August 29, 2024 • 15 mins
This week in your local news wrap:
- The "chaotic crash" that closed the Bruce Highway for 24 hours
- A rehabilitation service marks 30 years
- Catch up with the lead singer of The Whitlams on the band's transition into country
- And Bundaberg to host its first Legends of League game
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I have White Baybernette. Welcome to Iheartlight bay Burnette, your
local news fix. I'm Taylor Larson, joined by Bruce Atkinson.
Coming up today, a rehabilitation serve at smarks a milestone
and we catch up with an Aussie band that's taking
on a new genre.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Starting with something that's been the talk of the region.
This week. A major crash between Ginger and Miriam Vale
closed the Bruce Highway for twenty four hours and it's
renewed calls to upgrade the road. Six be doubles were involved,
and low visibility caused two ambulances to crash on their
way there. Three men were taken to hospital. A twenty
nine year old has since died. Corey Hindley owns Bunderberg
(00:37):
q Car Towing and was on his way to an
unrelated breakdown when he nearly crashed into the long queue
of traffic backed up from the initial pile up.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Come around a blind bend and there was just no warning.
There was a couple of trucks on the side of
the road with the hazards on and I didn't realize
what was going on little on the side of the way,
but as I come around the corner. The A couple
of trucks were still in the lane, so I had
to swerve to miss them, And as I swerved to
miss those guys, I backed back off the road. So
we get you know, And then then all over the
USGF was saying there was a track accident, probably about
a couple of kilometers ahead of where I was. And
(01:05):
then two animals came through a b doubles trying to
get off the road. As they're getting off the road,
the end was just wouldn't says it, Just a freak accident.
There the be double trying to get the road. So
and then the two animals just collected that truck and
then put them into the ditch. And the visibility was
like you couldn't see like five ten minutes in front
of you. I didn't even see the hazard until I
was nearly right on top of it for the trucks.
And plus there was a fire close by too, so
there was a lot of smoke in the area and fogs.
(01:27):
That was really bad. And then and that shuts the
road is really you know, potholes everywhere, and she's a
bit of a bad bit of the road.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Corey travels the road regularly, and says the area where
the crash happened is dangerous the whole.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It's my record, but definitely definitely that bit of the road, Yeah,
is very dangerous there. And well I can't say much
for where the trucks exactly were because I wasn't at
at that scene or will trouble that road at that night,
But yeah, before that year, it was definitely only coming
around the corner, I was only doing sixty seventy because
you couldn't do any more than that, because you couldn't
do the speed because of it, because of the fog,
and just because the road wasn't that good. But contributed
was definitely the fog.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
He was traveling to a breakdown where a car and
busted a wheel in a pothole on the highway. He
says that sort of call out isn't uncommon. He's joined
locals and calling for upgrades, but doubts it will happen
anytime soon.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
They're just about to open up that expressway that goes
through a gimpy now and you got from Curray that
goes back into Gimpy, and it's just they're not doing
any maintenance on that because what's some point of spending
money on that when it's going to be a lot
less trappy on there. And that's a bad stretch. Just
going from Tyro back in the gimpy, that's a real
bad stretch. And then you got Marrat but it's sort
of been upgraded up back to Torba Lee and it's
a lot smoother now. But then give up that it's
just from Howard all the way back up all the
(02:32):
way all the way to towns is not not that good.
But the bad stretch would be in between. I would say,
coming here Maryborough Howard to at least or at least
at least Mirrion Vale.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, Corey isn't sure what the answer is.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
I don't know, mate. I pay enough regail on the
truck out to pay enough re jail. And you know
what someone saying the other day, you got to you
got to keep your trucking car road worthy, but you
know the roads and not roade worthy for the car,
you know what I mean. It makes it hard when
you give your bust and tires and you doing mat
on the truck every now and then just for springs
and stuff, just because of that main o way. And
I travel from I don't do a big distance like
these big trucks, but I do from Bunderberg to Brisbane
(03:07):
at least once a week. I do that trip and
then up the Rocky one to four night. It depends
on how they run it.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Meanwhile, the Ambulance Services Tony Hucker has praised the efforts
of the two paramedics who crashed but continued to work
despite minor injuries.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Not only is that distressing, but it held them up
getting to the patients that they really want to care for.
But to their credit, they soldiered on. They got their
gear out of their ambulances, through their gear into a
fire truck and traveled about a kilometer to the accident scene.
This is how spread the accident scene was. There was
a long, a long lineup of trucks that had pulled
(03:42):
up on this really foggy, foggy night, so they were
able to get to the patients and assist the first
officer that was already on scene. So we had three paramedics,
three patients, all really sick, trapped in their vehicles, and
these three paramis did a very very good job caring
for them till back up arrived.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
And to plea from Tony to take care on the roads.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
You must drive to the conditions. Whenever you're driving at night,
the risk goes up when you put fog into the mix.
It is dangerous, so you need to slow right down
and if it's too bad, you should pull over and
not drive at all. It's really simple, but roads are dangerous.
We need to be so careful of Bruce Highway is
a long highway in our country. It's one hundred k
(04:24):
speed limit and there are bends and swerves and we
need to be very, very mindful that even on a
good day, highway driving in this country can be dangerous.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Two days after Tuesday's crash, another truck rolled about twenty
k's north on the highway and the driver was taken
to hospital.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
A program which helps cardiac patients regain their confidence and
health is celebrating a milestone. This week marked thirty years
of Heart Start and it's walking track, which has been
utilized by thousands over the years. Program director Lucy Ashby
says it sounds simple. Rehabilitation benefits have been proven.
Speaker 6 (05:02):
The benefit from it is to just get people out
in the community walking to assist with their heart health
as well as having a little bit of a social
aspect as well, which I know that the participants really
sort of appreciate too. And you don't have to do
a lot of exercise to reap the benefits. And it's
a really sort of it's a great space. It's supervised,
(05:24):
so clients feel nice and safe.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
The team helps people from Bunderberg and the broader wide Bay.
This past financial year, referrals to the service reached an
all time high.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Cardiovascular disease I believe is around sort of I think
seconds or maybe even the first sort of chronic disease
that affects people and is one that is very prevalent
in sort of the Bunderberg community.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Once passing a six minute walking test, clients are assigned
a certain stage of the walking circle. Lucy says it
helps them to track their own progress.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
The whole circle and the track is measured at two
hundred meters, so each of those track numbers and around
those tracks are two hundred meters.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And while the program has changed over thirty years, the
walking track has stayed central to the community past and present.
Participants got a few laps in earlier this week to
help mark the milestone.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
It has sort of transitioned over time the Heart Start program,
so it did start with the walking track. However, we
do offer services now as a gym base Hetting two
for cardiac rehabilitation. So generally what happens now is a
client will get referred to us and then they'll engage
in an eight week cardiac rehabilitation exercise program twice a week,
(06:41):
and then they'll then have the option of transitioning to
the walking track program. So it's sort of it's changed
a little bit in the last thirty years, but the
walking track program is one that's great after the gym
because it maintains that sort of social support as well,
and it is supervised by health professionals too.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
After the break, why NRL Grates are back in action.
Speaker 7 (07:08):
I Herve White Babnad, I Herve White Babnad.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You're listening to Iheartli Bay Bernette. I'm Taylor Larson joined
by Bruce Atkinson.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Much loved Australian band, The Whitlams have been around for
more than twenty years and have undergone a few transformations
in that time. The Lad's change saw them performing at
the Ghimbee Music Muster last weekend as the Whitlam's Black Stump.
Tim Frieden has still lead vocals and on keyboard, but
he's surrounded himself with some of Australia's best country musicians.
I sat down with Tim on a haybale at the
(07:41):
Muster to find out about the band's new direction.
Speaker 7 (07:44):
I put a song out in twenty twenty one called
Man About a Dog and it was about driving through
the hills and the Northern rivers just after a drought broke,
and it got played on country radio, and so I
started listening to country radio, and I realized that I
liked country music and I was touring in the country
towns just as much as any country artist, you know,
just me and my piano and subaru. So I rang
Matt Fell from the Mudgie Pub. I said, Matt put
(08:05):
a session together and he invited his dream band into
this studio, Sony Studios and East Sidney in twenty one
and the band is still together.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
I was actually talking to Denver, who was on Australian Idol.
She won the Talent Quest here last year. Catches back
again this year has finished at third in Australian Island.
And we're talking about the stigma of country music, and
I've copped it for years being a country music fair.
So how was it crossing over into that world? Have
you been accepted?
Speaker 7 (08:30):
I don't think there's a stigma in a country music
to be really cool. But I don't get any of
it because I come to the sort of country, the
country rock, sort of Steve Lucinda Williams, Neil Young the band.
I also like George Jones, love hearing him sing. And
I've started to really educate myself in the history, you know,
all the way back to you know, Hankin and all
(08:52):
the country swing and Nashville stuff. I haven't had any
bad pushback. I think anyone that wants to come along
for the ride with me comes to see the Whitlams
black stuff. There are fans that just like to see
the Whitlams the four piece play the songs that they
sound like, the albums they've got at home, and I
make sure I do that once a year as well.
So it's almost like I've increased my audience as opposed
to fragmented it with the country.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Say that ghippie muster here that's been going for since
nineteen eighty two. There's a real following and it's record
year since COVID has been record numbers every year. While
around everywhere else there's a lot of festivals, the Bile
Blade Blues Fest, Splendor in the Grass, Stacks of others
are being canceled. Country music is going really well by
(09:32):
the sound of it.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
I think the secret is that it knows what it
does and it does it well. I think the festivals
are in trouble that sort of try and cater to
a generation or an age group, whereas Port Fairy folk
festivals doing well as well because it does folk and
it does it well. So it's almost like narrow casting.
And I really appreciate that because I've never really been
part of a scene. We've always paddled our own canoe.
(09:54):
So I always do a narrow cast festival every year.
It's called the Whitlams Festival, and I play every capital
city every year for the last twenty years. So if
people know what they're going to get, they're more inclined
to come along and relive their memories.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
So for the Whitlams and now the Whitlam's Black Stump,
you're not that relying on these festivals, but a lot
of people do. As a musician assume it's probably a
pretty big deal to get out to these festivals, get
yourself seen and stuff. How important are festivals for bands
or is Google and social media and TikTok taken over?
Speaker 7 (10:26):
Oh look, it's pretty hard to generalize. I never relied
on them personally, and in fact, I think it's a
bit harder to get out there and establish your own
touring route rather than rely on festivals. So you're asking
the wrong guy. I've always been very proud to Paddleman Canoe.
These festivals are important to me because we're a developing act.
Even though we're called the Whitlams, we're the Whitlam's black stump.
(10:46):
These five guys. We've only been together for eighteen months
on the road, so it's a wonderful opportunity for us
to play the country music fans.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
As Matt fell from Gimpee, So that's pretty cool that
is in this fantastic band with some of the best
musicians and yourself in Australia. It's amazing for a bloke
who started with adding Gippie and here he is.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
Yeah, Matt came to We had a run this morning
because we haven't played for a few months we hired
a local studio and had a run at nine o'clock
and he turned up and he said, man, that was
really strange driving past where I used to play cricket
and footy and go to school. And because he hadn't
been here for a few years, so he was very
he was very wistful this morning when he walked in
at nine am. And of course he's won, you know,
(11:24):
god not its fifteen twenty cold guitars in the last decade,
so he's a real institution. And Ride McCormack, who's next
to him on stage, is one. Even more so. I
do have a lot of gimpy experience in the band,
even if I'm a virgin.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
How have you found that the muster? Did you get
a chance you had a duet last last night?
Speaker 8 (11:40):
I believe.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Did you have a chance to look around in other
venues or you're sort of in and out and if
you had to look around, what do you make of it?
Speaker 8 (11:45):
No?
Speaker 7 (11:45):
No, I've had a good look around. I've had a
look at every stage, just because I like to see
the infrastructure. And I've had a good up up and
down Eighth Street. And you know, I know enough to
know that there's a big queue outside that palel a
place every night. Look, it's wonderful watching people. It's very
booze driven, which is old fashioned. You know. That's better
than the kids with their starry eyes and the little
glasses of water doing all sorts of terrible things to
(12:06):
their serotonin uptakers at the other festivals. So good old
fashioned people watching and real music lovers.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Footy fever isn't showing any signs of dying down around Bunderberg.
We held our third NRL game this month. Our local
round is nearing the Grand Final and now more league
action is on the way. The town will hold its
first Legends of League event in October at the Brothers
Sports Club. The program has been running since two thousand
and three and sees a team of Ossie All Stars
(12:38):
go up against a local All star side. Former NRL
player Craig Teven tells us just some of the big
names we can expect.
Speaker 9 (12:46):
Cliffy Lyons or a Legend of the game are is
Benny Hennett, seem Thyday, former Broncos captain Alex glennsay. They're
just a few of the players that we bring in
looking forward to taking on a red hot Bunderberg All
Star side.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
The action won't be limited to the field.
Speaker 9 (13:01):
What we're very proud of in the players that come
along as are very accessible too. We're in the schools
for a couple of days on Wednesday and Thursday with
some key messages that we talk in the schools. But
then on the Friday we have a corporate day and
the players are involved in a Bowls day and the
dinner and tickets will be available to the public. And
then come and see them play on the Saturday night
and get them selvies with the players and as you said,
(13:22):
it's on your doorstep. They're playing in Bunderberg and you
might not have thought you were going to see them
player again.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
It'll be the ninety seventh event of its kind. So
after so long, why Bundy and why now? Well, it's
come from a push from local Antonio Kefusi, who's played
for various NRL clubs and represented Queensland, Australia and Tonga.
Is also played in the Aussie All Stars team a
few times.
Speaker 8 (13:46):
I was fortunate enough to play on a couple of
these and I've been out to Rocky and Emerald and
the response from the community was unreal and our boys
just envisioned us having it here and it's finally, you know,
get the chance to do it here just growing up
here in Bunderberg and then obviously leave and coming back.
I just feel like there's a really good space there
for us to jump on top of having the Bulldogs
here and as well, but getting the community involved.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
It will suggested Andtonio could play one half for each side.
Speaker 8 (14:10):
To be honest, I'd rather play for the Bundenberg team
because that's where my heart lies and I love to
like smash for those Aussie boys, some of the guys
I've played a game, so it'll it'll be nicer reignite
that wild Rey game.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
The local side could have a couple of secret weapons
as well. Antonio's brother Patrick Cree plays with the towns
called Blackhawks, and Felice who signed with the Dolphins.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
I love to have all three of us be hereful
for that day and talking to Troy to see if
we can make that happen. But I think with Felice
it's a hard one because I think they go on
to camp that Saturday. I thing just come out here
that it'll be awesome, but just watch that space. Hopefully
we can work someone out.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
The game will coincide with Nydog celebrations which were postponed
last month, especially for this event. Craig Teevens sees tickets
we'll go on sale soon with info to be post
on the International Legends of League facebook page.
Speaker 9 (15:03):
It's a very very community atmosphere. I know people bringing
their jack chairs to come and sit on the sideline
and watch the game. Look, our average crowd is about
three and a half thousand people, sometimes up to five
five and a half thousand people. But I really think
with the excitement that we're seeing in town, just with
the announcement and talking to other sponsors and stakeholders, I
really do think we're going to be for a big
crowd here on the night.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Taylor, I've been to a few of those Legends of
League games and they're fantastic. Healthy Langa play. Cliffy Lions
still plays his sixty two and I was tour at
Kerry Boasted this year. He played a game at sixty five.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, Well, we love our league here in Bundy, so
I think those tickets are going to go pretty fast.
Well that's all for this week. If you want to
hear this episode again or search for previous ones. Look
up iHeart White, Baby Burnette on the iHeartRadio, Apple, wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
We're back again next week with more local, trusted and
free news.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I Have White, Faburnett
I have White Baybernette. Welcome to Iheartlight bay Burnette, your
local news fix. I'm Taylor Larson, joined by Bruce Atkinson.
Coming up today, a rehabilitation serve at smarks a milestone
and we catch up with an Aussie band that's taking
on a new genre.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Starting with something that's been the talk of the region.
This week. A major crash between Ginger and Miriam Vale
closed the Bruce Highway for twenty four hours and it's
renewed calls to upgrade the road. Six be doubles were involved,
and low visibility caused two ambulances to crash on their
way there. Three men were taken to hospital. A twenty
nine year old has since died. Corey Hindley owns Bunderberg
(00:37):
q Car Towing and was on his way to an
unrelated breakdown when he nearly crashed into the long queue
of traffic backed up from the initial pile up.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Come around a blind bend and there was just no warning.
There was a couple of trucks on the side of
the road with the hazards on and I didn't realize
what was going on little on the side of the way,
but as I come around the corner. The A couple
of trucks were still in the lane, so I had
to swerve to miss them, And as I swerved to
miss those guys, I backed back off the road. So
we get you know, And then then all over the
USGF was saying there was a track accident, probably about
a couple of kilometers ahead of where I was. And
(01:05):
then two animals came through a b doubles trying to
get off the road. As they're getting off the road,
the end was just wouldn't says it, Just a freak accident.
There the be double trying to get the road. So
and then the two animals just collected that truck and
then put them into the ditch. And the visibility was
like you couldn't see like five ten minutes in front
of you. I didn't even see the hazard until I
was nearly right on top of it for the trucks.
And plus there was a fire close by too, so
there was a lot of smoke in the area and fogs.
(01:27):
That was really bad. And then and that shuts the
road is really you know, potholes everywhere, and she's a
bit of a bad bit of the road.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Corey travels the road regularly, and says the area where
the crash happened is dangerous the whole.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
It's my record, but definitely definitely that bit of the road, Yeah,
is very dangerous there. And well I can't say much
for where the trucks exactly were because I wasn't at
at that scene or will trouble that road at that night,
But yeah, before that year, it was definitely only coming
around the corner, I was only doing sixty seventy because
you couldn't do any more than that, because you couldn't
do the speed because of it, because of the fog,
and just because the road wasn't that good. But contributed
was definitely the fog.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
He was traveling to a breakdown where a car and
busted a wheel in a pothole on the highway. He
says that sort of call out isn't uncommon. He's joined
locals and calling for upgrades, but doubts it will happen
anytime soon.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
They're just about to open up that expressway that goes
through a gimpy now and you got from Curray that
goes back into Gimpy, and it's just they're not doing
any maintenance on that because what's some point of spending
money on that when it's going to be a lot
less trappy on there. And that's a bad stretch. Just
going from Tyro back in the gimpy, that's a real
bad stretch. And then you got Marrat but it's sort
of been upgraded up back to Torba Lee and it's
a lot smoother now. But then give up that it's
just from Howard all the way back up all the
(02:32):
way all the way to towns is not not that good.
But the bad stretch would be in between. I would say,
coming here Maryborough Howard to at least or at least
at least Mirrion Vale.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, Corey isn't sure what the answer is.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
I don't know, mate. I pay enough regail on the
truck out to pay enough re jail. And you know
what someone saying the other day, you got to you
got to keep your trucking car road worthy, but you
know the roads and not roade worthy for the car,
you know what I mean. It makes it hard when
you give your bust and tires and you doing mat
on the truck every now and then just for springs
and stuff, just because of that main o way. And
I travel from I don't do a big distance like
these big trucks, but I do from Bunderberg to Brisbane
(03:07):
at least once a week. I do that trip and
then up the Rocky one to four night. It depends
on how they run it.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Meanwhile, the Ambulance Services Tony Hucker has praised the efforts
of the two paramedics who crashed but continued to work
despite minor injuries.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Not only is that distressing, but it held them up
getting to the patients that they really want to care for.
But to their credit, they soldiered on. They got their
gear out of their ambulances, through their gear into a
fire truck and traveled about a kilometer to the accident scene.
This is how spread the accident scene was. There was
a long, a long lineup of trucks that had pulled
(03:42):
up on this really foggy, foggy night, so they were
able to get to the patients and assist the first
officer that was already on scene. So we had three paramedics,
three patients, all really sick, trapped in their vehicles, and
these three paramis did a very very good job caring
for them till back up arrived.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
And to plea from Tony to take care on the roads.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
You must drive to the conditions. Whenever you're driving at night,
the risk goes up when you put fog into the mix.
It is dangerous, so you need to slow right down
and if it's too bad, you should pull over and
not drive at all. It's really simple, but roads are dangerous.
We need to be so careful of Bruce Highway is
a long highway in our country. It's one hundred k
(04:24):
speed limit and there are bends and swerves and we
need to be very, very mindful that even on a
good day, highway driving in this country can be dangerous.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Two days after Tuesday's crash, another truck rolled about twenty
k's north on the highway and the driver was taken
to hospital.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
A program which helps cardiac patients regain their confidence and
health is celebrating a milestone. This week marked thirty years
of Heart Start and it's walking track, which has been
utilized by thousands over the years. Program director Lucy Ashby
says it sounds simple. Rehabilitation benefits have been proven.
Speaker 6 (05:02):
The benefit from it is to just get people out
in the community walking to assist with their heart health
as well as having a little bit of a social
aspect as well, which I know that the participants really
sort of appreciate too. And you don't have to do
a lot of exercise to reap the benefits. And it's
a really sort of it's a great space. It's supervised,
(05:24):
so clients feel nice and safe.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
The team helps people from Bunderberg and the broader wide Bay.
This past financial year, referrals to the service reached an
all time high.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Cardiovascular disease I believe is around sort of I think
seconds or maybe even the first sort of chronic disease
that affects people and is one that is very prevalent
in sort of the Bunderberg community.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Once passing a six minute walking test, clients are assigned
a certain stage of the walking circle. Lucy says it
helps them to track their own progress.
Speaker 6 (05:58):
The whole circle and the track is measured at two
hundred meters, so each of those track numbers and around
those tracks are two hundred meters.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And while the program has changed over thirty years, the
walking track has stayed central to the community past and present.
Participants got a few laps in earlier this week to
help mark the milestone.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
It has sort of transitioned over time the Heart Start program,
so it did start with the walking track. However, we
do offer services now as a gym base Hetting two
for cardiac rehabilitation. So generally what happens now is a
client will get referred to us and then they'll engage
in an eight week cardiac rehabilitation exercise program twice a week,
(06:41):
and then they'll then have the option of transitioning to
the walking track program. So it's sort of it's changed
a little bit in the last thirty years, but the
walking track program is one that's great after the gym
because it maintains that sort of social support as well,
and it is supervised by health professionals too.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
After the break, why NRL Grates are back in action.
Speaker 7 (07:08):
I Herve White Babnad, I Herve White Babnad.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You're listening to Iheartli Bay Bernette. I'm Taylor Larson joined
by Bruce Atkinson.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Much loved Australian band, The Whitlams have been around for
more than twenty years and have undergone a few transformations
in that time. The Lad's change saw them performing at
the Ghimbee Music Muster last weekend as the Whitlam's Black Stump.
Tim Frieden has still lead vocals and on keyboard, but
he's surrounded himself with some of Australia's best country musicians.
I sat down with Tim on a haybale at the
(07:41):
Muster to find out about the band's new direction.
Speaker 7 (07:44):
I put a song out in twenty twenty one called
Man About a Dog and it was about driving through
the hills and the Northern rivers just after a drought broke,
and it got played on country radio, and so I
started listening to country radio, and I realized that I
liked country music and I was touring in the country
towns just as much as any country artist, you know,
just me and my piano and subaru. So I rang
Matt Fell from the Mudgie Pub. I said, Matt put
(08:05):
a session together and he invited his dream band into
this studio, Sony Studios and East Sidney in twenty one
and the band is still together.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
I was actually talking to Denver, who was on Australian Idol.
She won the Talent Quest here last year. Catches back
again this year has finished at third in Australian Island.
And we're talking about the stigma of country music, and
I've copped it for years being a country music fair.
So how was it crossing over into that world? Have
you been accepted?
Speaker 7 (08:30):
I don't think there's a stigma in a country music
to be really cool. But I don't get any of
it because I come to the sort of country, the
country rock, sort of Steve Lucinda Williams, Neil Young the band.
I also like George Jones, love hearing him sing. And
I've started to really educate myself in the history, you know,
all the way back to you know, Hankin and all
(08:52):
the country swing and Nashville stuff. I haven't had any
bad pushback. I think anyone that wants to come along
for the ride with me comes to see the Whitlams
black stuff. There are fans that just like to see
the Whitlams the four piece play the songs that they
sound like, the albums they've got at home, and I
make sure I do that once a year as well.
So it's almost like I've increased my audience as opposed
to fragmented it with the country.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
Say that ghippie muster here that's been going for since
nineteen eighty two. There's a real following and it's record
year since COVID has been record numbers every year. While
around everywhere else there's a lot of festivals, the Bile
Blade Blues Fest, Splendor in the Grass, Stacks of others
are being canceled. Country music is going really well by
(09:32):
the sound of it.
Speaker 7 (09:33):
I think the secret is that it knows what it
does and it does it well. I think the festivals
are in trouble that sort of try and cater to
a generation or an age group, whereas Port Fairy folk
festivals doing well as well because it does folk and
it does it well. So it's almost like narrow casting.
And I really appreciate that because I've never really been
part of a scene. We've always paddled our own canoe.
(09:54):
So I always do a narrow cast festival every year.
It's called the Whitlams Festival, and I play every capital
city every year for the last twenty years. So if
people know what they're going to get, they're more inclined
to come along and relive their memories.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
So for the Whitlams and now the Whitlam's Black Stump,
you're not that relying on these festivals, but a lot
of people do. As a musician assume it's probably a
pretty big deal to get out to these festivals, get
yourself seen and stuff. How important are festivals for bands
or is Google and social media and TikTok taken over?
Speaker 7 (10:26):
Oh look, it's pretty hard to generalize. I never relied
on them personally, and in fact, I think it's a
bit harder to get out there and establish your own
touring route rather than rely on festivals. So you're asking
the wrong guy. I've always been very proud to Paddleman Canoe.
These festivals are important to me because we're a developing act.
Even though we're called the Whitlams, we're the Whitlam's black stump.
(10:46):
These five guys. We've only been together for eighteen months
on the road, so it's a wonderful opportunity for us
to play the country music fans.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
As Matt fell from Gimpee, So that's pretty cool that
is in this fantastic band with some of the best
musicians and yourself in Australia. It's amazing for a bloke
who started with adding Gippie and here he is.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
Yeah, Matt came to We had a run this morning
because we haven't played for a few months we hired
a local studio and had a run at nine o'clock
and he turned up and he said, man, that was
really strange driving past where I used to play cricket
and footy and go to school. And because he hadn't
been here for a few years, so he was very
he was very wistful this morning when he walked in
at nine am. And of course he's won, you know,
(11:24):
god not its fifteen twenty cold guitars in the last decade,
so he's a real institution. And Ride McCormack, who's next
to him on stage, is one. Even more so. I
do have a lot of gimpy experience in the band,
even if I'm a virgin.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
How have you found that the muster? Did you get
a chance you had a duet last last night?
Speaker 8 (11:40):
I believe.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
Did you have a chance to look around in other
venues or you're sort of in and out and if
you had to look around, what do you make of it?
Speaker 8 (11:45):
No?
Speaker 7 (11:45):
No, I've had a good look around. I've had a
look at every stage, just because I like to see
the infrastructure. And I've had a good up up and
down Eighth Street. And you know, I know enough to
know that there's a big queue outside that palel a
place every night. Look, it's wonderful watching people. It's very
booze driven, which is old fashioned. You know. That's better
than the kids with their starry eyes and the little
glasses of water doing all sorts of terrible things to
(12:06):
their serotonin uptakers at the other festivals. So good old
fashioned people watching and real music lovers.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Footy fever isn't showing any signs of dying down around Bunderberg.
We held our third NRL game this month. Our local
round is nearing the Grand Final and now more league
action is on the way. The town will hold its
first Legends of League event in October at the Brothers
Sports Club. The program has been running since two thousand
and three and sees a team of Ossie All Stars
(12:38):
go up against a local All star side. Former NRL
player Craig Teven tells us just some of the big
names we can expect.
Speaker 9 (12:46):
Cliffy Lyons or a Legend of the game are is
Benny Hennett, seem Thyday, former Broncos captain Alex glennsay. They're
just a few of the players that we bring in
looking forward to taking on a red hot Bunderberg All
Star side.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
The action won't be limited to the field.
Speaker 9 (13:01):
What we're very proud of in the players that come
along as are very accessible too. We're in the schools
for a couple of days on Wednesday and Thursday with
some key messages that we talk in the schools. But
then on the Friday we have a corporate day and
the players are involved in a Bowls day and the
dinner and tickets will be available to the public. And
then come and see them play on the Saturday night
and get them selvies with the players and as you said,
(13:22):
it's on your doorstep. They're playing in Bunderberg and you
might not have thought you were going to see them
player again.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
It'll be the ninety seventh event of its kind. So
after so long, why Bundy and why now? Well, it's
come from a push from local Antonio Kefusi, who's played
for various NRL clubs and represented Queensland, Australia and Tonga.
Is also played in the Aussie All Stars team a
few times.
Speaker 8 (13:46):
I was fortunate enough to play on a couple of
these and I've been out to Rocky and Emerald and
the response from the community was unreal and our boys
just envisioned us having it here and it's finally, you know,
get the chance to do it here just growing up
here in Bunderberg and then obviously leave and coming back.
I just feel like there's a really good space there
for us to jump on top of having the Bulldogs
here and as well, but getting the community involved.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
It will suggested Andtonio could play one half for each side.
Speaker 8 (14:10):
To be honest, I'd rather play for the Bundenberg team
because that's where my heart lies and I love to
like smash for those Aussie boys, some of the guys
I've played a game, so it'll it'll be nicer reignite
that wild Rey game.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
The local side could have a couple of secret weapons
as well. Antonio's brother Patrick Cree plays with the towns
called Blackhawks, and Felice who signed with the Dolphins.
Speaker 8 (14:34):
I love to have all three of us be hereful
for that day and talking to Troy to see if
we can make that happen. But I think with Felice
it's a hard one because I think they go on
to camp that Saturday. I thing just come out here
that it'll be awesome, but just watch that space. Hopefully
we can work someone out.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
The game will coincide with Nydog celebrations which were postponed
last month, especially for this event. Craig Teevens sees tickets
we'll go on sale soon with info to be post
on the International Legends of League facebook page.
Speaker 9 (15:03):
It's a very very community atmosphere. I know people bringing
their jack chairs to come and sit on the sideline
and watch the game. Look, our average crowd is about
three and a half thousand people, sometimes up to five
five and a half thousand people. But I really think
with the excitement that we're seeing in town, just with
the announcement and talking to other sponsors and stakeholders, I
really do think we're going to be for a big
crowd here on the night.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Taylor, I've been to a few of those Legends of
League games and they're fantastic. Healthy Langa play. Cliffy Lions
still plays his sixty two and I was tour at
Kerry Boasted this year. He played a game at sixty five.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, Well, we love our league here in Bundy, so
I think those tickets are going to go pretty fast.
Well that's all for this week. If you want to
hear this episode again or search for previous ones. Look
up iHeart White, Baby Burnette on the iHeartRadio, Apple, wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
We're back again next week with more local, trusted and
free news.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
I Have White, Faburnett
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