Obit - Death of John Poleson, September 2026

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John joined the club in the early 70s, he came from a musical family & his 3 children, Mark, Chris & Stephanie are all musicians as are his grandchildren. The Poleson clan usually gathered for Concert Party's Christmas party

In 2026 John was awarded Life Membership of the Bush Music Club. 

BMC Families - the Poleson Collection
https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2020/02/bmc-families-poleson-collection.html

John & Lynne Poleson Collection - Concert Party events
 https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2019/07/john-lynne-poleson-collection-concert.html  - I was lucky to be born into a musical family, my paternal grandfather was a seaman and a Shetland singer and fiddler, my maternal grandfather played the mandolin and both my parents played music and sang. My kids were born into a similar situation and they are all musical ...
(Photos © Sandra Nixon, & others) 

1. Rouseabouts, c.1977 (Archives) 

2.  June 1977 (© Bob Bolton, Archives) 

3. Concert Party, before 2016  (SN) 

4. Goulburn Gathering  (SN) 

5. 2014 - 60th Anniversary dinner (SN) 

6. Wilberforce (Sharyn Mattern ) 

7.  Albion Park, 2001 (SN) 

8.  Albion Park, 2001 (SN) 

9. Wilberforce (SN) 

10.  Kangaroo Valley (SN) 

11. Wilberforce (SN)

12. Wilberforce (SN)

13. Archives 

14. Archives 

15. Heritage Ensemble? (Archives)

16. Kangaroo Valley (SN) 

17. Kangaroo Valley (SN)

18. Gulgong, 2003/4 (Archives) 

19. Goulburn Gathering (SN)

20. Goulburn Gathering (SN) 

21. Christmas Party (SN) 

22. Christmas Party, 2016  (SN)

23. Illawarra Folk Festival (SN) 

24. Christmas Party (SN)

25.  Christmas Party (SN) 

26. Christmas Party (SN) 

27. Christmas Party 2025  (SN) 

28 Christmas Party 2025 (SN)

29. Christmas Party (SN) 

30. Christmas Party (SN) 

31. Christmas Party  (SN) 

32. Christmas Party (SN) 

33. Picnic in the Park SN) 

34. Monday Concert Party (SN) 

35. Christmas Party (SN) 

36. Christmas Party (SN) 

37. Christmas Party (SN) 

38. Monday Concert Party (SN) 

39. Christmas Party (SN) 

40. Christmas Party (SN) 

41. Christmas Party (SN) 

 42. Monday Concert Party,  2016  (SN)

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Obit - Death of Ann Maher, Tuesday 1st September 2026

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Ann was one of our earlier members, joining in 1961 

(Funeral photos © Ralph Pride)

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Ann Banks arrived in Australia in 1960 & appears to have joined BMC in August 1961. Sometime later she returned to England for her sister's wedding & after coming back to Australia, married Frank Maher. BMC members were well represented at the wedding, providing the music and the lagerphone guard of honour!  

1. 1964 - Article by Jamie Carlin about the Club's first 10 years.
Jamie joined BMC late 1954/early 1955.  (Archives, Singabout 5(2), October 1964)

2. 1964 - Ann & Frank's wedding  (Maher collection) 

3. 1964 - LP released by BMC to celebrate 10 years, these tracks were later
re-released in 1981's Twenty Golden Hits (Harlequin L 25365) with other early tracks.
Ann Banks played the lagerphone & led Moreton Bay.  (Archives)

4. Article from Stingybark & Greenhide   (Archives)

5. Discogs article

6. 1970 - Concert Party & dancers, probably Sydney Town Hall. 
Dancers include Ann & Frank (Archives-Bob Bolton photo?)

7. 1970s - Reedy River Bushmen at Wilberforce, Ann on lagerphone 
(Archives - Bob Bolton photo?) 

8 - 12. mid 70s - Photos from Maher photo album

9.  1970s - Picnic 

10. early 70s -  Singabout night?

11. early 70s - Maher daughters at Singabout night

12. early 70s - Frank & Ann at Singabout night 

13.  1971 - Ben Hall Festival, Carcoar (Archives) 

14. 1995 - Memorial for Alan Scott (Maher collection) 

15. 2012 - Gathering of early members & old friends - Frank (1956) & Ann (1961),
 John & Dale Dengate (1962), Chris and Virginia Woodland (1962),
George (1963) & Barbara (1959) Gibbons  (Sandra Nixon photo)

16. 2013 - Old friends at John Dengate's funeral (Sandra Nixon photo) 

17. 2013 - Old friends at the Sydney launch of Keith McKenry's biography of
John Meredith (Sandra Nixon photo)

18. 2014 - 60th Anniversary concert, Marrickville (Sandra Nixon photo) 

19. August 2014 - Ann & Frank at Duke's Place concert   (Sandra Nixon photo) 

20. 2014 - 60th Anniversary (Sandra Nixon photo)  

21.  2015 - Turning Wave Festival, Yass (Sandra Nixon photo) 

22.  2017 - National Folk Festival - Ann, Jenny Loughlin (daughter of founders
Brian & Pam Loughlin), Chris Woodland,  Sandra Nixon, 
Frank Maher (Virginia Woodland photo) 

23. 2024 - 70th Anniversary - Frank, Ann, Helen Golak (oldest Maher daughter)
Dale Dengate (Sandra Nixon photo) 

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Addendum - recent photos from Maher collection, courtesy of Helen Golak  

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