical imports, received a Medal of the Order of Australia, (OAM), fittingly as they celebrate their 30th anniversary this year.
Phillip Burton, Toby Allen and Michael and Andrew Tierney all studied together at Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Glenfield, where they formed their band, which saw four albums hit number one on the ARIA charts.
Human Nature, well known for their charity work in Australia, regularly rehearsed at the home of the Tierneys, whose mum Wendy also offered Allen a place to stay as he lived out in Richmond.
Wendy Tierney runs the highly-successful Talent Advancement Program (TAP) for Canterbury Bankstown Council.
“It feels very lovely and we are very humbled because this is something you don’t work for,” Phillip Burton told the Express from their Las Vegas base.
“This is very, very pleasing for us and very surprising too.
“It is lovely to be acknowledged for the stuff we done and the includes charity work as well.
“I was brought up in Liverpool and my mum, Edna, still lives in the same house in Orange Grove Estate.
“We all have close ties with Canterbury Bankstown because the council and community have been very proud of us and adopted us one of their own.
“Our first talent contest was at the Panania East Hills Club in 1992 and we also played at the Revesby Workers Club which have been very supportive of us like the council.
“If Michael and Andrew’s mum had not invited Toby to stay with them for four years and rehearse regularly together, I don’t think we would have made it.”
Burton, whose 11-year-old daughter Willow, has begun playing musical instruments, said they are very grateful to Sony Music Australia and its CEO Denis Handlin, “who have been huge supporters of us, having signed us 254 years ago”.
“We thank the people who nominated us for the honour,” Barton said.
“We are looking forward to our Australia tour in April and May.
They were originally known as 4 Trax but decided on a name change after signing their record deal.
“A whole bunch of names was written down before Michael thought Human Nature was the ideal one and we stuck with it,” Burton said.
Their albums include: Gimme Some Lovin’, The Christmas Album, Vegas: Songs From Sin City, A Symphony Of Hits, Get Ready, Dancing In The Street, Reach Out: The Motown Record, Walk The Tightrope, Human Nature, Counting Down, Telling Everybody.
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