“There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle”, and also a new one it would seem.

The new fiddle in question is a production line 2002 Raguetti and you certainly wouldn’t need to mortgage the house to buy one of these mass produced student instruments. I’m reminded of an outdoor Opera Australia performance of Turandot at the Domain in Sydney when the first violinist was unable to tame (tune) his obscenely expensive Stradivarius. It just couldn’t cope with the outdoor conditions and so he sent home for his kid’s Yamaha and it performed beautifully. Anyway, back to the Raguetti.

Having spent “one fine day” at the Snowy River Festival listening to bleating sheep, whistling dog trainers, yahooing whip cracking horsemen and the Slim Dusty tones of Bredbo Balladeer Steve Carter (more on Steve, next issue), I decided to go the whole country hog and whoop it up at the Dalgety Bush Dance that night.

The hall was decked out with hay bales, gum trees and flocks of black and white cockatoos in a fabulous flapping mobile display. On stage was an old prospector type with a flowing Ironbark beard, Akubra hat, riding boots and fiddle in hand. Also on stage was a very pregnant young woman with a full sized guitar resting on her maternal protuberance.

“Hell”, I thought, as I headed for the bar, but before I had a chance to sink the first ale they started up. Immediately my ears pricked up too. This ain’t no red neck cow-poke sawing away on that there fiddle. I’ve been around topflight violinists for about 30 years and I know a good one when I hear one. Perfect tuning, timing, tasteful improvised melodic lines and plenty of technique. Wow! I just had to discover more and so I took the first opportunity to have a chat with this dazzling duo.

It turns out that the not so old Gus Olding, his wife Sheree Olding and two and a half kids live on a self sufficient 100 acres at Creewah and you guessed it, Gus has had some serious classical training, ten years in fact. He has also recorded for several major country artists and is featured on their albums. Sheree is a music teacher in the Monaro district and is active in the CAP school band program. Local children are encouraged to develop musically through practical performance activities in this program. It’s no wonder that my night at the Dalgety Snowy River Bush Dance was a musical success and thoroughly enjoyed.

Gus and Sheree Olding

Speaking of talent may I remind you that the Snowy Hydro “Talent of The High Country” talent quest will be on again in Jindabyne this Easter; so start practising and watch this space for details.

Paul Dion