Gympie Muster 2012
On Friday August 26th my support worker and I travelled to the Amamoor State Forest to attend the 30th Optus Gympie Music Muster. As I’m a member of the Apex Club of Bundaberg, Apex is a major sponsor of the country music event. The Gympie Apex asked other Apex clubs round Queensland to help with running the festival. My club drove round campsites and assisted with being camp wardens. Camp Wardens were responsible for public relations and enquiries at the campsites as well as asking people to extinguish their fires outside of the allotted campfire permit times, ensure that people had appropriate camp permits and that their sites were within a reasonable size.
After Bryan and I set up camp in the people with disabilities camping site, we went to the Apex site and caught up with my mates who had been there all week. Over a couple of drinks the members shared stories about their experiences visiting campsites. Bryan cooked satay chicken for dinner prior to going to the night session at the Main stage. Troy Cassar-Daily, Canadian Band – Doc Walker & Heart Throb, Adam Brand entertained the country strong crowd which were dancing and singing in the rain. I was wrapped up in a tarp to keep me dry! Adam Brand joined the crowd in singing in the rain. One lucky eight year-old boy, George had the opportunity to play the drums during one of Adam’s songs, and then Adam gave George the drum kit. I wonder whether the neighbors will be happy about George’s new toy.
Saturday I was supposed to help the Apex Club of Gympie selling tickets or on the gate but most of members were assisted people with pulling their vehicles out of the mud. Bryan and I looked round the Muster. We were due for new hats, so we wandered over the hat stand and bought our new hats, Bryan got a black hat and I bought a blue one, we looked like couple of cowboys.
My mates told me about The Bundy Rum Bear Treasure Hunt, they directed me to The Bundy stand to receive my Bundy Bear Passport. There were questions in the passport which my mates gave me the answers. I had to be photographed with the Bundy Rum girls as part of the passport process, but I had to find them (which is one of my favorite past-times, searching for girls!). Lucky, I found one straight away, if only it‘s that easy (finding a girl). It took a while to discover the others.
We enjoyed the watching the afternoon session with drinks. The 2008 Telstra Road to Tamworth Winner Jasmine Rae struck her stuff. With songs included, Hunky Country Boys, Pink Guitar, Look It Up, Country singer, and Jasmine’s new single “I Faked it.” Jasmine has made her mark in the Country music scene. And she has also been support act for Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson and Joe Nichols. Jasmine recorded a duet with Joe Nichols, “I’ll try Anything” which on her latest album, Listen Here.
As well as the main stage, The Muster has smaller venues to experience entertainment such as The Bar and The Wine bar where singers can perform to a smaller audience. Bryan and I made our way through the rain and mud to The Crow Bar where comedian
Akmal did a show. Akmal is from Greystone near Parramatta where Bryan grew up, and Bryan appreciated Akmal’s jokes about his hometown.
The rain was streaming down as we searched for shelter to have dinner, it seemed where water and mud is there are kids sliding in it, to the parent’s distress. The evening ended with a concert by Shane Nicholson and heavy pregnant Kasey Chambers.
The sun came out Sunday when Bryan and I packed the car before talking a final look at The Muster. The Bundy Rum Girls agreed to another photo with me. We went to the XXXX pub where the XXXX gold angels danced. A friend arranged 2 angels to come down for a photo and the angels gave a signed calendar. What a great weekend.
