A highlight for me at the fesitval was to be able to sing a couple of tunes at the Imperial Hotel. It was at Wanita - Queen of Honky Tonk's gig with her backing band which included Chris Ellis and Gordon Sheard from Cairns.

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In the Capital Country Music Association National Talent Quest I entered my song, "Barron River Dreaming". A CD of my song was sent in and according to the application, songs chosen were to be performed for final judging on the Talent Quest Tuesday. The email I received confirmed that I had made the first cut and would get to perform my song. While I never made it any further in the competition, I was stoked to have been able to play my song there and to have been a part of it.

On the Tuesday night at the Jambouree night the winners of each competition category performed their songs from which the overall winner was chosen.

It was my first time to Tamworth Country Music Festival and it was a great time with plenty of music happening everywhere in every little venue around the town. The greatest difficulty was deciding which acts to go and see next.

Song Lyrics: Barron River Dreaming

Intro:
As the river goes, so the spirit flows
Verse 1:
He was raised by the Barron River on a farm - at four he began milking cows
Carried water to the home in prune cans, with his siblings he learned to work hard
There were five who came before him, his twin lost in early days
Two who came thereafter, on the water’s edge they’d play.
On the water’s edge… Barron River Dreaming
Chorus:
Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming

Verse 2:
He was not afraid of hard yakka - the blood was in his bones
It was the crux of his believing - the ethic he came to know
Though humble his beginnings - he never questioned why
The best he chose for his family were the values he learnt by.
The best he chose… for his family

Bridge 1:
To reap the seeds of what you sow, you need to farm them everyday
Take the spirit of the dreaming and breathe it come what may.
Our source, our mother nature – to whom we each return
Beyond the life, the loss, the love, there’s the dreaming
There’s the dreaming… like... Barron River Dreaming
Chorus:
Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming

Verse 3:
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we cannot always know
The meander of the river and where the water flows.
His sister’s ashes returned there at the meeting of her time
Family gathered together – hopes and hearts entwined.
Hope and hearts entwined… like... Barron River Dreaming
Chorus:
Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming

Bridge 2:
Well years they pass, and memories come that take some working through
The spirit of the dreaming brings us closer to
How they never really left us, although they went away
As the river goes their spirit flows each and every day.
Each and every day ...like... Barron River Dreaming
Chorus:
Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming
Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming, Barron River Dreaming

Outra:
As the river goes, so their spirit flows

Entry Form


You meet lots of different people when you travel. When at Tamworth this year, we were camped beside Helen, Noel and family. We played some music together with them in their tent.

Helen had planned a tribute to her friend who had intended meeting her in Tamworth this year but who didn't make it as her life was taken from her suddenly.

Together with this family, my friend Mel and I came together to sing a couple of songs as Helen passed some roses into the water from the bridge above and said some special words for her friend. It's kinda special to be asked to do things like this and it always warms my heart to be able to. Thanks Helen for asking.