On the second Sunday of every month – except January – you’ll hear the toe-tapping sounds of country music coming from the Tootgarook Senior Citizens Club in Barry St. It’s here that the Peninsula Country Music Club meets to enjoy some live country music, do a bit of line dancing, and catch up with other country music fans.
The club has been going for more than 20 years. It started at Ace High Ranch and has had a few homes around the Peninsula over the decades before settling in Tootgarook a year ago. “During COVID, when we were shut down because of lockdowns, we faced reopening and paying a high rent at our previous venue,” says club president Geoff Bartlett. “It’s been a good move to Tootgarook, and we’ve had a boost in numbers through the senior citizens club.”
The music starts at 12.30pm. Mostly local artists play, and once or twice a year guest artists feature. Each Christmas, popular country singer and guitarist Cameron Mason travels from his home town Bendigo to share his tunes at the club. Cameron has worked with country music greats such as Slim Dusty, Lee Kernaghan and Troy Cassar-Daley.
There are about 60 members in the club, some of whom are musicians and singers who take to the stage. There’s a regular band of members who kick things off and other local acts include Pam and John James, who are The James Gang, and husband and wife duo Liz and Tony Kristalyn. New artists are always welcome.
Whether you like to listen, sing, play music or dance, the Peninsula Country Music Club welcomes visitors and new members. Entry is $8, and if you like it so much you want to become a member of the Tootgarook Senior Citizens Club, that’s $10 a year. You can bring your own lunch and refreshments; the hall is set with clothed tables. Tea, coffee, and biscuits are supplied.
For more information, contact club secretary Diana on 5985 7151.
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