THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH BALLADEERS ASSOCIATION INC
P.O. Box 90, Tamworth 2340 NSW.   Website www.bushballadeers.com.au   Email info@bushballadeers.com.au

The idea to form the Association was put forward by Bluey Francis - a bush balladeer from White Cliffs NSW. The ideals of the Association are to help publicize Australian Bush Balladeers and their music to Australia and the world. The fledgling Australian Bush Balladeers Association steering committee officially commenced in Tamworth NSW Australia January 1999. The Steering Committee; Bluey Francis (Secretary), Kelly Dixon (President), Buddy Thomson (Treasurer), Lynne Bennett, Peter Coad & Lynette Coad. Foundation members; Wave Jackson, Buddy Thomson, Bluey Francis, Peter Coad and Warren Mahoney.

The following extracts were written by Bluey Francis on the 25/7/99 and contain early details;

"To All Potential Members"

…"I have reserved the name of the A.B.B.A. Australian Bush Balladeers Association with the Fair Trading Department and will be finalizing the rest of the paper work within the next couple of weeks. We have opened a bank account in the name of the A.B.B.A. using three names, Kelly Dixon, Buddy Thomson, and Bluey Francis, two signatures needed to draw from the account. We already have some early starters who have jumped the gun and are members, so come on and get your membership money in and let us get this show on the road….

The meeting to elect the very first office bearers and committee of the Australian Bush Balladeers Association, will be held at Kelly’s Drovers Camp Kitchen at the Toyota stand over the bridge at Tamworth on the day before Tamworth starts 7pm on the 20^th of January. We would like any paid up members to attend this meeting. Membership will be excepted up to the start of the meeting for those who want to vote on issues put forward…

Bluey Francis 25/7/99

Through the following 1999 12 month Steering Committee period, a constitution was discussed and prepared. Virginia Coad suggested the "The Balladeers" Compilation album and the Balladeers Bulletin magazine instead of a newsletter. The name of the Balladeers Bulletin was chosen by the Steering committee. Both ideas were put in place and some Tamworth Balladeer Concerts planned and put in place for January 2000.

The first official A.B.B.A. committee was elected January 2000.

EXECUTIVE; Peter Coad (President) Bluey Francis (Vice president), Buddy Thomson (Treasurer), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Committee; Lynette Coad, Reg Poole, Glenn Jones, Gaven Arden, Bluey Bostock and Ron Sadler. Poet Rep; Bluey Bostock- Reps; Warren Mahoney VIC, Denise Baldwin NT, Jim Welsh TAS, Nell Brown Nth QLD, Ron Sadler NSW, Ted Kittel SA, Ian Murdoch NZ. Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan.

The "Balladeers Bulletin" put out it’s first issue in April 2000, Bluey Francis initiated the idea of the Bush Balladeer Star Quest which then commenced and more Tamworth Concerts put in place. Buddy Thomson undertook setting up the A.B.B.A. www.bushballadeers.com.au website.

2001;

EXECUTIVE; Peter Coad (President) Bluey Francis (Vice president), Buddy Thomson (Treasurer) Lynne Bennett (AssistantTreasurer), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Committee; Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Keith Jamieson, Reg Poole, Gaven, Bluey Bostock, Ron Sadler. Poet Rep; Bluey Bostock- Reps; Warren Mahoney VIC, Jim Welsh TAS, Ron Sadler NSW, Ted Kittel SA, Ian Murdoch NZ. Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan. First January festival edition of the colour-covered Balladeers Bulletin featuring Stan Coster on the Cover.

January 2002;

EXECUTIVE; Peter Coad (President), Bluey Francis (Vice President), Ron Sadler (Treasurer), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary) Committee; Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Dave McCallum, Buddy Thomson, Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Dave McCallum, Warren Mahoney, Keith Jamieson. Poet Rep; Barry Offer. Reps;Jim Welsh TAS, Ron Sadler NSW, Keith Jamieson QLD, Frank Turton SA, Buzza Bitter WA. Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan

In 2002, The first of "The Australian Balladeers Remembered" CD series commenced, this was an idea of Buddy Thomson and Peter Coad, to help preserve the music and memory of the pioneers. This is an annual CD, which contains tracks from the original pioneer artists. The www.bushballadeers.com.au website was completely revamped by Virginia Coad and Ben Smith in November 2002.

 A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE & A.B.B.A. Reps 2003

EXECUTIVE; Peter Coad (President) Buddy Thomson (Vice President), Warren Mahoney (Treasurer), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary)Committee; Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Keith Jamieson, Ron Sadler, Lynn Manning, and Lynne Bennett. Poet Rep; Merv Webster. State Reps; Keith Jamieson Qld, Lynne Bennett (S/E Qld), Ron Sadler NSW, Jim Welsh (TAS), Frank Turton (SA), Buzza Bitter (WA). Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan

A.B.B.A. Committee 2004

Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Buddy Thomson (Vice President), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Lyn Seiler(Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Warren Mahoney ( Vic Rep), Lynne Bennett, (S/E Qld Rep), Lyn Manning.
Poet Rep:Merv Webster;State Rep; Jim Welsh (Tas) Buzzer Bitter (WA) Frank Turton (WA) Mal Coad (Northern Rivers NSW) Website Co-ordinator; Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer) virginia@bushballadeers.com.au Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan

A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE AND REPS 2005
Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Warren Mahoney (Vice President), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Judy Walmsley (Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Ron Morgan ( Vic Rep), Col Behans, Lyn Manning.
Poet Rep:Merv Webster; State Rep; Jim Welsh (Tas) Buzzer Bitter (WA) Frank Turton (WA) Mal Coad (Northern Rivers NSW), Ron Morgan (Vic Rep), Ted Thompson ( S/E Qld Rep) Sam Burgis ( Nth Qld Rep)
Website Co-ordinator; Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer) virginia@bushballadeers.com.au
Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan

A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE AND REPS 2006
Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Warren Mahoney (Vice President), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Judy Walmsley (Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Ron Morgan ( Vic Rep),  Lyn Manning.
Poet Rep:Merv Webster; State Rep; Jim Welsh (Tas) Buzzer Bitter (WA) Frank Turton (WA) Mal Coad (Northern Rivers NSW), Ron Morgan (Vic Rep), Ted Thompson ( S/E Qld Rep) Sam Burgis ( Nth Qld Rep)
Website Co-ordinator; Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer) virginia@bushballadeers.com.au
Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan

A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE AND REPS 2007 (no committee change)
Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Warren Mahoney (Vice President), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Judy Walmsley (Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Ron Morgan ( Vic Rep),  Lyn Manning.
Poet Rep:Merv Webster; State Rep; Jim Welsh (Tas) Buzzer Bitter (WA) Frank Turton (WA) Mal Coad (Northern Rivers NSW), Ron Morgan (Vic Rep), Ted Thompson ( S/E Qld Rep) Sam Burgis ( Nth Qld Rep)
Website Co-ordinator; Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer) virginia@bushballadeers.com.au
Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan

A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE AND REPS 2008
Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Warren Mahoney (Vice President), Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Judy Walmsley (Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Ron Morgan ( Vic Rep),  Lyn Manning, Lex K.
Poet Rep:Merv Webster; State Rep; Jim Welsh (Tas) Buzzer Bitter (WA) Frank Turton (WA) Mal Coad (Northern Rivers NSW), Ron Morgan (Vic Rep), Ted Thompson ( S/E Qld Rep) Sam Burgis ( Nth Qld Rep)
Website Co-ordinator; Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer) virginia@bushballadeers.com.au
Honorary Solicitor; John Vaughan

ACHIEVEMENTS So far…

• THE ANNUAL "BALLADEERS" COMPILATION CDS

Designed as fundraisers for the Association and the artists, these albums feature a huge range of Australian Bush balladeers and are not only promotional CDs which are distributed by the Association to country music radios - they are also for sale to the fans of their music

• THE "BALLADEERS BULLETIN"

This is a 30 page quarterly members magazine which features artists profiles/product/tourdates/articles of general interest and news updates.The Balladeers Bulletin is a Black and White publication but every Tamworth Festival the Association issues a special Souvenir Colour covered edition.

• THE ANNUAL BUSH BALLADEER STAR QUEST

This prestigious yearly event has so far produced balladeer winners; 2001 DAVE McCALLUM, 2002 NATHAN CHARLTON, 2003 ANITA REE,  2004 MATT MANNING, 2005 JEFF GIBSON 2006 JULIE PERANDES, 2007 GREG BAIN.

• THE ANNUAL TAMWORTH BALLADEER MEMBERS SHOWCASES

These feature the A.B.B.A. members and have been so popular with the fans that even more shows are scheduled for the coming year.

• THE www.bushballadeers.com.au WEBSITE

The website contains updated news info on balladeer artists and their activities. You can find info on Tour Dates, What's Happening, Bush Poet News, Bush Balladeer Star Quest, Membership, Compilation Album details, Product, Star Quest winners, and much more..

Into the Future…

• The Association has achieved and will continue to achieve a huge level of publicity and Country music industry exposure for the Balladeer movement. To quote one industry persons opinion " The Association has united the bush balladeers as one".
• The Association is now a recognised Association for the publicity of Bush Balladeers throughout Australia and via our website to the world.
• Not only does the Association have a strong membership here in Australia we also have a growing number of members around the world.
• The A.B.B.A. website www.bushballadeers.com.au now attracts huge monthly 'hits', and news items and events are updated regularly.
• The Association continues to build on the foundations in place, and constantly strive to achieve greater exposure for Australian Bush ballad artists and their music.
  
   

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT;

A.B.B.A., P.O. BOX 90, TAMWORTH 2340 NSW

www.bushballadeers.com.au

email; info@bushballadeers.com.au

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