My first music memory is listening to Nancy Sinatra singing ‘These Boots Are Made for Walking’ when I was two or three years old.

I imagine myself stomping around the lounge room in gumboots – I don’t recall the event perfectly – but the lyrics are clear. They’re the kind of simple words, actions and beat that appeal to young children. It was years before I realised they had a different meaning.

My mother instilled in me a love of music and dance. The neighbours called her ‘Happy Burke’ because she always had the radio on, and always sang loudly. The reality for her must have been quite different – she had left family and friends behind in Canada, got married, and was raising four young kids in outer suburban Sydney – Blacktown – without a car, phone, TV, or much money.

I recently celebrated my 50^th birthday, and asked people to RSVP with a song to share with me. A colleague of mine chose Nancy’s song – maybe simply because I love wearing boots. But Mum and I took the opportunity to joyously stomp around once again.