Counting Down
It’s now the Tuesday before Easter and the camp site is beginning to fill. Judy Baker and her volunteers at the Old Well Station Road ticket office are busy. There had been a steady stream of campers for most of Monday and now more arriving this morning (Tuesday). Little communities begin to spring up all around the camp ground marking out their spots with special decorations, flags and all manner of camping paraphernalia. Excited exchanges mark rekindled acquaintances and friendships from previous Nationals. Those already set up and settled in lounge casually on folding camp chairs perusing the program, checking out performer bios and marking up their copies of the program grid with potential must sees. Decisions, decisions… spoilt for choice.
On the ground it can sometimes look like a ragtag army; volunteers, contractors, staff, but believe me, they are all busily working on a myriad of tasks to have the site ready for the Thursday opening. Below on the left that’s Ted flying the flags, his unmistakable yellow van in the bottom left hand corner of the pic. Amazing that he does it all by himself (with the help of his dog of course). On the right are the bare bones of a stage in the Marquee. Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine it’s Friday night and the tent is seething with people and filled with glorious music. It’s getting close! Stall holders are also arriving and setting up, the most anticipated being COFFEE. Once “Coffee Pete” is firmly established and trading, we all sigh with relief. There’s something very memorable about that first on-site coffee taken up to the staff office and consumed with hot cross buns of which there is never a shortage.
By Tuesday evening much of the infrastructure is actually in place and the lighting, dressing and refining of venues and the entertainment zone in general becomes the next major focus. Feeling exhausted? You should be. Thank the stars then for the 1200 or so volunteers who work across some 61 teams to deliver over 24,500 work hours and give so generously of their time and experience. Of course, that’s not counting the extensive preparatory work by Coordinators and the many additional hours offered by volunteers in the Set Up & Pack Down teams. A massive effort. Phew!!!
As night falls it’s time to have some down time back at the campsite, relax, catch up on the day’s activities, play a tune or share a song. Maybe you’d like to check out some of the artists circled on the grid above by our mystery camper. Go for it.
Mike McClellan Jellyman’s Daughter Crystal Robins Super Rats
Alaska String Band Aidan Connolly The New Graces Zambezi Sounds
And don’t forget to click on the artist’s photos to check out their websites and support them by downloading some of their music.
Folk Music Matters 