Episode 12
Emerging from the Cave: Over the Sand Dunes
In this final episode Maggie’s inner parts step tentatively into hope after decades of trauma, silence and survival. The music begins with cautious curiosity as her dissociated personalities peek out from their protective “cave” , some eager, some fearful. Together they encourage one another slowly embracing the warmth, safety and freedom of the outside world once thought unreachable.
Gentle harmonies flute and oboe in the high registers reassure doubting parts voiced by staccato bass clarinet and bassoon. The French horn invites them to breathe and savor the present. As they crest the symbolic sand dunes the full orchestra swells, strings shimmer like ocean waves, piccolo and flute soar like seabirds and the music bursts into joyful gratitude.
This is more than beauty, it is home. Not a place but a state of being whole unashamed and at peace. For the first time Maggie and her parts are not just surviving but living. The piece ends with unified celebration, a rapturous declaration that hope is real and freedom is theirs. If her music gives even one listener a glimmer of that hope she says the journey has been worth it.
Producer: Zoe Carides, Narrator: Murray Cook, Producer: Dr Jan Ewing & CorriLee Foundation's Jess Brain
Murray Cook | Musician, former school teacher and the original Red Wiggle
Murray Cook was born in Cowra in rural NSW and spent most his teens in Orange NSW where, after discovering Beatles, he developed a passion for music and performance that has been a huge part of his life. He pestered his parents to buy him a guitar at age 11 and from that time on became obsessed. He played with various groups of like-minded friends in new wave bands, The Transistor and Finger Guns, in the heyday of the Sydney pub scene of the 80s. This apprenticeship served him well in his later career.
At the end of the 80s, after deciding that music was not going to earn him a living, he studied early childhood education at the Institute of Early Childhood at Macquarie University. He met the future members of The Wiggles and after a brief time teaching he and the other Wiggles recorded an album and hit the road. The Wiggles became a huge success both in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. They produced many TV series for the ABC and a feature film in 1997. They have won many ARIA awards in the Childrens’ category and recently won best live act for their OG Wiggles tour playing to their now grown original audience. They are also members of the ARIA Hall of Fame, were awarded the Order of Australia and have honorary doctorates from Macquarie University. Murray retired from touring and performing with The Wiggles in 2012 but still occasionally joins the current line up on stage as well as tours and performances with the OG Wiggles.
Since 2012 he has pursued many and varied projects. He was guitarist with Inner West stalwart John Kennedy’s band for ten years, appearing on five albums. For the last nine years he has been writing and performing with his music partner Lizzie Mack, recording five albums to date with their band, The Soul Movers They perform extensively around Australia and are festival favourites at events such as Splendour, Nannup, Thredbo Blues Festival, Newtown Festival and St Kilda Blues Festival