Listen to The Ballad of William Luke
Pictured (left)

What's the story behind the song?

My Great Grandfather, William Luke, emigrated with his parents from Redruth, Cornwall but grew up in Truro, South Australia and following the death of his father he joined the military as a way of making ends meet. This took him to Taranaki where he fought against the Maori, and later became a military settler. After marrying Ellen Sole he became a dairy farmer. Despite being an experienced settler, he went one day to the back of the farm to cut a slip rail and was killed by a falling branch. Described as "industrious, genial, and social in his habits" in his obituary, he was greatly missed, not least by Ellen who was left to raise 6 children. She never remarried and continued to run the farm with temporary help. All the children helped in the milking shed.
Jackie Luke 2010

Singing My Family Tree (Springtide)
A$20

SPRINGTIDE (Jackie Luke & Greg Wilson)
Springtide
SPR001
A$10 + $5 Postage & Packing (Make cheques payable to Springtide Music)

BEAUTEOUS GROVE (Jackie Luke)
An Album of Hammered Dulcimer and Song
DMM1 1992
A$20 + $5 Postage & Packing

WHERE THE WATERS MEET( Jackie Luke, Greg Wilson, Colleen Meehan, Chris Wheeler, Ged Corben)
Mattawa
MATT001
A$20 + $5 Postage & Packing

FELLOWSHIP OF THE STRINGS (Jackie Luke, Greg Wilson, Tahlia Racz, Ingrid Racz)
Fellowship of the Strings
FOTS001
A$25 + $5 Postage & Packing