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 20th 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.
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.
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
A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE AND
REPS 2009
No Committee Change.
A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE AND
REPS 2010
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, Graham Butterworth.
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
Same committee for 2011/2012.
A.B.B.A. COMMITTEE AND REPS 2013
Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Ron Morgan(Vice President),
Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Judy Walmsley (Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events
Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Keith Gardner, Lyn Manning,
Graham Butterworth.
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 2014
Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Ron Morgan(Vice President),
Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Judy Walmsley (Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events
Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Keith Gardner, Lyn Manning,
Graham Butterworth.
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 2015
Executive Committee: Peter Coad (President), Ron Morgan(Vice President),
Lorraine Pfitzner (Secretary), Judy Walmsley (Treasurer)
Committee: Virginia Coad (Publicity Officer), Lynette Coad (Events
Co-ordinator), Ron Sadler, (NSW Rep), Lyn Manning, Graham Butterworth.
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
(2016/17 COMITTEE INFO TO BE UPDATED)
> Current Committee
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 quarterly members magazine
features artists profiles/product/tourdates/articles of general interest
and news updates.The Balladeers Bulletin started out as a Black and
White publication but every Tamworth Festival the Association issues
a special Souvenir Colour covered edition.
These days due to advertising support the Balladeers Bulletin is a
full colour publication.
THE BUSH BALLADEER STAR
QUEST
This prestigious event has produced
many fine balladeers.
The quest was discontinued in 2012.
For STAR QUEST WINNERS 2001-2011 go
to
THE ANNUAL TAMWORTH BALLADEER
MEMBERS SHOWCASES
These feature the A.B.B.A. members
and have been so popular and are a major part of our scheduled events.
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, Membership, Compilation Album details,
Product, and 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.
ABBA
15th Birthday 2000 - 2015
With ten years
under its belt and a list of tremendous achievement behind it, The
Australian Bush Balladeers Association is set to step into the future
with continued commitment – promoting Australian Bush Balladeers
and Bush Ballad music.
The 15 year Achievements include:
THE BALLADEERS BULLETIN
The Bulletin prints news items/tour
dates/and general activities that artist members send in. The Bulletin
is supported by industry and artist advertising. The 2004 edition
of the Balladeers Bulletin first featured a gloss colour cover which
brought a major change with greater advertising and sponsors.
Bulletin is put together voluntarily by Virginia Coad.
The January 2010 edition saw a
full colour Bulletin for the first time.
The April Edition will also be full colour.
“There may be future times when sufficient advertising is not
available, so regardless of whether we have an all colour edition
or have a B/W section, we will always strive for the best quality
presentation for our Association and artists in every edition.”
Peter Coad said.
The www.bushballadeers.com.au
WEBSITE:
The site contains information on /Compilation Albums/ Artists Profiles/Tour
dates/ What’s Happening/ Events etc.
There are also a Members profile
pages.
(*These were discontinued as more and more members obtained their
own websites, but the ABBA has retained basic pages for those who
were part of the website initially)
Inline with the 2010 Birthday
of the A.B.B.A. Virginia Coad voluntarily redesigned the complete
A.B.B.A. website for a new and more current appearance.
The new site was uploaded January
2010.
COMPILATION ALBUMS
“The Balladeers” Series
creates income for our Association and the album is paid for by the
artist track payments. The income from the album pays for the ‘Balladeers
Remembered Series” Cd which pays tribute to past pioneers and
balladeer members.
These albums are a major fundraiser
for the A.B.B.A. administration, postage, Star Quest winners promotional
costs, etc. Without these albums, the Association could not run at
the level it does. Therefore, the Association sincerely thanks the
artists who come forward every year, putting their talent and money
forward, supporting the Association in this way, and all those who
purchase them. For details go to www.bushballadeers.com.au/compilation.htm.
The artists also purchase the
albums back from the Association at a discount to sell at their own
shows, and therefore not only get their money back but also use the
CD to help suppliment their own CD sales.
The A.B.B.A. would like to thank
the radio presenters who play bush ballad music, for their tremendous
support of the Star Quest winners singles, and all those who do regular
interviews and broadcast nationally on a monthly basis re the A.B.B.A.
activities. Your support is appreciated.
THE BUSH BALLADEER STAR
QUEST
The Bush Balladeer Star Quest
run a successful 11 years producing a great array of talent, many
of whom have continued on to make a career in the bush ballad world.
Unfortunately, the Quest has now
been put on hold through low entries the last couple of years. The
Association feel this is due to there being more avenues of self promotion
now for young artists, which is great to see.
PROMOTION THROUGH THE
QUEST HAS BEEN...
Winners of this Quest received
12 months guidance in the industry and opportunity to perform on major
stages and festivals etc. This was great experience and gives them
a huge amount of exposure to the public and media.
CMAA COLLEGE & JUNIOR
CAMERATA
Another initiative by the Association
in 2004 was to sponsor a young balladeer artist to attend the CMAA
Junior Camerata Scholarship every year. The Association also Sponsors
a young bush ballad artist to participate in the CMAA College Of Music
every year.
The CMAA Camerata Scholarship and the CMAA College teach and provide
youngsters valuable industry skills and contacts.
IN SUMMARY
The A.B.B.A. is run by a voluntary
committee. It has been averaged that over a year at least 2 full days
are given every week towards Membership/Website maintenance/Mailout/Bulletin
preparation/organizing albums/Advertising and Tamworth events.
“The Association is dedicated
to catering for the bush ballad artist,” Peter Coad (President)
said, “The Association has been built by our hardworking voluntary
committees over the last 15 years with the support of our members,
media and industry, and is continuing to build further infrastructure
through the mediums of internet, radio interviews. I would like to
thank our past and present committee, for their efforts.
In my opinion, the Bush Ballad
industry is the strongest and most popular it has ever been, and we
look forward to building on this in the years ahead.”
SInce its official formation the
Association remains a strong, successful, financially stable organization
and one of the Australian Music Industry success stories, which is
still working as hard as ever to promote Bush Ballad Music and its
artists
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