Post Festival Feelings...

Dear Mark & Jo and Marg and All,

…I don't know where to start: to say how incredibly overjoyed I am at this weekend. It exceeded any and all expectations myself, my colleagues and our kids had. Not a single one of the Leo's & Loreto kids had anything less than an awesome time - they all had the times of their lives - meeting other kids & people in general with whom they shared something in common: Mungindi and MUSIC! On the bus back today we all agreed that we will always remember the Friday night: after all the anxiety & trials we experienced that day, to then have them play with a fervour I have never heard them do before, and to have all these people gathered around them late in the evening like totally digging them! For me I will never forget their faces as I conducted them (with a lump growing in my throat & my eyes welling up) one-by-one glance up from their music and see this crowd thronged around them just wanting to hear them play! It really was a new experience for so many of them. The genuinity of spirit of the Festival continued to touch them all weekend.

Marg, we were totally blown-away by the amazing hospitality …Mark & Jo, I can't really explain in words what an inspiration you both are to me. Whether its me and my RusselHammond/SteveWilliams-type wanna-be symphonic-band thang, or the SYO Symphony orchestra thang, or the alcoholic Conservatorium music thang, or the older WindJammers thang, jazz legends like Don Burrows,or random country-music bands, the new-metal Nucleus band, whatever, EVERYONE seems to have a place in your musical world. Your passion & un-wavering dedication for music is like nothing I have ever really seen and it inspires me every day in all the different things I do.

Thankyou all so much for giving me and my kids the chance to come. It really has taken the whole vibe of my two bands to another 'place' altogether. The undiscriminating joy of music-making was alive at Mungindi this weekend, and I reckon it truly touched a lot of young lives in one way or another. Thank you so much again, all the best and we'll see you around.

Cheers, Matt Dempsey

Loreto Normanhurst

…It was simply fabulous! Thank you so much - you and your team did a marvelous job, and it was such fun! I know all the Windjammers had a great time, and we enjoyed playing as well as listening to all the great talent that's around, that we don't usually get a chance to hear.

Helena Boden

Windjammers

…I couldn't wait to get to the next event I admired the talent of the conductor Brian Buggy who so expertly extracted and produced such wonderful sounds from so many (and so young) musicians and their instruments. I enjoyed the little groups of breakaway musicians who in their own right also sounded so wonderful, and the local and not so local bands and choirs with their conductors, sometimes their music teachers, so enthusiastically directed. The turning point for me was when Don Burrows explained about Jazz whilst introducing the Japanese piece he played with Kevin Hunt…What joy!

Everything else was a bonus - Enjoying Mark Walton as he kept up the momentum of the performances - that was entertainment in itself! …The promoting of Mungindi with the different stalls, excellent choices of food and drinks (best meat at the barby) And everywhere - always greeted by the warm hospitality of the town and country folk of Mungindi. The variety of the venues - a sheep shed, a wheatfield, down by the river under the gum trees And to find at each venue, every little thing had been thought of and catered for & I will never forget arriving in the wheatfield at “Yarrawa” and that scene of the grandest white marquee in the waving wheat, yet another Tucker Tent, and everything about the country - friendly familiar faces, tractors, ploughs, baled hay, a clear, not too hot, sunshiny day, dust and flies and mozzie nets!

Bron Cameron

4 Valley Vista Road

Maleny Qld 4552

Thank you for your invitation to perform at the Mungindi Music Festival 2007. It was a memorable experience for both Vanessa and I, and we thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the weekend of great music.

We really appreciated the kindness and hospitality of the people of Mungindi. Thank you for a fine weekend.

Kindest regards,

Michael and Vanessa Varecka

My lad just arrived back from the Festival. He said that this was the best they ever played, because of the people. I believe that the few days spent in your Fair Town will rest with him for the rest of his life! He still has a couple of "Mungindi" money notes and is about to pin them on the wall. Many, many thanks for the way the kids of the SYO were looked after, the Bush at its best.

Kind regards Christian Burnat.

PS: Theo has informed me that he will come back in two years on his own steam if needs be...

Dear Marg and all the rest of the committee,

Thank you so much for organising such a fabulous festival. The hospitality of your town and the amazing way you managed to coordinate such an influx of people with such grace and flair. A particular thank you and appreciation to members of the pony club who turned up at 6 every morning to make sure we had breakfast out at tent city. Even on one morning to provide sausages, what luxury.

Such an insight into the workings of a small town is not something us city dwellers get to see very often, so it was a fabulous experience. And not to mention the music!!!!!!!!! The energy level alone of all the performers, the calibre of performances, the variety and the unity that was evident is often missing in the all too competitive world of the city. It is so wonderful to see the friendships that formed through music and continue despite going back to busy lives.

For our part we will keep the memories of Mungindi alive and try to continue those values in our own teaching and performing. May we see you again at another festival where hearts can well and tears can flow freely for the beauty of music in the bush.

Yours truly,

Tracey Fraser-Swatton and Ben Swatton

What a superb weekend we had! I felt so privileged to be there. I just marveled at your organisation as I watched the huge trucks roll in with equipment and relaxed under those huge marquees. How wonderful was that Saturday night concert with Mark playing the Artie shaw concerto with all those little super brains and Brian Buggy conducting. And the Sunday by the river was magic (as you knew it would be). You have an incredible legacy there with the Mungindi song. Now wasn't that something really special. It should stay with you for generations.Your team was so professional, so talented. I just wallowed in it. Imagine how that little U3A choir felt with David miller accompanying and Don Burrows playing along! Now where else could that possibly happen to them?

You can gather I had a good weekend. Thanks so much. I think you are wonder women. Congratulations!

Betty Smith

Dear Marie,

Here we are back in Sydney and Mungindi Music Festival 2007 is now a wonderful memory that we will never forget!

Thank you so much for the energy and commitment you and all your colleagues have invested into this marvellous weekend of events. As a young performer and educator there would be no more significant way for Jessica to have marked her 21st birthday than to be participating in such a marvellous inter-community musical spectacular. Thank you to each and every one of you for all your hard work and for making each of us, your visitors, feel so welcome.

May I ask you also to please to pass on my special thanks to Geoff and his wife at the Bakery for their kindness in preparing such a gorgeous cake for Jessica’s 21st, Cookie for going to the trouble of organising a connection with Geoff Wharton on my behalf, Sue for the kind loan of her card table, lace cloth, knife and lighter and the very lovely Lynne and her daughter who so kindly drove from one end of town to the other to collect the cake, collect me, deliver both and organise cold room storage as well as prepare and serve breakfast to the masses each day!

Special thanks to our wonderful bus drivers, John and Andy who got us all safely to where we needed and wanted to be, even when we missed the first bus!

The box of cakes was the talk of the train and was enjoyed with delight by the ‘Tent City’ musicians and our friends in the U3A Choir. Please extend our appreciation to the cake baking team~ delicious! Thank you all. The amazing Mark Walton and Jo, Margaret Harrison your Music Festival President, Committee, musicians, special guests and your town make a phenomenal combination! We are honoured to have had the opportunity to take part in Mungindi Music Festival 2007! The music, the experience, your teamwork and hospitality are an inspiration to all.

May God bless you and your wonderful town!

Most sincerely yours,

Penny Lyons

Hi Marg

Thought I’d drop you a quick note to say how much Taurus enjoyed the weekend at Mungindi and to congratulate you and the members of Bated Breath on your wonderful performances. Two years ago there were three nervous clarinettists from Mungindi. This time round there was a whole ensemble playing with such confidence, skill and enthusiasm. Brilliant!

Tony, Sam and myself enjoyed all our performances. What a fantastic reception we received at the Friday night concert with everyone singing along to The Outback Club and Khe Sahn. The Saturday night dance seemed at first to be a big ask - following the SYO Philharmonic and Don Burrows/Kevin Hunt but it turned out to be quite freaky – 2 ½ hours of non-stop dancing with one of the most enthusiastic audiences you could ever hope to entertain. In spite of some prior misgivings the Mungindi Idol concert was an absolute blast with such a variety of talent, all well received by the “fly-blown” audience. And what about the winner? Wasn’t she something else? Sunday night was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you can’t really explain to anybody who didn’t actually experience it. You just had to be there.

It is a great credit to yourself and your hardworking helpers that such an event was so successfully staged in spite of all the attendant difficulties. Amazing. Thanks again for allowing us the opportunity to participate.

Cheers

Wilf MacBeth

Taurus

Last weekend I had the great pleasure and privilege to be present at the Mungindi Music Festival. Without a doubt, this was one of the most enjoyable and inspiring events I have ever seen. The high level of community commitment and engagement, the enthusiasm and dedication of the volunteers, the talent of the musicians and the professional organisation of the festival made it outstanding. There was an amazing air of goodwill and camaraderie throughout the festival. Rarely have I seen such a large group of people in total enjoyment over such a large range of events. I commend and thank you and your team for your inspirational commitment to your community and for your foresight and dedication to a truly fantastic festival. Best wishes for success in obtaining funding for the continuation of this important event.

Ann Gouge

Bundaberg

Merchandise

2005 Music Festival Merchandise is still available.

Mungindi Music Festival 2005 DVD	$25.00

Mungindi Music Festival 2005 DVD

$25.00

Musicians

Must register by the 1st August 2007. Registration fees are $33 per person.

If you wish only to sing in the Festival choir you do not have to register as a musician. Just turn up to rehearsal at the Festival on Saturday afternoon (time and venue to be advised).

If you would like to attend the Friday night concert and are not performing that night unfortunately you will have to purchase a ticket for that evening (early bird price is $20). This is due to limited seating at the Town Hall. Entry to every other venue will be free for musicians.