Maffra Ukestra

This 25-member group is a joyous band of uke players that only started in 2023 under the umbrella of the 150-strong membership of the Maffra Municipal Band. It began at the suggestion of band stalwart Rob Woodhouse who approached Julie Bradley from nearby Briagolong. Julie had already formed a regular ukulele strumming clan in her town, and Rob asked if she would like to lead this new group. Julie sent the word around and eighteen people turned up to the first session, which formed the nucleus of the new Ukestra. Since then, the group has expanded to include a beginner group as a result of ‘come and try’ days.

Over recent years, the ukulele has gained popularity around the world as a very accessible instrument for a wide range of people from all ages and abilities. Without a need to be able to read music, beginners can easily learn a few simple chords and be playing a tune in their first class after picking up the instrument.

This was the case with one of the Ukestra’s founding members Palma Semmens, although her story is slightly unique. At her family’s 2019 Christmas Kris Kringle on the eve of Covid, Palma successfully stole the uke that her grandson was given. He happily gave it up, “What am I going to do with a ukulele?” he asked her. Palma, a hitherto ‘non musician’ began learning the instrument by using the CD that accompanied it and watching Youtube clips. The opportunity to further extend her practise time happened during the rolling Covid lockdowns. As she progressed, her enjoyment extended beyond the initial toy she began with and her daughter Natasha gave her a real ukulele for Mother’s Day. Neither were to know that a ukulele orchestra would begin in the near future that would alter and enhance Palma’s life in many ways.

Julie Bradley, the Musical Director of Maffra Ukestra, is an accomplished ukulele musician and group facilitator. Her love of the ukulele began in 2008 at a Foothills Music Festival workshop when, with a borrowed ukulele, she realised that this was indeed a wonderful instrument with so many possibilities. Since then, she has also taken up the cello and is a member of the Maffra Strings and the Latrobe Orchestra, highlighting the musical opportunities that exist in our local community to learn a new instrument as an adult.

She has been able to form Ukestra into a group that has a growing repertoire and reputation that builds on the basic strumming of the ukulele, to a performance group who demonstrates more advanced techniques such as picking and percussive uke. The group explore vocal arrangements to enhance their performance and regularly engage in ensemble playing. This involves three-part harmonies played on the ukulele and they are very proud of the beautiful sound this style of playing produces. They have built a strong camaraderie and when they perform in their colourful shirts, they exude fun and joy. In the short couple of years since they formed in 2023, Ukestra has quickly grown to become a strong part of the vibrant Maffra Municipal Band (MMB) family.

The history of the MMB stretches back to 1895 and has moved along in differing forms, waxing and waning with the times, and reforming in the 1950’s after a hiatus. Today the MMB has several different sections that reflect different interests: beginner, intermediate and senior concert bands, string orchestra, stage band, ukulele group and choir. It now has a membership of 200 and growing and provides a vital role for not only the members but also the wider community.

In an often disconnected digital world when people text rather than talk or facetime and zoom rather than meet in person, the social aspect of being with others in a non-competitive group setting has a powerful realness. They work together, help each other and form bonds and relationships that enhance their lives. »

Palma as an example is a wellknown and busy Maffra identity but as a member of the Ukestra, she has made lifelong friends with people who were once nodding acquaintances. There is a weekly Ukestra practice she attends and she plays and sings at the frequent gigs that they perform at, something she could once never imagine she would ever do. The Ukestra have regular visits to local nursing homes and community events and as Palma states, “The joy in the faces of our audience, especially the older people makes it very rewarding.”

The membership growth of the Maffra Band has meant that the band room that they share with the Footy club at the Maffra Recreation Reserve is bursting at the seams and is often not available to them for practice, forcing different sections to meet at other places such as the local scout hall. They have begun an ambitious plan to raise funds to construct a purpose-built facility at a vacant site in the Recreation reserve to cater for all their needs and equipment.

The annual Maffra Mardi Gras has been a fixture on the town’s calendar since 1958. Organisations enter to raise funds for their particular causes over a six-week period, culminating in a street parade and announcement of the winner with the most money raised. It requires a lot of effort over this short period, usually by a small, dedicated group to make the most of their fundraising. Since its inception, the Maffra community have been very generous and many organisations have benefitted greatly.

Julie Steele is an enthusiastic member of the Ukestra and she accepted the challenge to become the Mardi Gras entrant for the MMB.

Julie, a retired practice manager at Maffra Medical Group is a wellknown and loved member of the Maffra Community. Her enthusiasm for the Ukestra echoes what the other members feel about the fun and friendship they share while being a part of this joyful experience.

The six-week whirl of fundraising included a major raffle, street stalls (always a country town favourite), bingo, open garden days, sausage sizzles and lots of performances by different sections of the band. On Mardi Gras night, there is a street procession with a prize going to the organisation with the best float entry. This year’s theme was ‘Under the Sea’. The band members pulled out all stops to lead the parade and marched playing ‘Baby Shark’ with a dazzling float of sea creatures and umbrellas with streamers that imaginatively resembled jelly fish. When the announcements were made regarding the four entrants’ fundraising, Julie and her team had raised the most, which was $22,653.73, a fantastic achievement and a tribute to the members of the band and the community that supported them. They topped the night off by also winning the $3000 prize for best float! They will continue to raise funds and seek grants to help them reach their goal.

I was so fortunate to meet Julie Palmer, Palma Semmens and Julie Bradley to talk about the Ukestra. Their total enjoyment and their passion were infectious, especially when they performed a small impromptu mini concert on their ukes for me. They even gave me a strum and taught me a couple of notes. I was also impressed when Palma showed me her very special ukulele. Palma’s late husband Col was a talented woodworker and she took some of the wood from his workshop to a luthier, a maker of stringed instruments in Buln Buln near Warragul. She now plays on that instrument made from pieces out of Col’s workshop, which makes it such a personal and special keepsake.

The Maffra Ukestra has come so far in such a short time, they were even awarded ‘Quiet achiever’ Community group winner at the 2025 Maffra Australia Day honours. It recognises people and organisations that make for a strong and vibrant community.

The sharing and caring they do with their members and wider community and the enjoyment that results for all concerned is a truly wholesome and wonderful gem in today’s world. gl