Lake Hawea children's songwriter Anna van Riel will find out this Sunday if her song 'If you were a tree' will take out best Children's Song at the Australian Songwriters Association awards in Sydney. Uncannily, the Australian Awards fall on the very same day as the NZ Children's Music Awards at Spark Arena in Auckland.
Written with Kiwi songwriting legend Arthur Baysting (1947-2019), it is particularly meaningful that this song has made it to the ASA finals this year. Arthur Baysting was the founder of Kiwi Kids Music, a charitable trust growing children's music in NZ, where Anna currently sits as chair.
"To have our song celebrated in Australia on the very same day as the NZ Children's Music Awards, which Arthur worked so hard to provide for our children's sector, is fantastic! I wish he were here to celebrate with all of us", Anna shares.
Anna has also been nominated in 3 other categories of the ASA's for her folk and bluegrass works. The awards ceremony can be streamed online this Sunday HERE from 7pm Sydney time.