Rock legend recognised for his work with students

ROCK legend and former Cold Chisel drummer Ray Arnott was honoured with a surprise tribute performance during Ballina Coast High School’s NAIDOC Week assembly.

Students performed his song Flaming Heart with Arnott joining in, and traditional dances also featured in the celebration.

Arnott, who has worked with hundreds of kids through music lessons and his role as an Indigenous youth worker, said he had no idea what was planned.

“They got me, it was a nice surprise,” he said.

“I remember what I was like as a young person and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to work with so many kids.

“Any volunteering I’ve done has always just been my way of giving back to the community.

“I enjoy it, it makes me valued that I’m still able to reach people through music.”

Arnott has a long legacy in the Australian music industry, having performed or recorded with Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, Spectrum and the Dingoes.

He was Molly Meldrum’s session drummer, working with John Farnham, Colleen Hewitt, Normie Rowe and Olivia Newton John, and played with ACDC in Bon Scott’s final Australian gig.

He toured extensively with Jimmy Barnes and co-wrote a track for the Bodyswerve album in 1984.

In more recent years, his passion has been helping vulnerable young people and Aboriginal kids living with trauma.

He worked with DOCS before joining the NSW Department of Education as a teacher aide in a primary school support unit, and in 2014 received an Aboriginal Education Achievement Award.

Although he officially retired five years ago, Arnott still volunteers in the Ballina community.

Every week he visits the Jarjum Centre preschool to write and sing songs with the children, and for the past 18 months he has helped run the Hip Hop Music Therapy program at Ballina Coast High with retired principal Ian Davies.

The program includes masterclasses, hip hop songwriting and workshops for support unit students.

“I volunteered at a youth hostel at Coffs Harbour once I finished playing with Jimmy Barnes,” Arnott said.

“I met a lot of Bundjalung people through that and found that music was my conduit to young people.”