Ollie Olsen, The Push To Be Inducted Into Music Victoria Hall Of Fame

The Music Victoria Hall Of Fame will expand once again in just a matter of weeks, with influential musician Ollie Olsen and Australian youth music organisation The Push both set to be honoured.

Taking place at the Music Victoria Awards on Thursday, October 24th at The Edge in Melbourne’s Fed Square, both Olsen and The Push will receive their rightful place in the Hall Of Fame for the impact and legacy they have had upon not just the local Victorian music scene, but the wider national scene as well.

Olsen began his music career in the late ‘70s, forming the short-lived punk outfit The Young Charlatans with Rowland S Howard (1977-78), before taking on a more avant garde post punk approach with Whirlywirld (1978-80) alongside future Models keyboardist Andrew Duffield.

Since then, his name became synonymous with Victorian music thanks to his role as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and sound designer, working with or as part of Orchestra Of Skin And Bone (1984-86), NO (1987-89) Max Q with Michael Hutchence (1989-90), Third Eye, Hugo Klang, Primitive Ghost, Taipan Tiger Girls, and many more.

“Ollie Olsen is easily the people’s choice for a Hall of Fame induction,” Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel said of Olsen’s induction. “Music Victoria has been overwhelmed with calls for his induction dating back many years.

“He is a true artist and visionary in every sense of the word, consistently forging his own path, delivering groundbreaking sounds with each new decade, influencing generations of musicians, and we’re proud to celebrate his enduring legacy.”

Olsen has largely been absent from the world of music in recent years, having announced his retirement in 2019, and a diagnosis of multiple system atrophy arriving the following year.

In 2023, Adalita, Mick Harvey, and Andrew Duffield re-recorded Olsen’s Rooms For The Memory (which was released as a single by Michael Hutchence in 1987) as part of a campaign to raise funds for his medical expenses.

Meanwhile, The Push’s induction into the Hall Of Fame is a testament to the hard work done by the charity to ensure access to music by Australia’s up-and-coming generation of music-lovers.

Over almost four decades, the organisation has supported millions of young people with access to contemporary music programs and events, and fostering a pipeline for young people into the contemporary music sector as artists, audiences, and industry practitioners.

Through its efforts, which have included festivals, workshops, conferences, and so much more, The Push has helped to kickstart the careers of some iconic names in Aussie music, including legends such as The Living End, Magic Dirt, Spiderbait, Jebediah, Killing Heidi, Silverchair, and Something For Kate, and more contemporary names such as Courtney Barnett, Baker Boy, Mallrat, Alex Lahey, Teenage Joans, and Allday. 

“As The Push embarks on their next chapter by expanding beyond Victoria to become a nationally operating organisation, it is the perfect time to acknowledge their significant contribution to the strength that we see in the Victorian music industry today,” Schinkel said of their induction.

“A lot of people’s journey in the music industry began at an all ages gig in their teens - and those first time opportunities would simply not be possible if it wasn’t for The Push.”

Alongside these inductions, Music Victoria have also announced the introduction of the Footprint Award, a new Award for and from First Nations artists, acknowledging a musical artist who has created a lasting legacy through their music, as well as their actions.

The new award has been created following Music Victoria working closely with a First Nations guidance group which includes Uncle Kutcha Edwards, Uncle Robbie Bundle, Amos Roach, Neil Morris (DRMNGNOW), Allara Briggs Pattison, Candice Lorrae, Amy Dowd (Bumpy), Kee’ahn Bindol, and Charlie Woodes (Charlie Needs Braces).

The Music Victoria Awards will be held on on Thursday, October 24th.