The 16th of June 2013 saw the 40th Anniversary celebration for St. Rose Catholic Primary School, Collaroy Plateau. This was the very venue where it all began back in November 1989 for "The Bush Bandits" that evolved into "The Ducks" you see today 24 years on and still going strong.
In brief, it all began when the new Principal (Peter Rafferty) arrived at St. Rose. After settling in he sent all the kids home with a message for mums and dads that used to or still play a musical instrument to join a band as the school was having its first Bush Dance. Six weeks later it was on in the schoolyard with Peter (Rafferty) on guitar, banjo and vocals, Glen Nichols on keyboard, Gillian Evers on guitar and vocals, Joe Lizzio on the piano accordion and Paul Buckingham on guitar and vocals. Shane Evers looked after the sound for that first gig and still does so for The Ducks today. A few months later Geoff Ford joined up on the tin whistle and harmonica.
The School invited The Ducks to the celebration for a Bush Dance to be held after Mass. For the 2013 reunion at St Rose, The Ducks mustered up as many past and present members as they could get hold of and it was a sensational show. A perfect sunny winter afternoon, sausages on the BBQ, lots of people dancing and the music was a pleasure to behold.
Hey Ducks, I'm getting ready to move again and came across a T-shirt looking very similar to the one shown in the pics of St Rose 40th. The one I borrowed from Joe for the day...sorry Joe. Bringing it back will give me an excuse to catch up with you all again hopefully in the not too distant future. Anyway, when I spotted this post, it brought back the fun weekend I had and wanted to thank you all again for the invitation to join in and your hospitality while there. It was like going back in time for me to a 'family' that I always had fond memories of. Keep on Ducking....Glen.
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