Raise your glass wins 2017 Tamworth Songwriters Association ‘Anzac song’ contest

On Tuesday 24 January the Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) announced Paul Grierson and Chris Reiger as the co-winners of its “Anzac song” contest at the annual National Country Music Songwriting Awards in Tamworth.

Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson, wrote a personal letter congratulating Mr Grierson and co-writer Mr Reiger for their song Raise your glass.

“The song is perfectly crafted, speaking directly to us and the debt we owe these men and women whose service and sacrifice has done so much to deepen our understanding of what it means to be Australian.”

Dr Nelson said in both the song and the powerful video, the co-writers of the song paid tribute to generations of men and women who wear and who have worn the uniform of our three services.

“You have also evoked the sense of love, support and loss in families who have given so much for us.”

The Memorial Director also said he would look for the opportunity for the men to perform the song at the Australian War Memorial in due course as “both you and the song are worthy of a wide national audience.”

President of the Tamworth Songwriters Association, Duncan Hill, said the ANZAC section was one of the most popular sections this year in the TSA’s contest. 

“There were a large number of excellent songs that made it particularly difficult for the judges,” Mr Hill said.

The other four finalists in the category included “1950” by Laura Byrnes and Chloe Styler, “The Lost Soldier” by Peter Campbell & Brendon Walmsley, “Missing In Action” by Graham Rodger and “With Respect” by Brad Marks & Allan Caswell.

In his letter Dr Nelson also said that in the most powerful way, the winning co-writers reminded us that country music is in the end about the human spirit and the triumph of support of one another over everything else.

“You have done us proud.”

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nQyOm5u5_4