From the Archives - Deaths of early members & friends as recorded in Mulga Wire and other sources

Founder member Tom Durst, 21/2/1983 - Mulga Wire no. 36, April 1983. Obituary by Alan Scott - Tom was inside a dog suit pretending to be the Dog on the Tuckerbox when I first met him in 1954, playing the fiddle and reciting his lines in a thick Viennese accent in the Bushwhacker's HOW MANY MILES TO GUNDAGAI sketch ...

~~~~~~~~~~

Tasmanian member Clarence Strochnetter, 23rd August, 1991 aged 52 - Mulga Wire no. 88, Dec 1991. Obituary by Jamie Carlin.  We first came to know Clarrie in 1960 when he began contributing items to Singabout magazine ... When John Meredith and I visited Tasmania a couple of years ago we stayed with Clarrie & Barbara ... (perhaps this visit in 1987 when Tony Rees took this photo)  ...

~~~~~~~~~

Rex Whalan, 1936-1991- Mulga Wire no. 89, Feb 1992. Obituary by Jamie Carlin  ... Rex and I both showed our faces at the very new Bush music club in 1954 ... and with Bill Berry making up a third ... roared around in Rex's infamous string of old bomb cars ... he collaborated with John Meredith in the writing of 'Frank the Poet', the standard work on convict  poet Frank MacNamara ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rod Shaw 17/9/1915-Dec 1992  Mulga Wire, no. 95, Feb 1993 - Obituary by Jamie Carlin  ... the funeral service was attended by  large cross-section of literary, theatrical, artistic and political figures ...  Rod in his printing and publishing business was a  much sought after illustrator ... Singabout ...   Rod was a great artist ... a man of social conscience ...   

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nancy Keesing - Mulga Wire no. 95, Dec 1993 ... we hope to publish a tribute to Nancy in our next issue. Bob Bolton.   Unfortunately this tribute was not published.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leonard Teale (1922-1994)  - Mulga Wire, no.104, August, 1994, p.11

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Janet Wakefield   (- 19th September, 1995) Mulga Wire, no.111, October 1995.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don Francois   see photo P024, Sydney Morning Herald,  Sat 20th March 2021 (supplied by Barbara Gibbons)

From the Archives - Stan & Janet Wakefield

Click images for larger size.

1. Folksong and musical technique, by Janet Wakefield, undated, 2 pages

Extracts from Singabout - the early songwriters - Stan Wakefield (1906 - 1962)

Short Story by Stan Wakefield, Tribune, Wed 7th Oct, 1953, page 8

---

From the Archives - 2 handwritten songs by Duke Tritton - The Fossickers Return & The Irishman's Song.

Click on pictures for full-screen image

Recorded by BMC Life Member Janet Wakefield.

Post by Bob Bolton on Mudcat Cafe Date: 05 Jan 00 - 09:57 PM   (Duke) was a great source of traditional songs when collectors started working with tape recorders in the 1950s ... and some of the best didn't bother to record his own songs.  Janet did ... and got great songs like Shearing in a Bar, Duke's song about the boasting in a pub, when the real work is far enough away not to intrude on a good story ...

Thanks to Dr Diane Bull, Duke's granddaughter & Literary Executor for permission to publish Duke's works.

The Fossicker's Return was recorded by Janet Wakefield at Concord, 1964

1.

2.

3.

4. Typescript of The Fossicker's Return

5.  Recorded on tape by J.Wakefield at Concord W, 1964. - only recording

6.  The Irishman's Song - 2 pages

7. Was travelling with a mob of sheep from Peak Hill to Coolah in 1910. There was five in the team, Billy McBeth, the boss drover, Jim & Tiger Schurr, Joe Goodman and myself. All were good mates and all could sing a fair song, so we had a good trip.  Billy McBeth used to sing the above songs, and we all learned to roar it out around the campfire. Three years ago I met Joe Goodman again and he recalled the song to my mind, and we sang  it again in memory of our mates who had passed on.

Duke Tritton

from Bob Bolton - Australian Singer Duke Tritton, any CDs   ... 'Duke' sang this song to much the same tune he used for a couple of others, including Shearing at Castlereagh and his version of Henry Lawson's The Lights of Cobb and Co ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this song was published in Singabout 5(2), pp. 16-17, October 1964

8.

9.

---

From the Archives - Bush Music Club Newsletter - 1966 to 1967

Click images for larger size.
The first Newsletter was published in October 1955, & the last Newsletter/Calendar we have was issued in January 1977, & the January 1978 Calendar was also issued with Mulga Wire.


Our holding are not complete & missing issues will be added as found.

Foolscap pages have been scanned as 2 images.


March 1966

1.  Moving to 189 Clarence St.  Workshop nights every Tuesday. National Song Competition with $60 prize.  Project '66 on TCN9 Gold in Australia, background music by Concert Party, 2nd April. Plans for a Lawson  Anniversary excursion to Mudgee in September & Eureka Anniversary Dinner in December. Current Dispute - songs for the next Festival record.

2.  Urgently needed - Archivist to take charge of valuable and sometimes irreplaceable material.  Election results. BMC books & records for sale.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June/July 1966

1.Things are going well in new room.  National Song Contest details. 

2.  Functions - Henry Lawson night 21st June, Jack Donahoe night - September. Lawson excursion to Mudgee September.  Ned Kelly night - November. Mary Gilmore & Eureka Stockade night - December. Xmas party. Wanted - guitar teacher for Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs. Publications available.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 1967 (first issue since June/July 1966)

1. No newsletter has been issued since last July, but we have had an exceptionally good year as far as attendance has been concerned.  Beer & Cheese nights, BBQ, Nigerian music educator Mr Dayo Dedeke visited,  taught a Nigerian song & took away Singabouts to teach from. Library of Congress wants Newsletters. Other international enquiries from Mexico, Italy Denmark & others. Concert Party has been busy, but couldn't fit in all performances.  Royalties come in from earlier records & John Meredith's play Wild Colonial Boy.  BBC has still not paid anything for using our music on Down the Darling.

2.  National Song Contest details. Publications & records available. As Singabout has been held up by Editor's illness, members were sent Songs of Australia, the only club publication put out in 1966, with this newsletter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 1967





AGM - President Frank Maher, Vice-President Harry Glendinning, Secretary Dale Denagte, Asst Secretary Jamie Carlin, Treasurer Barbara Gibbons, Concert Party Leader John Dengate, Editor Eric Bolton, Sub-Editor Harry Glendinning, Publications manager Carolyne Purser, Master of Ceremonies Chris Woodland. We were unable to distribute Singabout during 1966. All financial members received Songs of Stan Wakefield. Singabout 6(1) is almost ready. Singabout evening Sat 1st July

Festival Records have been asked if Songs of Lawson will be ready by June Singabout night. National Song Competition is open until 31st July. Concert Party - very successful and enjoyable visti to Gulgong in January, numerous engagements since include Firemen's & Engine Driver's Smoko, Irish Musicians St. Patrick celebrations, Paddington Welfare Centre, Riverwood Eventide Homes. Recent Workshop nights have been well attended and thoroughly enjoyed. Programme organised by Chris Woodland. May - Ben Hall night 9th, Dance night 27th.  June - Centenary of Lawson's Birth 13th, Dance night 27th.  July - Stan Wakefield night 18th.  August - Songs from the Convicts 15th, DAnce nights 29th.  September - Jack Donahoe night 12th.  October - Labor Day 10th, Dance night 24th.  November - Ned Kelly Night 14th.  December - Eureka Stockade & Mary Gilmore Night 5th. Christmas Party 19th.  Dance nights are not Beer & cheese nights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 1967

1. Workshop nights at 189 Clarence St. There were many Lawson related functions in June including Lawson Centenary night on 13th, a Pilgrimage on 17th to Lawson Statue in the Domain, attended by ladies & gentlemen dressed as characters in Lawson's prose & verse, & about 60 people some dressed up attended party at Glendinning's place the same evening. 1st July Singabout theme was Lawson. Concert Party sang at a Lawson party for Australian (sic) Book Company at Engadine. They also played for the Wild Colonial Days Society, & some members appeared on ABC TV's This Day Tonight, & sang for Ausralasian (sic) Book Society's launch of "The Ashes of the Angry Years." They have also performed on 2 occasions for a group raising funds for the Aboriginal Children Advancement Society. Release of Concert Party's record was delayed by the record company so missed these events.

2.  However the record was promoted widely, including giving the club 12 promotional copies. POEMS IN MUSIC (Henry Lawson poems set to traditional music by the Bush Music Club). Next Singabout will be 14th October at 535 George St. Next picnic Oct 15th at Sutherland. Singabout 6(2) is almost ready, next fundraiser will be Friday 11th August. National Song Competition had a dozen entries, & closes soon. Beer & Cheese nights, Aug 15- Songs from the convicts, Oct 10 - Labor day, Nov 14 - Ned Kelly night, Dec 5 - Eureka stockade & Mary Gilmore, Dec 19 Christmas Party. Dance nights Aug 25 & Oct 24, Singabout Oct 14, Picnic Oct 15, Campfire Nov 8 at Ball's Head, Carlin's party - Aug 11   (Dale Dengate Secretary)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

September 1967


1. Workshops nights on Tuesdays, 189 Clarence St.  Farewell to MC Chris Woodland who is leaving Sydney. Contributions are wanted for Singabout 6(2). Concert Party has been busy & are rehearsing for their  trip to Bathurst & for their next record, on the songs of Stan Wakefield. Janet Wakefield received Life Membership at the recent Stan Wakefield night.

2. Next Singabout evening 14th October. Annual picnic day 15th October. National Song competition had 20 entries.  Dates to remember.

3. Tentative plans for a film night Friday 3rd November, to show Three in One & The Sentimental Bloke and more. Publications available. (Dale Dengate Secretary)

---

Life Members - information on our 25 Life Members - part 3. Jack Barrie, Janet Wakefield, Jamie Carlin, Bob Bolton, John Dengate

Click on pictures for full-screen image

Life Members - information on our 25 Life Members  - part 1. Sally Sloane, Duke Tritton, Clem Millward, Val Hennessy, John Meredith

Life Members - information on our 25 Life Members  - part 2 - Herb Gimbert, Alan Scott, Gay Scott, Brian Loughlin, Pam Loughlin 

Life Members - information on our 25 Life Members  - part 4  Dave Johnson, Frank Maher, Don Richmond, Helen Romeo, Harry Kay.

Life Members - information on our 25 Life Members  - part  5. Ralph Pride, Chris Woodland, Sandra Nixon, Wendy Richmond, Mike Young.

Life Members - Information on our 28 Life members - Part 6 - Colin Fong, Sharyn Mattern, Allen Davis



Foundation Member John Meredith, unveils new Life Members' Board before launching his new book Duke of the Outback at the Bush Music Festival Oct 1983
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack Barrie (1917 - 2015) - a member of the Bushwhackers and foundation member.
Email from Bob Bolton about Jack's surname (email 29/11/12)

I'm afraid the "Barry" spelling was pretty pervasive ... It's certainly the way his surname was spelled on the sleeve of the  Diaphon "Selections from Reedy River 10" (... not quite so...) LP ... and turns up in a number of BMC usages.

"Barry" is the obvious 'first guess' spelling for someone who doesn't check ...  I checked: I'm going by Jack's signature on the scan of the paper sleeve of the David Jones Wool Week (~1958) record that Rob Willis supplied to me!

Regards, 
Bob Bolton





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janet Wakefield -
Secretary, widow of early member and songwriter Stan Wakefield, responsible for the 1966 publication by BMC of Songs of Stan Wakefield. 

Janet was made an Honorary Life Member at the Stan Wakefield night in August 1967 in recognition of her energetic and conscientious service to the Club over the years (source Newsletter September 1967)






Alan Scott and Janet Wakefield  (BMC Archives, Maher collection)

Early Members reunion - Bill Scott, Frank Maher, Jack Wright, Jamie Carlin, Janet Wakefield, Alex Bowker, Rex Whalan, Barbara Gibbons, Alan Scott, Bill Berry - Bush Music Festival, 1986 (BMC Archives, Maher collection, Bob Bolton photo) 

Mulga Wire, no.111, October 1995
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Jamie Carlin - joined BMC soon after it was founded

Jamie's article on The First Few Years from our website


Jamie receiving his Life Member badge, August 2014 (Sandra Nixon photo)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bob Bolton

Mulga Wire, no.12, p.4, April 1979 - Bob was awarded Life Membership at the 1979 AGM.

Citation for Bob's National Folk Festival 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award
Bob Bolton - artist and professional photographer, publisher and editor, archivist and researcher, teacher and mentor, transcriber of traditional tunes, folklorist, bush musician and reciter.
Bob joined the Bush Music Club in the early 60s, served on its Committee for 40 years and is a Life Member. His contributions since 1998 on the Mudcat Cafe online discussion group helped spread Australian bush and folk traditions across the world.
As editor and archivist Bob helped disseminate Australian traditional folklore through BMC publications – Mulga Wire, Singabout, and many songbook collections – and also by providing photographs, information and research facilities to anyone who asked. He has attended almost every National Folk Festival since 1971 with camera and instruments in hand. His photographic archive of bush music events and of the Australian folk revival of the 70s and 80s was donated to the Australian National Library in 2014.
Hundreds of aspiring performers have benefited from Bob’s weekly participation at BMC’s Monday night workshops. He played in a number of bush bands and was a founder of Backblocks Bush Band, one of the first groups to play only collected material using only traditional instruments.
Bob Bolton has devoted a lifetime to maintaining folk traditions

Bob, c.1963 around the time he first visited BMC

Congratulations Bob, well earned.

I remember when Bob's older brother Eric would bring a young Bob along to the BMC's weekly workshops in about 1963 or '4. Who would have thought then that Bob would grow up to be such a very important cog in the BMC's wheel? The club owes so much to Bob: his profound knowledge on many subjects such as the folk movement, reed instruments, various histories (Australian, musical instruments and folk song and folklore histories to name just a few). Of course his wonderfully professional and extensive photo collection is a unique source for present and future generations. Bob's contributions to the Australian folklore movement, plus the dissemination of much material is of considerable national value and the award is a memorable legacy to him and his selfless efforts.

Chris Woodland. (Comment on blog article)


Bob with award, National Folk Festival 2017. (Photo Chris Woodland)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Dengate  (1938 - 2013) John was introduced to BMC in 1961 by another teacher at his school, his future wife Dale.

John Dengate - Story of a family Workshop conducted by John Dengate at the National Folk Festival (Canberra, Australia) April 2001. A collection of songs, poems and stories based on the lives and experiences of his own ancestors, covering the period from the 1830s to the present. (video by Wayne Richmond)

Memories of early days in the Bush Music Club by Dale Dengate 

.

Mulga Wire no. 12, April 1979 - nominations of Ronda Carlin, & John and Dale Dengate as Life members

Mulga Wire no. 13, June 1979, Nomination of John Dengate as Life Member

Photo by Chris Woodland at launch of John's 3rd book, 2012


Mulga Wire, no. 20, August 1980, page 3

Portrait of John,1979 by famous artist & family friend Sue White

************************************************************************************************* *************************************************************************************************