Bronze tribute to a golden era talent - Mo McCackie

 

MO McCACKIE has been reborn right across the road from where he was born in 1891.

 

A life-sized statue of Australia's most iconic comic, Roy Rene, was unveiled yesterday (March 04, 2010) on Hindley Street, Adelaide, South Australia.

 

Roy "Mo" Rene was known to all Australians in the early to mid-20th century. His fame was achieved on stage, in vaudeville and on radio and his name lives on in Australian theatre's annual Mo Awards.

 

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison declared Mo's arrival in Hindley St, after years of negotiations and perserverance by the West End Traders' Association, to be "the greatest joy" of his time as mayor.

 

He said Mo was a "true symbol" of Aussie culture and the West End had a richness of history that went beyond bars.

 

A carpark now stands where Mo was born as Henry van der Sluys, son of a Dutch Jewish cigar-maker. His career took off after he won a singing competition at the Adelaide market.

 

~ SAMELA HARRIS - The Advertiser (News Paper) and adelaidenow.com.au March 05, 2010