Our Aims

Members of the general public were invited to attend a meeting held on the 3rd of June 1980 at the Vale Hotel. A few local country music enthusiasts, including Emilo Gottani from Rollingstone got together with the aim of forming a club. The aims of which were and still are:

1. To promote country music
2. To provide a centre for the enjoyment and advancement of country music
3. To promote and encourage new local talent

Our History

Our club started the first North Queensland Champion of Champions in 1986 following an idea from Dick Nettlefield and Nev Nicholls. The prize at the time was a recording contract with Nicholls ‘n’ Dimes recording studio. This was won by Saddle Tramps – a band from Ayr. This festival continued for 23 years until in 2009 when the festival was changed to an open competition, thus giving more of our local artists a chance to win the major prize.

The club has played at the Bluewater Community Centre, Bellvue Hotel, and for various other organisations who need entertainment including Bunnings family nights. We also support other non-profit organisation where we can.

If you are a part of our Association, you are a part of our Country Music family. We have a variety of talents and abilities and we pride ourselves on giving all members and guests the opportunity to perform in a safe environment. Artists of all ages are encouraged to perform at any of our venues.

Our Location

The first meetings were held on Saturday nights at the Castle Hill P.Y.C. Other venues have been Cutheringa Bowls Club, Dalrymple Hotel, Ross Island Hotel, Lazy Acres, the Showground Grandstand function room, the NQOMT Hall and Western Suburbs Cricket Club, St Josephs school Mundingburra just to name a few. We now hold our monthly Country Social Afternoons at the Jubilee Bowls Club Mundingburra.

Our Artists

In the early years we held jamborees with some of the artists being Slim Dusty and his family, Glen and Betty Eyre, Desiree Crawford, Evelyn Bury, Owen Blundell, The Coad Brothers, The Brian Young Show, Barry Thornton, Reg Poole, and John Williamson are names that come to mind.

Some of our local artists have gone on with their music careers after starting with our club. Sherrie Austin (née Kren) started singing at Lazy Acres. Artists that have moved south are Whiteline, Sarah Collet, Anna Weatherup and The Gottani Sisters who have also worked in the United States for many years.

More recently we have seen Michelle Plozza, Sammy White and Phoebe Jay flourish in their music careers even cutting singles or albums. Members or former members who work professionally around the district are PetaCherae Peters (née Kleehammer) and her sister Stephanie Burke, Sara Jane Moore (née Alloway), Anthony Taylor, Tyson Lucas and The Charlies.

Our club has been honoured to show the talent of many of our artist at major venues like Star Makers at Tamworth, Norfolk Island Festival and the Brisbane Champion of Champions back when it was being run.