FROM THE FOLK RAG  no 61  -     FEBRUARY 2002

     Music has always been a very big part of my life, in one way or another!

I was born into a musical family, in Stanthorpe in 1960, the eldest of four children. Both sets of grand-parents were musically-gifted, as is my mother, a talented pianist who is still employed by the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. There was always "Music in my Mother's House"!

From the age of six, I took music lessons from the Sisters of Mercy, beginning with the piano, but progressing to the violin (as the School Orchestra was short of violin players). I learnt some hard lessons from them, but I'm grateful for the persistent dedicated push they gave me to achieve my best in the field of music. I did learn to play the violin and did well at local eisteddfods and music exams, although my sports and mathematics suffered because I was always at music practice.

When I was fifteen, I decided that I wanted to branch out musically, so I saved up to buy my first guitar. After all, Everyone was playing the guitar in the 70s! During my Senior Year at high school, I loved to go to the Top Hotel in town, to the famous Folk nights to listen to the music played by the likes of The Bald Rock Mountain Boys, Rob Symcocks, and Bob and Laurel Wilson (whose music I just LOVED!). I also listened to the music of Don Maclean, Ross Ryan, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and my main hero at the time, John Denver. I'm sure my sisters will never forgive me, for trying to teach myself Sunshine in high sopranic strains and slow chord changes at nine o'clock at night as they were trying to study, read or get some sleep! I persisted with the battle of teaching myself the guitar, and at University I was trying out the music of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Janis Ian and in particular, Joan Armatrading.

While I was acquiring my B.A./Dip.Ed. at UNE, Armidale, playing music was not a high priority... although socialising certainly was!

Upon moving to Forbes (central Western N.S.W.), as a young English/Drama teacher, music once again became a big part of my life. I joined the theatre group, The Vandenberg Players and took roles in some great pieces of musical theatre...from music hall to rock 'n' roll musicals. I learned to play the drums from my boyfriend at the time, and four of us also formed a covers band and had irregular gigs in Forbes.

In 1984 I moved to Toowoomba to take up a teaching position, and during that year I also travelled a lot to Glen Innes to see my then boyfriend, with whom I had formed a musical duo, performing here and there, mainly for the fun of it.

Later, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Pat Menz in Toowoomba. Pat made me welcome to the thriving folk scene there. We began playing music together and would regularly perform at concerts and workshops on folk nights and at the famous Helidon Folk Festivals. Ronnie Neal and I also formed a duo which I enjoyed immensely. These two special people widened my musical vocabulary and experience.

It was about this time, I was introduced to the music of Judy Small, Holly Near, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Small. I began to appreciate the vehicle that Folk music can be to deliver a message, and so began writing my own material.

Once I was involved with my own songs, I began to perform solo at various Folk Clubs and events, from the Waterside Workers Club to the Maleny Folk Festival. Then, after moving to Brisbane in 1987, I was asked by Annie Petersen (nee Deller) to be part of a Women in Folk concert at the Sitting Duck. The rest is history. It was here that I was given the magnificent opportunity to sing with Lonnie Martin, Helen Rowe, Jan Davis, Ann Bermingham and Toni Wood. We enjoyed ourselves so much preparing for that show that we stayed together to become Tangled Web. Alas! Our time together was cut short after four years, with Jan and Toni both needing to spread their wings and fly to another part of the world. Thankfully, I continued to be able to sing with Helen and Lonnie as part of Pilgrim, and now, together with these two great friends and Ros Roche, we are Bessie. These three bands have given me wonderful experiences and opportunities. We have played to a wide range of audiences at festivals and events from Brisbane to Woodford, from Canberra to Port Fairy.

As a high school teacher, I have also created an extra-curricula singing group at my school, called eCCCos. In October 2001 we recorded and released a CD and Music Book which is being marketed and sold throughout Australia and New Zealand. The music we perform is mainly my original material related to justice issues. In 2000, we were invited to sing as part of the pre-Olympic Entertainment in Sydney.

Macca, presenter of the ABC's Australia All Over programme asked us to join his show for a live interview/performance, after seeing us perform in the Queen Victoria Building. This was a wonderful highlight for both the girls and their teacher!

Music is part of my identity, my expression, my spirituality. I have always been very fortunate to be surrounded by loving people who have taught and encouraged me, and many of these I have not mentioned here. To anyone who has ever helped, inspired, encouraged or been there for me along the way, thank you!

Mary Fletcher

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