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Hello - Welcome .....
Update from David Croser, ‘The
Cocky From Koolywurtie'.
Since
the last report, David has been very
busy on the music scene. He was one
of many artists who volunteered his
time at the Kapunda Country Music for
Cancer concert, (near the Barossa Valley),
on September 6th. Unfortunately, on
a perfect day, only a very small crowd
of about 100 people attended, which
must have been disappointing for the
organisers, who put in a lot of effort
to present the event.
Over the last few years, this event
had been affected by some very cold
and windy weather, and this fact, combined
with local and AFL football finals being
scheduled on the same day, could have
contributed to the poor attendance.
However, the people who attended, enjoyed
a very good day of Country Music and
Bush Ballads.
David performed on three occasions,
and his wife, Helen, also entertained,
reading some of her poems. They were
well received, and both she and David
were invited to be part of next year’s
event.
The biggest, most recent event, for
Helen and David, was the ‘Wondara
Woolshed Do’, near Carabost, in
south east NSW, from October 7th to
13th. The crowd at this Cam pout
show was about three times greater than
last year’s inaugural ‘Do’.
There were about 200 caravans, tents
and motor homes, camped on the small
farm, ‘Wondara’, owned by
Gary Gough and Gloria Campbell. This
is a beautiful setting for Country Music,
with all events centred around the woolshed,
on a ridge in the middle of 40 acres,
surrounded by pine forests.
A feast of music was provided from 10am
to 4-30pm on most days, with Poet’s
Breakfasts being held on four days.
Helen and David both presented poems.
The Poet’s Breakfasts were run
by Merv. Webster and Reg Phillips, and
proved very popular. A Bush Poetry competition
was held again this year, and the winner
was Cliff Berry, from Bathurst.
The Friday night dance was held outside,
due to the large crowd in attendance
and the small size of the woolshed.
Dancing on the dirt, made for some fancy
footwork at times! (Providing a floor
for 2009 will be a project which will
be given top priority by the organizers.)
Most of the dance music was provided
by Peter Horan, in his usual entertaining
way. Colleen Hall was announced as ‘Belle
of the Ball’, and David was surprised
to be announced as the ‘Beau’,
(thanks mainly to a very colourful tie,
featuring musical instruments, which
outshone the piano keys tie worn by
Peter Horan!)
The guest artists on the Saturday and
Sunday, were Tom Maxwell, Ernie Constance,
Rex Dallas, Craig Giles, Peter Horan
and Gary Gough. The crowd appreciated
the wide range of skills they presented.
Another great activity was the ‘Piggy
Sue Challenge’,  (named
after one of Gary’s pigs). This
was a ‘Sporting Contest’,
where 12 teams of 6 people competed
in contests ranging from horse shoe
tossing, cow pat throwing, skittles,
javelin throwing, golf putting and boule.
These created much spirited competition!
During the week, David sang most of
the songs that will be featured on his
third CD, that he is calling ‘The
Cocky from Koolywurtie’. (It is
due for release before Christmas ’08).
Two days after arriving home from Wondara,
Helen and David took turns entertaining
the members of the Minlaton Senior Citizen’s
Club, who proved to be a wonderful audience.
Three days later, Helen and David travelled
to ‘Bindmurra Station’,
near Blanchetown, SA, for the 5th ‘Blanchetown
Country Music Campout’, in aid
of the ‘Royal Flying Doctor Service’.
Once again, a good crowd camped for
two or three nights in the scrub, near
the stage. Although the weather on the
main day was a bit on the warm side
of comfortable, the overcast sky made
it bearable and a feast of entertainment
was enjoyed by everyone.
The Campout started on Friday, October
24th, at 8pm, and continued on Saturday,
from 9am to midnight, with music provided
by 22 artists and bands. It concluded
with a Gospel Show, on Sunday, the 26th,
from 9 to 11-15 am. The featured artist
this year was Roydon Donohue. Most of
the artists were from various parts
of South Australia, with a couple of
Victorians as well, and all helped to
provide a mixture of Country Music,
Country Rock, and of course, good old
and new Bush Ballads.
David’s guitar is now being spelled
for a while, as he tries to get enthused
about harvesting his disappointing barley
crop. This is the result of one of the
driest September and Octobers since
rainfall records were started on the
farm, in 1961.
Email
David Croser
WONDARA WOOLSHED DO
We are gathered at ‘Wondara’, an idyllic
little spot,
There are only 40 acres, but this place
has got the lot,
With folk from all around the land,
in their tents and caravans,
To hear some great Country Music, and
meet up with other fans.
There are pine trees all around the
place, and I can tell you straight,
That your mobile phone won’t work so
all those calls will have to wait.
With the Woolshed situated, on the top
of a great ridge,
The ambience and atmosphere, so laid
back and ‘ridgee didge’.
The ‘Wondara Woolshed Do’, it was a
dream of Gary Gough,
Something he had always planned to do,
and now he’s pulled it off,
To see the camping area, slowly fill
with vans and tents,
While the ‘working class’ are still
at home, struggling to pay their rents.
The place is just out of Carabost, in
Southern New South Wales,
And pine forests on the slopes, echo
with music and tall tales,
For as well as Country Music, the Bush
Poets have a go,
Their tall tales keep you laughing,
and add so much more to the show.
So if you missed it this year folk,
then don’t make the same mistake,
And get yourself there early, the best
decision you will make,
You’re never very far away, from a shower
or a loo,
Come along with us and enjoy, the ‘Wondara
Woolshed Do’
© David Croser, 2007
E-mail: David
Croser
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co-written one song with his wife, Helen. David has
plans to record a third CD during 2007.
