A former CDU student - now an award-nominated national performer - has come back to campus and she’s literally singing its praises.
Shellie Morris, who has been branded the “Janis Joplin of Jingili” by The Australian’s music critic, was the main act at the University’s talent-packed Big O-Week Concert yesterday.
“It’s great to be back at school again”, she told the crowd of first-year and continuing students.
Shellie has played all around Australia and supported many bands including Yothu Yindi and Magic Dirt. She was nominated for Australia's Deadly Vibe Awards in 2002.
Arriving in Darwin in 1997, Shellie started busking in the Darwin mall. Overwhelmed by positive responses from the street, she enrolled in music studies at the University.
“For the first time I learnt how to focus on honing my skills and developing my craft as a singer songwriter”, she said.
The Big O-Week Concert showcased the very best of local talent with acts such as Neo, Flesh Petal and Danny Thomas taking the stage and wowing audiences.
The performance coincided with the arrival of the first wave of international students who were clearly impressed with the concert and the overall energy of the day.
Later in the day, we saw another side of Shellie, as she shared some of her struggles, challenges and successes is a one hour talk with students entitled ‘My Musical Journey’.
O-Week festivities conclude today with a continued range of fun, exciting and informative activities throughout the campus.
Visit the CDU Orientation Week website.