NOTE: This archived newsletter may refer to events, links etc that have since been updated and may no longer be valid. Please read this article as a historical record rather than a source of current information.
Post-Gathering Newsletter Feb 26th 2009
Pure folkational therapy!
Well what a ripper that was! Who’d have thought all those years ago that Brian and Viv Tonkin’s initiative would’ve come to this? It’s such a pity they weren’t able to join us but, as we said in the party celebrations with the cutting of the cake, we were all thinking of them with our gratitude for what they started. It was great to see other ‘originals’ there too – Peter and Annie Thornton of course, as well as Ivan and Cherie, and Noel from the campsite, Nell, and the wonderful Nigel and Susan Blake from the pub. Everyone who has done their bit over the years has reason to be proud of the Frances Gathering and how they’ve kept it going.
And that includes, every bit as much, the Friends of Frances team - they’re the local community folk who do so much in the way of the set-up, camping and catering. What a cracking job they do being so thoroughly prepared - and that’s what makes everything run so much more smoothly for us and for the thousands who arrive over the weekend. Thank you Frances Folk!
As we always promise, we keep Frances ‘the same but different’ each year. We’ll keep working to keep the Gathering full of effs – free, family, fun, friendship and frolics.
After Eric Bogle and Hardrive (bluegrass) last year, we moved to Australiana with Dave de Hugard and others, Celtic with Celtaclysmic and featuring old friends, the Gov Players led by Pat Organ, and quality-folk-cum-whackiness with Martin Pearson.
We also listened to your feedback about Sunday morning and had real wins with the ‘Fruits of Frances’ concert and with the expanded blackboard concert. Both events let us see even more of the fantastic talent – budding or experienced – that’s around.
Talking of feedback – we take it seriously, so please send it in via email folk@francesfolkgathering.com.au or use the form at http://www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/feedback.php. We want to keep the quality of this great Gathering high so we’ll do all we can to take your feedback on board. Please let us know your suggestions and to tell us how we’re doing. Now’s a good time to send your reflections on the 2009 Gathering.
Thank you every single person who helped make Frances Gathering’s tenth birthday a real success – whether volunteers, Oli, the 3 year-old singer of Puff the Magic Dragon, the Mixed Grill participants, the two-dozen plus blackboard acts, our invited guests, all the competition entrants and the judges, the dancers (and band), the poets, the wonderful workshop leaders, all the session players and singers (seven sessions at least counted on each of Friday and Saturday nights but a meagre four on Sunday), for the b'loons, the vine sculptures (Dagny Strand), the concert acts, the hosts, MCs, cake-makers, the clowning and the gowning, the gum-boot tossing, and plain old everyone who just came and tapped, clapped and sang along. It’s a Gathering, it’s community – thank you all.
Regrettably, we have to offer apologies to the many acts who offered concert spots or workshops but who we just couldn’t squeeze in. We really appreciate your support and enthusiasm because we know you still came along and contributed in other ways.
There were sad reflections at the Gathering with the very recent bushfire tragedy still with us – for some, intimately so. Our thanks to all for respecting the National Day of Mourning through the one-minute silence on Sunday and for contributing to the Bushfire Appeal.
The Gathering had its own sadness with the loss of Andrew’s guitar. There is an image and description of this at http://www.schickster.com.au/Andrews%20Terada.jpg so please help spread the word and keep your eyes peeled at events. Obviously we can be sure that no local or folkie would have done such a thing and those responsible need to understand that the instrument is literally unique. The collection at the Gathering raised about $1000 towards another guitar – although there will not be another for Andrew like this one. We all hope the guitar just turns up – no questions asked. If this does happen, the money raised will transfer to the Bushfire Appeal.
To return to happier matters, here’s some useful information for you:
- The first set of pictures is already up on the website. Just go to http://www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/gallery.shtml. Please let us have your best snaps to post too – send them to librarian@francesfolkgathering.com.au.
- If you’d like to see the competition results then head for http://www.francesfolkgathering.com.au/competitions.shtml.
- If you’d like to purchase the DVD of the weekend it’s at http://www.scheffilmproductions.com/shop.html.
- Diary date one – Sat Sept 5th will be the second FolkWIZZ (in Adelaide) – a seriously whacky evening’s fun fundraiser for Frances Gathering – (see, more effs)!
- Diary date two – Fri 26th-Sun 28th Feb 2010 is the Elevenff Gathering
And did you know…? Frances Folk Gathering was included in the discussion of Australian Folk festivals on the ABC’s Radio National Bush Telegraph program. The feature is available at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bushtelegraph/default.htm.
Almost finally…we send our sincere thanks and good wishes to Nigel and Susan after more than ten years of solid dedication to the success of the Gathering. (Not that we’re letting Nigel off committee duties mind!) You have served both the town and this event wonderfully. In fact, the Gathering could not have happened without you. Thank you and all the best to you and the children.
Cheers everyone! Please, help in whatever way you can, spread the Frances Folk Gathering word, get people onto this newsletter, and keep an eye on the website for developments and information.
All the best in folk at Frances
Steve Keirl on behalf of the Coordinating Group
www.francesfolkgathering.com.au