Personal Life
In the early 1970s John Williamson was living in Leichhardt and met Mary-Kay Price, her parents had farmed on Tulloona Plain between Moree and Goondiwindi, her father was a World War II soldier-settler. In 1973, Williamson married Mary-Kay on her parents' farm. The couple have two daughters, Ami and Georgie. Ami recalled "hen Dad was away, he was really away". Over his career Williamson has written some love songs for Mary-Kay including "Little Girl from the Dryland". According to Williamson, Mary-Kay preferred travelling overseas, "she doesn't have fond memories of the bush. She'd rather go to France or Vienna or something, than go back out to the bush". On 23 April 2007, after more than 30 years of marriage, Williamson and Mary-Kay divorced. A couple of years before the marriage ended, Mary-Kay accused Williamson of not spending enough time with her at home in Sydney when not on tour. Williamson admitted that he preferred Springbrook in south-east Queensland to unwind and get inspiration for new material.
Following his marriage break-up, Williamson formed a relationship with a new partner, Meg Doyle, who organises some of his activities. The couple live in Springbrook or their Sydney apartment. His daughter, Ami, is also a musician, who has toured with Williamson. In early 2008, she toured Australian Defence Force bases in Iraq and Afghanistan to play to troops: she appeared on two episodes, "Show of Force", on Australian Story (May 2008) describing the tour. Williamson also appeared on the same episodes he had advised his daughter "to sing stuff that's going to be good for the boys". Ami explained her motivation for going "I've got, you know, a history of entertainers in my family ... have performed for the military, my dad has, so I feel like I've taken the baton, which is cool".
Williamson has stated in interviews that he does not like cats because of their lazy, selfish and sometimes destructive behaviour. "Bill the Cat" from Warragul is a humorous presentation of a serious message that points out the damage that feral cats do to wildlife.
His middle brother Robin died of cancer in 1999. Williamson's 2002 album "Gunyah", in particular the track "Salisbury Street", was dedicated to Robin. Salisbury Street was the location of their second home in Quambatook.
Read more about this topic: John Williamson (singer)
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