Slim Dusty's widow states passive cig smoke in clubs killed him; will launch push for smoke-free hotels/clubs
Hoodude
January 18, 2004
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8416680%255E13780,00.html
PASSIVE smoking contributed to Slim Dusty's death, the country music
legend's widow, Joy McKean, says.
Dusty died last September after battling renal and lung cancer.
Although he quit smoking about 20 years ago, Dusty continued
performing in smoke-filled club auditoriums.
"I blame that for what happened to Slim," McKean says. "There was one
club where it was so bad we had to run into the dressing room, shut
the door and shove towels along the floor because we were choking."
McKean, who will launch a Cancer Council push for smoke-free hotels
and clubs in Tamworth today, says her husband was one of the first to
request smoke-free venues.
"People called him a wowser, but he stuck it out," she says.
"A lot of the younger performers can't kick up a row about this
because they're battling to get work as it is."
McKean and her children, Anne and David, will unite in Tamworth on
Tuesday for a tribute concert for their husband and father. The likes
of Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley will honour the Australian
icon.
"I'm going to try to keep it a celebration, because it's going to be a
tough night for me and the kids getting up there and singing Slim's
songs like we used to do," McKean says.
"It's not going to be sad, it's going to be a very, very happy night.
If we didn't have a lot of fun, I think Slim would be having something
to say."
McKean and Dusty were married in 1951 and soon began taking their show
around Australia, helping to carve out a national touring circuit.