R.M.Williams partners with Thelma Plum to rerecord Aussie classic for new Xmas campaign

Heritage Australian brand R.M.Williams has launched its new Christmas campaign ‘Give Me Home’. The launch pays tribute to Australian singer John Williamson and his classic song ‘(Give Me A) Home Among the Gum Trees’ with award-winning Australian musician Thelma Plum lending her vocals to an exclusive cover.

Set against the scenic backdrop of Sydney Harbour, R.M.Williams marked the launch and hosted an exclusive holiday get-together on Bennelong Lawn on Friday 29 November.

The event included a performance by Thelma Plum who says there is a deep family connection with the song, which reminds her of childhood singalongs with her grandfather when he returned home from long days of farming work.

“My grandad would play guitar and the harmonica, and I would sit on the piano and I’d try to play along” Plum says. “It’s really exciting for me that I can record a version of this song that my family loves so much, it felt like this full-circle moment.”

R.M.Williams CEO Paul Grosmann says the campaign launch is a nostalgic nod to summers spent in Australia and he is proud to share it with a global audience: “It’s been almost five decades since John Williamson released the original ‘(Give Me A) Home Among the Gum Trees and we are proud to be partnering with such a talented musician like Thelma Plum.”

Plum’s fresh rendition of the song will play in all R.M.Williams stores over the festive season.

Accompanying the track, images and film from the campaign show scenes of a family running through kangaroo-filled paddocks, hanging sheets on a clothesline and quiet summer afternoons on the verandah of the family homestead.

Behind the scenes imagery and footage of the song’s recording also features alongside an interview with Plum on the R.M.Williams website. Plum can be seen in a pair of Victoria Boots, a long-standing favourite, with the silhouette regularly making an appearance in her on-stage wardrobe.

For Friday’s appearance, Plum stepped into a new, bespoke pair of boots, crafted from unique panels of deep red leather and rust-toned waxed suede, handcrafted in the brand’s iconic Adelaide workshop.

Amy Barnes, Head of Footwear Design for R.M.Williams says the Victoria Boot is an iconic Australian silhouette: “The Victoria Boot is one of our iconic rodeo boots. It’s a tough yet feminine boot. Hand stitched with incredible cut work detail. We’re thrilled that Thelma has connected with this style and proud to see her celebrating time-honoured Australian design and craftsmanship on stage.”

Friday’s event was held under the shade of Bennelong Lawn’s very own Gum Tree with a clothesline out the back and a marquee transformed into a quintessential Australian Home where guests were able to try on an Akubra for size.