When Troy Cassar-Daley first came to Tamworth as a child, he never dreamed he would one day be on the Roll of Renown.
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While the plaques, which featured the greats of Australian country music, were an attraction for the Grafton boy, the idea that he could be one of our greatest himself was unimaginable.
But now it is a reality.
One of our much-loved artists was named the latest inductee to the Australian country music Roll of Renown at Saturday night’s Golden Guitar Awards.
It was a big night for the star, who also picked up the Album of the Year Golden Guitar.
On Sunday morning, the plaque was officially unveiled outside TRECC.
“We’re in such beautiful company,” Troy said after the unveiling, with his plaque included on the biggest rock alongside the earliest inductees.
“I’m right near Reg Lindsay and the McKean Sisters.
“I remember coming to these rocks when I was very, very young, and we would walk around and take all these photos with our box brownie cameras.
“I think I used half a roll, just here on the rock when it was over near 2TM, and it was just amazing to see how many of my heroes were on there.
“And to be near them is something I never would have dreamed of,” he said.
While Cassar-Daley first came to Tamworth as a fan, he was later a busker, then a recording artist before going onto become one of our most awarded country stars.
The honour was announced at the Golden Guitars, by Joy McKean, who was on stage alongside another industry veteran, Max Ellis.
“To see the excitement she had, I thought she obviously likes who she’s going to read out here,” Cassar-Daley said.
“I was thinking, I wonder who will be on this you, because last year was someone who was quite younger with Graeme Connors, and with Lee on there as well, obviously I knew they were aiming for some younger people, but I never thought for a minute it would be me.”
The audience at the Golden Guitars rose in a standing ovation for the popular singer, who got emotional on stage when thanking everyone who had supported his career. There were a lot of fans gathered around the rocks to see the plaque on Sunday and to congratulate Cassar-Daley.
“If it wasn’t for these people, who are like a big extended family, supporting you, I mean you wouldn’t have a job. All the towns, and the people who come and support your shows, you have to be thankful for it.
“To be liked by the people in the crowd like that is a really big thrill and it’s lovely to see all their faces.”
He also paid tribute to the role his wife Laurel Edwards had played in his long career, as well as his family.
“Having a family back home in Grafton is really important, the humility of my family is something I have carried with me all my life. They never let you get a big head.”
Cassar-Daley is the 50th artist to be added to the Roll of Renown, which has been inducting country music’s greats since 1976.
