Remembering Alex Hood Concert 10th Jan 2026, presented by Illawarra Folk Club

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Vale Alex Hood 1936 - 2025

Compilation - Articles about Alex Hood  

Thanks to Annette for identifying family & friends 

Thanks to Helen Romeo for details of performers

WE REMEMBER ALEX HOOD and you can too !

DATE: Sat 10th January, 2026 TIME: 4pm

PLACE:Albion Park Bowling Club, 32-52 Taylor Rd, Albion Park NSW 2527

The great Alex Hood passed away (aged 90) at the end of November and we lost a memorable figure in the Bush, Folk and Heritage scene.

He was a great loss to the Australia that we know.

Alex and his wife Annette spent the last 10 years of their lives in Kiama.

He was the patron of our Folk by the Sea and was a regular at our festivals. When the Illawarra Folk Club held its first ever concert in 1979 at the Coniston pub. Alex, already a major figure in the folk scene came along and sang and would not take any reimbursement, It was this concert that established the club and later the festivals that it has run over the last 45 years.

ALEX DID NOT WANT A FORMAL FUNERAL BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET HIM SLIP AWAY BEFORE WE SAY FAREWELL AND RELIVE SOME MEMORIES OF HIM.

So on Saturday January 10th at 4PM at the Albion Park Bowling Club a number of our members, and friends of Alex and Annette are coming together for a musical tribute to Alex

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Here is the list of the performers... they may not be in order:

John Tubridy with Tony Romeo & Johnny Spillane joining him on the last song

Chord-eaux Band (Neil Rowsell, Sylvia McMullen, Pat Murray)

Colleen & Chris (McGloin)

Dave Oliphant & Chris

Mick Conway

Bob McInnes and Garry Tooth

Annette Hood

Whistle Wood and Hide (John Spillane, Gregg Stevens, Jason Rosewarn)

Christopher Hood and Robert

Barry Spooner

Phyl Dye

Mark Balesi

The Romeos (Helen and Tony)

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(Photos © Sandra Nixon) 

1. setting up session

2. early arrivals 

3.  setting up (cont)

4. Bigruss 

5. Bigruss & Annette 

6. Mariamma Mitchell

7. Pat Murray, Mariamma 

8. Mick Conway, Bigruss

9. session 

10.  Helen & Tony, Mariamma & Johnny Spillane 

10. Chris, Bigruss 

11.  Portrait by Marion Henderson 

12.  Republican of the Year, 1982 - first award made by
 Citizens for Democracy

13.  session 

14. Bigruss, Marie 

15.  session

16.  Garry, Cathy, Mick 

17. Cathy, Annette, Garry 

18.  Annette & son Ryan Williams. 

19. Garry, Bigruss 

20.  display 

21.  Annette, Margaret Emerson, Cathy, Garry 

22. diaplay 

23.  Annette & Pam March pat Bluey

24. Annette & friends  Jen, Ainsley, Melanie & Janette 

25. Bluey, made 1988/89 

26. Emily   

27.  session 

28.  

29. 

30. Alex's son Chris

31.  

  32.  Annette, brother Rod James & Ryan 

33.   Chris Hood 

34.  Chris Hood 

35.  display 

36.  lagerphone 

37.  

 38.  Annette & friends Gerard, Lyn & Rod 

39.  audience 

40. MC Bigruss 

41.  Concert  - John Tubridy 

42.  audience 

43.  Tony Romeo, John Tubridy, Johnny Spillane 

44.  Cord-eaux

45.  Colleen & Chris 

46.  Akubra & other hats 

47.  Dave Olipant & Chris 

48.  audience 

49.  audience 

 50.  Ian James, Rod James, Julee Jones 

51.  audience 

52.  doorkeeper Robbie Jackson 

53. Doorkeeprs Bruce & Robyn Jackson 

54.  Mick Conway 

55. paparazzi - Annette's brothers Rod & Ian

56. Annette's speech 

57.   Big Russ

58.  Bob McInnes,  Garry Tooth 

59.  Bob, Garry 

60.  seated - David & Marg Emerson.  on stage Whistle, Wood & Hide 

61. Helen, Tony 

62.  Chris Hood & Graham 

63.  

64.  performer Mark Balesi 

65. Annette, Helen, Tony 

66.  Chris Hood 

67.  Annette & friends (& audience) singing Brumby Jack 

68.  Brumby Jack 

69. Annette & friends 

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