I hesitated to do it.
It felt almost like self-harm.
But in the end, I knew it was all over and I had to do it.
I cut off my Gympie Muster wristband.
What a fantastic festival it was!
And the weather Gods smiled benignly the entire time.
The Gympie Music Muster, running now since 1982, is truly an iconic National event.
And, unlike other major festivals which are sadly ‘folding their tents’, it seems to be going from strength to strength.
Was this Gympie’s biggest Muster ever?
The camping areas are certainly expanding every year.
But the organisation and the running of the event by the Gympie Apex Club, paid staff and an army of volunteers is seamless.
The entertainment this year, as always, was of the highest quality — featuring emerging talent, new and international performers, and seasoned favourites.
Something of a sentimentalist, I particularly enjoyed the blast from the past in fiddler Pixie Jenkins’ cameo appearance in The Muster Club on Sunday morning and Pete Denahy’s Travelling Country Band featuring a tribute to Slim Dusty and his wife Joy.
An evening appearance on the Main Stage by an evergreen Graeme Connors topped off the Retro menu beautifully for me.
There is so much to enjoy at the Muster.
I had a ball dancing to the Rock’n Roll Boys in the Crowbar and later I watched the bulls scoring the points in the bull ride in the New Gen Muster Arena.
The variety of food stalls is endless.
You can taste ethnic cuisine from around the globe.
On Friday I enjoyed empanadas from Argentina.
But for me, the best culinary treat was a beef burger with fresh salad trimmings from the Gympie Rotary Club kitchen.
Was that a Nolan’s Private Selection beef patty?
One of the great things about the Muster is the shared happiness.
Everyone is friendly— out for a good time, and not to spoil the day for anyone else.
Strangers smile and exchange greetings.
In the many years that I have attended the Muster I have never heard a voice raised in disapproval, let alone anger.
The Muster raises funds for charities.
This year, Rural Aid which, as the name implies, is an organisation that helps farmers and rural producers in times of need was a major beneficiary.
Congratulations to all who participated in the staging of another wonderful Gympie Muster.
Gympie can be justly proud of the festival.
Long May it flourish!
– Merv Welch,
The Palms.
