“Be proactive, don’t wait for inspiration, try lots of things, travel far and wide and experience as much as possible. We have no idea what the future holds, nor often even our own potential. Embrace the wider world, and don’t be denied.”

Donovan ‘Van’ Walker is a beloved, lauded singer-songwriter who has released many North-West Coast themed albums. He details his Tasmanian roots for Dream Burnie:

Donovan showing promise at Parklands High, 1994

We grew up on the outskirts of town near Romaine Reserve and I attended Brooklyn Primary, Parklands High and Hellyer College. A young rumman, I was a keen drawer, writer and basketballer and enjoyed many years as a junior playing at the Upper Burnie sports stadium with the mighty Burnie Tigers.

At the turn of the millennium I moved to Melbourne, narrowly surviving the apocalyptic Y2K tsunamis (that sandbags around the Tassie coast were hoping to contain) and landed in St Kilda. Amid practising Jews and fruit bats, I gradually infiltrated the vibrant music scene.

The first gig I played was at the Greyhound Hotel. I was billed as Don Walker, disappointing the few people who came along hoping to hear the famous songwriter of Cold Chisel. From then on I billed myself as Van Walker.

It's different for young people. Love it or hate it, most yearn to leave home regardless of where they're born and venture off into the wider world, especially those intending to make a living as a working musician. Burnie (and Tasmania as a whole) produce so many talented musicians of varied genres, but offer far too few working opportunities. At least that was my experience in the nineties. Perhaps it's different now.

I was fortunate to have had some formative English teachers who encouraged my writing. Helen Moore at Parklands High School and Marita Crombie at Hellyer College. I remember in high school being introduced to the poet Bruce Roberts on a school trip. It was enormously encouraging to meet an actual Tasmanian poet.

I also seem to recall speaking to a cheeky young Justin Heazlewood on this trip, who must have been all of two foot tall. Even giants were little once!

I still have family in Burnie and visit when possible, usually when I'm touring every other year. I also play in numerous Melbourne bands consisting of fellow Tasmanians: Tim Durkin, Johnny Gibson and my brother Callan Walker - we all play in the punkrocknroll group The Swedish Magazines.

I've written an unpublished novel based on anecdotes regarding Burnie and its characters, but I've never written a lot about it in song. I guess every song of mine is kinda a Burnie song, as I consider myself a Burnie boy.