Rosewood T O W N F E A T U R E
Volunteers on the gate Les Everett, Tony Crozier and Doug Burness.
An aerial shot depicts the hundreds of campers that make the annual trek to Rosewood. Image: Glenn Brasier.
the BIG gig The Country Roundup Music Festival is the highlight of the small community of Rosewood, just up the track from Tumbarumba.
Popular bush balladeer Tom Maxwell is still touring across Australia.
Brian Letton was one of the headline acts at the festival.
The voice of ABC Riverina, Grant Luhrs, was the MC for the weekend.
Nyngan’s Roydon Donohue enjoys his second visit.
Rosewood committee members Mark Sefton, Cheryl Portors, Les Doughty, Heather Seffon and Fred Weule.
Artist co-ordinator Alisa Smith with much-loved poet Ray Essery.
Despite the odd downpour, the 10th anniversary Country Roundup Music Festival was one of the best, with special guest artists Brian Letton, Tom Maxwell, Roydon Donohue, the Lindsay Waddington Show, Cheryl Lethlean, Jenny Brosnan, Geoff Evans and John and Christine Smith. Brian Letton has been performing for over 30 years with 27 albums under his belt, while Tom Maxwell constantly tours the country and admits Rosewood is one of the friendliest festivals around. He performed at the inaugural festival and wasn’t going to miss the 10th anniversary show. Poets Ray Essery and Freda Harvey ensured breakfast each morning was a great affair. “The rain has freshened everything up and we have 376 vans on the ground – it’s a big thing for a little village,” organiser Cheryl Portors says. “We have about 800 people each day, mostly grey nomads, some of whom camp here for a week. It’s a very friendly festival with an old-time dance on the old tennis courts and a huge campfire every night in the tractor shed.” The club is the hub of the Rosewood community. The festival is the biggest fundraiser of the year and helps keep the club operating. The committee of nine is already planning for the 2019 event, scheduled for October 23 to 27, with feature artists Howie Bros Show, Justin Standley, Rob Breese, Bill Bedford, Christina George, Paul Costa, Rosanna Ruddick & Double Trouble and poets Gary Fogarty and Freda Harvey. CWL
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