Special Concerts At Spray Farm And Perth Royal Yacht Club (2001)
Spray Farm At Geelong
In February 2001 I was lucky enough to yet again go to Australia to see my favourite folk group the Seekers. I must first of all say a special thank you to Norma Randal and her husband George for letting me stay with them, we had a wonderful time together. It was also nice to meet some more of my friends, i.e. John&Lesley, Richard Saunders, Jens Koch from Denmark, Leeanne Butler, Graham Lees and his wife Teresa, and Peter Kington. Norma and I had a nice time visiting the old Seekers haunts with some of our friends, we even collected a piece of the Treble Clef and took it along to West Rock to present to Athol, where a few of us stopped the night. He was there to greet us and showed us around his Seekers museum and then took us off to his local restaurant for coffee. After we went to Hanging Rock winery and then went for a meal, I enjoyed my stay there very much. The day before the concert at Spray Farm (Geelong) Norma, George and myself went into Melbourne to pick up my flowers for Judith which caused us a little concern to keep them cool, as we were meeting up with the rest of our friends to go for a meal down by the river Yarra. Next morning we were up early getting ready for the show, after we had some breakfast we organized the flowers for keeping them fresh for Judith was my main concern, they went on a bit of a sight-seeing trip but arrived at the concert in very good condition. On arriving at Spray Farm we heard the Seekers warming up for the show - what a treat that was! Then came the time we all were waiting for: the Seekers coming on stage to a tremendous roar. It was a hot afternoon but one I shall never forget with the crowning moment for me presenting my bouquet of flowers to Judith whilst she was on stage, and the way she curtseyed to me in acknowledgement it was a wonderful outdoors venue with a perfect back drop of the Bay. I was so lucky at this show meeting Seekers' manager John Kovac, Judith's sister Beverley who was so nice, her biographer Graham Simpson and of course talking to my favourite four THE SEEKERS. After that I was looking forward to the Perth concert.
My photos of my trip to Australia.
Judith Signing Autographs for fans Money For M.N.D. Athol Chatting to a fan.
Puffing Billy Ride. Bruce signing autographs for fans. John Kovac At Spray Farm.
Keith Chatting to Fans. Lesley and Myself at Spray Farm concert Surfin Seekers having dinner near Hanging Rock.
Yacht Royal Club Perth
With the days going by so quickly it was soon time to say good bye to Norma and George for a while, As I was to meet up with Richard Saunders for a trip to Perth. The flight was around three hours and we arrived at midday to temperatures well into the eighties. After we sorted out our accommodations, me in my Youth hostel, and Richard a little further along in a hotel, we decided to split for a while. Richard went for a swim whilst I had a look around the city. Perth is not a big city so getting around was fairly easy, I found a place where I could buy some flowers for Judith which Richard shared with me. Later in the day we both met up again and went for a meal next to where Richard was staying, unknowing to us John and Lesley was stopping at the same hotel. The next day I went shopping in the city as I had to stay close to pick up the flowers, I would have gone to Fremantle to look around but the temperature was too much to do any sight-seeing. Richard however went to visit Rottnest Island, we agreed to meet up around 5 o'clock to make our way down to the concert at the Bay. We took a taxi which kept the flowers cooler and also us. On arriving at the yacht club security was tight, so tight in fact I was not allowed to take the flowers in for Judith - an official took them to Judith's changing room for me. A few moments later we met up with John & Lesley and Jens Koch, I went in to find a seat near the stage as seating was unreserved and Richard had to sort out his suitcase with Graham less who was taking him to the airport after the concert. I managed to get right in the front with the sun blazing down - it was going to be a great show. The Seekers were on first and they all looked so relaxed and as they went through their performance everyone joined in with the hits and it was so nice to see that all the group knew we were there and acknowledged us from the stage. After the concert Richard and I went backstage, Where Athol and Keith came up to us and wished us a safe Journey home and thanked us for coming. Later John & Lesley joined us while we waited for Judith, and true to form she came up to us and thanked us all for our support. She stayed and talked for quite a few minutes before saying goodbye. I really had a wonderful time at both these outdoors concerts and it was made even more enjoyable meeting up with my friends, and a special thank you again to Norma & George for their kind hospitality.