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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 51| June 2001


Coonabarabran Old Time Band

Coonabarabran Old Time Band The Library's dance floor

From left to right:
Norman Barnes (drums), Terry Tighe (tenor saxophone) Graham Martin (alto saxophone),
Eva Anderson (mouth organ), and Mary Thompson (piano)

The Library’s dance floor

On the Thursday before Easter the Coonabarabran Old Time Band treated staff and visitors to the Library to a lively lunchtime performance in the foyer. Dancers from the Monaro Folk Club accompanied the Band, providing a wonderful display of traditional old-time dance.

The dance band was sponsored by the National Library to appear at the National Folk Festival in April 2001. As in the past, the sponsored group was also invited to be interviewed for the Library’s Oral History collection.

All of the members of the Band had been making music for many years. Graham Martin was a long time member of the renowned White Rose Orchestra, which travelled throughout country areas.

The Band gave two performances at the National Folk Festival, including a theme concert—Meet the Coonabarabran Old Time Band—and a very successful old-time dance. The dancers present complimented the band on both their performance and good dance tempo.

Sadly these performances may be their last. Mary and Eva are leaving Coonabarabran for personal reasons, and will not be available to play with the band. Rob Willis, the Library’s interviewer, has received two great letters from them thanking him and the Library for allowing the band to ‘finish up on a high’.
Dianne Dahlitz

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Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au

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