RACHEL RICHARDS

Bush Balladeer Star Quest Winner 2008

Contact: RACHEL RICHARDS

Hello Everyone,
Just a quick one this month, we’re all settled in and loving Rosewood still. I spent a night in hospital this week, I’ve slipped a couple of discs so I’m in a heap of pain, but while the painkillers are working I’ll just report in for the bulletin. The kids are great, growing so fast, Jackson has his own little microphone and guitar now he was popping all my picks inside mine which was annoying, so now he rocks along and loves to sing Bundy Bear. Mr Kyan rocks along also with his microphone and piano, Caitlyn Jane Jamieson will be doing duets with the boys soon.
I’m still writing for my new album and have been really pleased with the songs I’ve been putting together. I’ve spent a bit of time with Jay Messenger and Maree and Harry, and that’s been great they’ve really made us at home here and introduced us to all their lovely friends in the area. We had a nice Jam session and get together last month and hope to do it monthly now, out here on the farm. Good Music and a good feed with some great company out here, it’s for Bush Balladeers which is lovely. I got to catch up with Janelle and Jeff Gibson that weekend which was awesome and my mate Bazza Salkeld and Laurie and Marion and their mate Jan too (thanks for cleaning up) All that came to the jam session thanks for your help and see you again next month.
> PIc of Harry, Maree and Jay Messenger
A nice surprise was to see Jim and Bonnie and their gorgeous birdie, was his name Charlie?? Sorry I forgot. Jim promised me a taste of his home made rum and it was lovely, thanks mate. I met these lovely folk in Bundy a few months ago and they are awesome thanks for coming and surprising me like that. So If anyone’s around from time to time let me know it may coincide with a bush ballad jam out here on the farm. Everyone’s welcome. It’s nice to have some familiar friends around again, and our good friend Debbie Turner has been great babysitting when I need to go out somewhere. She’s a top singer too and I hope to do some shows with her and Jay too, We also met up with Jeff and Lyn Brown and Brownie’s mum and dad were so nice and Jackson rode the 4 wheeler on the farm and saw the cows (he loves cows). Jeff and Elinore Careless have been in contact too which is lovely. Matt Manning and Rachel are around the corner too which is nice.
We stayed with Ashley and Toni Cook and family on the way down from Mackay Jackson had his first horse ride and loved it, we also stayed with Jammo and Alisha which was nice too. Thanks for having us we felt very welcome. > Jackson's Horse ride. (Dave and Ashley Cook)


I finally got to meet Chilla Seeney and his lovely wife Jan at their Ponderosa on the way down from Mackay. It was great to meet him and I got an awesome cake recipe from Jan and have been baking lots. They’re lovely people. Wow his trophy Cabinet blew me away! Anyone who has my first album would know that I sang about Chilla on it.
<Chilla Seeney's trophy cupboard

> Rachel Richards and Chilla Seeney

The trip to Adelaide was awesome. I loved it and I caught up with some lovely people who run a top club. Wally Sparrow (thanks for the lend of your warm jacket!) and Frank were great and Ian Fisk ran around taking piccies as well of the day. They sure get a crowd there and a great crowd too, I sang two sets of mostly my own compositions and the band Heartland were great! Thanks to Di Smith and Lorraine Wakefield. Wow I listened to Wall’s cd and also Lorraine’s tape and I was quite impressed too. What a great trip down and back.
< Rachel Richards performing at the Adelaide Country Music Club. Pic Ian Fisk

As an extra special surprise some of my mates from up here have family there so they all came to meet me and see me and also along with a lot of my relatives as I come from Mount Gambier many years ago. The biggest surprise was Rosemary and Adrian turning up from the Barossa they were so nice at Barham and such lovely people and I was thrilled to see them, they are making sure my music is heard down that way and I appreciate it. Thanks you two.
< Frankie Baker and Rachel Richards Adelaide CM Club. Pic Ian Fisk
Well I’m sure I’ve forgotten some one or something but I’m pretty crook at the moment so you’ll have to excuse me for that. I’m looking forward to Gympie Muster on the 31st at 2:15 pm Wine Bar, call in and say G’day Jay Messenger and Jeremy Turner are kind enough to be there as my backing band so thanks in advance and the cheques in the mail…. Then Galston of course which will be awesome too, Jay’s mum and dad are having our boys and we’re having their boy Jay for the weekend in Galston. Exciting stuff.
Now for the really exciting news, I better buy a satchel and sharpen up those pencils as I’m off to the College of Country Music thanks to the ABBA committee. I am thrilled and can’t wait to go and learn more about the industry, you can never know everything I’ve been told. Thanks ABBA I appreciate you selecting me for such a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Well that’s all folks, as my back is killing me so I’ll head off now and have a rest. I’ll send some piccies with this email of me and Chilla and his trophies as well as Maree and Harry and Jay at the Get together and some of the Adelaide Country Music club.
See ya later,
Luv Rach xx
www.bushballadeers.com.au/richards.htm