Hello - Welcome ..... to my page.....

Since my last Update, we have finished harvesting our best barley crop for the last 8 years, with an average of 2-6 tonnes per hectare, (or 16.7 bags per acre), and was a welcome change. However, the price wasn’t very good, so with input costs always on the rise, it has encouraged us to sell part of the farm, and slowly phase into retirement. This should give more time to concentrate on song writing and performing Bush Ballads and Country Music. It should also aid the release of my Gospel CD, which has been ‘waiting in the wings’.
On the music scene, I entertained at the ‘Yorke Peninsula Agricultural Field Days’, on Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st, 2009, and Helen and I took part in the ‘Port Pirie Country Music Festival’, on Oct. 30th, 31st, and Nov. 1st. Helen read some of her poems at the ‘Poet’s Breakfast’, and I sang at the ‘Golden Oldies’ and ‘Gospel’ shows, as well as the ‘Roundup’ and we both performed at the informal ‘Finale’. In November, as well as harvesting our crops, we were all over the place on every weekend, (including 4 fundraisers for the ‘RFDS’). The first of these was at the ‘Alcheringa Christmas Shindig’, at Wellington, SA, on Nov. 14th, and the very hot weather kept a few people away. Also, following a record heat wave for November, the first ‘Oakbank Music Fest’, on Nov. 21st, suffered a very disappointing attendance and consequentially a massive loss, and will threaten the continuance of this well organised event. This show featured a variety of music, but the majority was Country, and it was a shame Mother Nature didn’t play her part, to bring the crowd along!
To add injury to insult, the main organiser, ‘Cobby’ (Bob) Ross, was a victim of a storm damaged tree, when a branch fell on him, causing him to suffer severe head injuries, on Nov. 29th. (‘Cobby’ was to be part of the first ‘Minlaton Music Muster’, reading Bush Poetry, but ended up in the ‘Royal Adelaide Hospital’ instead).
Next show was a full house, at the ‘Wallaroo Mines Bowling Club’, where ‘Chooka’ Williams, Alec Beckett, David Pearce and myself entertained, on Nov. 28th, and the following day, Helen joined us all, reading a few poems, at the first ‘Minlaton Music Muster’, (held in the Minlaton Golf Club). Because of harvest and other functions in the area on the same day, the Club was only half full, but the crowd of 60 people enjoyed a very good show, and more than covered costs, allowing the ‘RFDS’ to benefit. I compered the show, and Helen worked in the kitchen when she wasn’t on stage, and we enjoyed the day so much, we intend to make it a yearly event.
While holidaying at Port Vincent, (across Yorke Peninsula from our place), Helen and I entertained at the Ventnor Hotel, on Dec.13th.
Into 2010, Helen and I were the entertainers at the Minlaton Lions Club ‘Australiana Night’, where we performed all Australian music and poems, on January 25th.
On February 7th, we took part in the ‘Regional Recharge 2010’, held at Warooka, on the lower end of Yorke Peninsula. This was a Community Event run by the ‘Yorke Peninsula Division of General Practice’, and was an Expo of service providers, community organisations, and local businesses, which are available to residents of the area. This year, a feature was the unveiling of the ‘World’s Biggest Undies’, (to raise awareness of prostate cancer), and several farmers spoke on their experiences of depression. Other guests included the Warooka Line Dancers and Minlaton farmer and comedian, Steve Martin.
On February 13th and 14th, I will be one of the many artists taking part in the ‘Alcheringa Shindig’, at ‘Dave’s Place’, at Wellington, SA, which is a fundraiser for the ‘RFDS’. The host, David Williams, was presented on Nov. 28th, with an ‘Award for services to Country Music’, by the ‘South Australian Council for Country Music’, and has been a long time supporter of the ‘Royal Flying Doctor Service’, and Country Music. The feature artist at the ‘Shindig’ will once again be Craig Giles.
My next major booking will be the ‘Lameroo Country Music Festival’, to be held on May 1st, with a farewell breakfast and singing on the following morning.
My three CDs, (‘Proud to be a Farmer, ‘Man on the Land’ and ‘The Cocky from Koolywurtie’) are all available from me at PO Box 76, Minlaton, 5575. They are also available from ‘LBS Distribution’, ‘Country Music Store’, ‘Allington’s Outpost’, amongst other suppliers. For more details, my webpage is www.bushballadeers.com.au/croser.htm, and my e-mail address is david.croser@internode.on.net My contact numbers for bookings or CDs, are 0428 951 889 or (08) 8853 1135.
Until next time, all the best from David Croser,
(‘The Cocky from Koolywurtie’).

Email David Croser

Harry Butler is our Hero.

Captain Harry Butler is a hero in our town,
A Koolywurtie farmer whose brave deeds brought him renown,
Flying was his passion, in the days when ‘planes were new,
He soon learnt to fly them, and showed folks what he could do.

He’d barrel roll and loop the loop, and climb into the clouds,
Then he would come diving down, to thrill the gathered crowds.
The people watching wondered, how a man could do these things,
But Harry wasn’t phased at all, ‘cos Harry, he had wings.

He was born in Yorketown hospital, in 1889,
Christened Henry John, but to him Harry sounded fine,
Attended Koolywurtie school, and learnt to read and write,
These skills and some others helped him in his quest for flight.

Chorus
Now Harry’s still a hero here in Minlaton today,
You won’t hear a bad word about him, and I pray
Things will stay like this and his good name will carry on,
Yes, Harry’s still a hero, in his hometown, Minlaton.

At the age of twenty-seven, he sailed off to England’s shore,
And once there enlisted in the ‘Royal Flying Corps.’
At first they kept him on the ground, to Harry’s great dismay
Finally he got his chance, and put on a grand display.

Next thing he was flying over France and off to war,
Things he did in battle soon earned other pilot’s awe,
He won two ‘Air Force Crosses’ for his exploits in the air,
Young Harry took it in his stride, and didn’t seem to care.

Then Harry started teaching young trainees how to fly,
He taught them all the skills they’d need, while they were on high.
Two thousand, seven hundred, he instructed in this way,
I guess some of his tactics are still being taught today.

Chorus
Now Harry’s still a hero here in Minlaton today,
You won’t hear a bad word about him, and I pray
Things will stay like this and his good name will carry on,
Yes, Harry’s still a hero, in his hometown, Minlaton.

Now when the war was won, and Harry sailed back home
He brought back to Australia, two airplanes of his own.
One, a ‘Bristol’ monoplane, all painted up in red,
Plus an ‘Avro’ bi-plane, and both sure could turn a head.

It was on the 6th of August, in nineteen nineteen,
When Harry and his ‘Red Devil’, they burst upon the scene.
The first to carry airmail, over water in this land,
Six thousand people witnessed, this great event first hand.

But disaster struck our Harry, when in nineteen twenty two,
He crashed his ‘Avro’ bi-plane, just south of town, it’s true.
Although he survived the crash, his last 18 months were poor,
‘Till an abscess on his brain took him, aged only thirty four.

Chorus
Now Harry’s still a hero here in Minlaton today,
You won’t hear a bad word about him, and I pray
Things will stay like this and his good name will carry on,
Yes, Harry’s still a hero, in his hometown, Minlaton.
Yes, Harry’s still a hero, in my hometown, Minlaton.

© David Croser 2009
E-mail: David Croser

BIO
David Croser - “The Cocky from Koolywurtie”
 
David Croser is a farmer/singer/songwriter, living on a small farm out of Minlaton, in the district of Koolywurtie, on Yorke Peninsula S.A. The farm produces barley and beef cattle.

He has been involved with music since the early 60’s. He was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist with local band the “New Minlatones”, and “Gum Flat Revival” between 1970 and 1987, winning several Country Music awards at Portland (Vic) and in the Riverland and Port Pirie (S.A.). His song “Fuelled up and Rolling” was used as the title tune for a cassette produced by the band.

David has recorded two 14 track CDs (in 2003 and 2005) titled “Proud to be a Farmer” and “Man on the Land” and has co-written one song with his wife, Helen. David has plans to record a third CD during 2007.

He has entered and won awards at country music talent quests as a solo artist and songwriter since 1997 at Mt. Gambier, Port Pirie and Port Augusta.
David was placed 3rd in the 2000 APRA S.A.Country Music Song-writing Awards run by the South Australian Council for Country Music.

He was a finalist in the Male Vocal section of the South Australian Champion of Champions in 2000 and a Grand Finalist in the Bush Balladeer’s Star Quest in Tamworth in 2002. In 2004, he was a finalist in the New Talent section of the Stan Coster Memorial Australian Bush Ballad Awards at the Bungendore Country Muster.

In 2006, David was a finalist in the “Australia” section of the Australian Songwriters Association song-writing contest with his song, “Rivers of Australia”. This song features on his “Man on the Land” CD.

Product

NEW CD !!!
The Cocky from Koolywurtie

Track listing:

01. The Cockie From Koolywurtie. 02. If I Had Wings. 03. Carve Your name In My Saddle. 04. The Old Draught Horse. 05. People, Times and Places. 06. It's Over and Done. 07. Saddle Boy. 08. Where her Spirit's Free. 09. A Special place In Heaven. 10. One last Look. 11. A Kangaroo's point Of View. 12. Banjo and Henry. 13. Old Gilbert. 14. Save The Bush Ballad.

The CD retails at $25 plus $2 postage and handling.

>>The C.D is also available through 'Mulga Music Promotions', in Tamworth.
Their e-mail address is mulga@tpg.com.au, and their web site is www.mulgamusic.com.au, or you can obtain C.D's by writing to them at P.O. Box 664 Tamworth. N.S.W. 2340.
If you are travelling through Tamworth they are also available from the Australian Country Music Foundation, 93 Brisbane Street, Tamworth.

"MAN ON THE LAND"
AVAILABLE NOW!

» CREDIT CARD?
>>If you wish to purchase this album with credit card please go to the Brisbane Country Music Store - direct to "Man On The Land"
COUNTRY MUSIC STORE LINK  --- HERE SOON!!!!!

>>The C.D is also available through 'Mulga Music Promotions', in Tamworth.
Their e-mail address is mulga@tpg.com.au, and their web site is www.mulgamusic.com.au, or you can obtain C.D's by writing to them at P.O. Box 664 Tamworth. N.S.W. 2340.
If you are travelling through Tamworth they are also available from the Australian Country Music Foundation, 93 Brisbane Street, Tamworth.

Debut album
"PROUD TO BE A FARMER"
Featuring 14 tracks, Including 7 originals
$20 plus $2 postage and handling.
» CREDIT CARD?
>>If you wish to purchase this album with credit card please go to the Brisbane Country Music Store
- direct to "Proud To Be a Farmer"
COUNTRY MUSIC STORE LINK

>>The C.D is also available through 'Mulga Music Promotions', in Tamworth.
Their e-mail address is mulga@tpg.com.au, and their web site is www.mulgamusic.com.au, or you can obtain C.D's by writing to them at P.O. Box 664 Tamworth. N.S.W. 2340.
If you are travelling through Tamworth they are also available from the Australian Country Music Foundation, 93 Brisbane Street, Tamworth.

>>TOUR DATES