Towards Infinity was commissioned by the Voices of Birralee in 2007/8 for the Pemulwuy National Male Voice Festival. Paul was honoured to work with the lyrics written by his friend, Blue Mountains poet, Phil Voysey.
Early in 2007 Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley embarked on a record-breaking attempt to cross the Tasman Sea by Kayak, a lonely 1500-kilometre journey across a wild grey ocean. By day he would paddle, by night drifting asleep in a protective cocoon.
On February 9th, Andrew was within 30 nautical miles of New Zealand’s South Island, close enough to take photos of the high mountain ranges. The next day he expected to make land. At 7.15pm, the New Zealand Coastguard picked up a distress signal from a vessel that identified itself as Kayak 1. There were two clear words: “help” and “sinking”. Then silence. The following evening, his upturned 7 metre kayak was seen from the air but his body has never been found.
This recording is sung beautifully by the Voices of Birralee led by Julie Christiansen.
