News report on our sixteenth Festival , all done & dusted for another year! The weather was outstanding- hot days -cool nights. Our Volunteers as usual pulled it off ,as they always do- the grounds looked great, the gardens were outstanding!! Big thankyou to Robyn ,who brought half her own garden! Beautiful green plants- a gorgeous Pink Bougainvillea! Various ferns & flowering plants! Which really spruced our main area – under all the Fairy lights it truly looked like Fairyland and our Fire Drums at night- really look amazing!! Ben & his team were flat strap in the Shack!! Our walk up Program got a huge boost from the Backing Band- Sandy Ann- & co- big lineup of walk ups, Sandy did a top job as MC Also Mick (Mick Angeles) had thirty Ukulele students this year- what a fabulous teacher he is- they all come in with not much- walk out confident & happy. Our Spit Roasts were very Popular. Sadly our Ice Cream man was a no show-very disappointed kids, & adults . However all our Artists really stepped up this year- Errol Gray was in Fine form with his hilarious songs, our Audience just love him! In his chook shirts! Dianne Lindsay & Peter- what a lovely pair they are, great ambassadors for Country music. Jeff Brown family Band! Were great, it was a polished, very enjoyable set, love Brownies songs! William Alexander excelled again what an exciting talent he is, and a real natural. My album launch went off well, I had good help-with Steve Passfield-on acoustic- and the fabulous Coad Sisters & Jim Hermal on drums- as well as my special guest Mark Spencer on Saxophone! I felt completely spoilt! The absolute Highlight for me was Warwick Pipe Thistle Band marching in – to an avenue of flaming torches! A guard of honour for Dear old Doug Cutmore- their fearless leader & founding Member who passed away this year. We presented a Golden Bell-to Dougs widow Iris- it was all very moving. Then the fabulous (Hillbilly Goats )came out & really pumped the level up a few notches. What a vibrant-entertaining bunch they are! We wish them all the best in the Folk Alliance Awards- for the National award (Best Folk Group of the year). Richly deserved. Runaway Dixie were fabulous too -some great music flying around the gum trees! Big shout out to Lawrie Minson- get better soon mate! & Smokie Pete & Garry Fogarty.
We are discussing the possibility of an Easter week here- free Camping- some Entertainment? We will test the water- & maybe see some of you over Easter!! So stay tuned.
I would like to personally thank all our Campers- wow! not one incident with camp fires/cookers- what a credit to them all. Because it is super dry, dry grass, dry leaves, so proud of them all- we are so lucky we have such a dedicated, responsible ,wonderful following! 2027-we are going to create a special Award & recognize those long term Campers & supporters-with some special gifts and recognition! Several have been here since our very beginning!
Big thanks also to Phil Cale-Aussie Radio- who stepped up as our MC when Garry Fogarty couldn’t make it! Also Manfred- who helped out, Always sad to farewell all our wonderful crowd- watch them driving off, its like OMG they are all leaving? but we all made some great memories this year. My big discovery for 2026-was Drew Blundell (Owens cousin) what a talent he is- a top bloke and we have officially adopted him, he will be in charge of all the walk up Program for 2027. Our Soundman Steve Passfield- everyone commented on the brilliant sound- and Steve is the reason for that!! I feel very blessed , I am so grateful to our wonderful supporters- our crowd-our Volunteers-our team-my family- Ben & Niki-Shelley-I could not pull it off without them!! Sixteen years I reckon is a pretty good run- but no plans to slow down yet?? You lot won’t let me anyway ! Fabulous photos-video footage-drone footage on the way from Manfred Vijars- also some magic photos from Ian Fisk -from Adelaide who came too- & his images are amazing! George our Sparky a precious new addition to our team, God bless you all. Another newsletter forthcoming before Xmas!
Lots of luv , Norma & the team xx
