After an absence of four or five years, I attended the Gympie Music Muster on Friday and Sunday.
What a blast it was!
The crowds were huge!
I have never seen the hill in front of the Main Stage more packed than it was on both nights.
During the past several years much about the Muster has changed, although the basic geography of the entertainment sites is unaltered.
There appears to be much more fixed, or permanent, infrastructure.
One stand-out example is the upmarket VIP Verandah Bar with its up-close view of the main stage.
Another surprising addition since my last visit was the New Gen Equestrian Arena.
It hosted shows by well-known Susan River horseman, Guy Maclean, some daring and talented young women and bull-riders doing their best to stay on top of three quarters of a ton of violently lunging and twisting muscle.
But one of the most impressive features for me was what seems to be a triumphant revival in the popularity of dancing.
After a period of declining interest some years ago, it is now reaching new heights.
There were probably forty Cloggers, followed by sixty or more Rock and Rollers and finally the floor was jam-packed by probably a hundred hip-to-hip Line Dancers. All were obviously enjoying the experience.
Iconic local coffee manufacturer Nestle’ won favourable comment for generously dispensing free coffees along with a ‘sample bag’ containing a boxed coffee mug and sachets of instant coffee grounds. Free anything is a rarity these days!
The several bars were busy and there was an extensive range of food on offer, including traditional and ethnic dishes from many parts of the world.
And the entertainment was provided by some of Australia’s best known country singers as well as a number of international artists and bands.
There was plenty to choose from and enjoy.
But most impressive of all was the positive mood of the people.
It is a fun festival of course, but strangers smiled and exchanged greetings.
There was an uplifting feeling of connectedness.
Appropriately the major charity this year was an organisation called TIACS ‘which provides free mental health counselling to tradies and rural blue-collar workers Australia wide.’
Many patrons showed their commitment to the cause in colourful shirts bearing the slogan, ‘This is a conversation starter’.
A reminder of the importance of contact and engagement to our mental wellbeing.
Everything at The Muster runs so smoothly that it is easy to overlook the organisational skill and the cooperative effort (most of it voluntary) that conjures a throbbing, functioning mini-city in the heart of the Amamoor Forest.
I came away with the feeling that the Muster is essentially the spirit of Gympie.
And it is almost certainly the one event which gives Gympie a national profile.
Long may it flourish!
– Merv Welch,
The Palms
