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Arrived at the
Amamoor State Forest camping grounds on the Saturday before the Muster started,
overcast day but great for working on building the camp site, Sunday was about
the same overcast and warm, then Sunday night the rain started and just didn't
stop, my camp was dry as usual the new invention I put into place worked well, I
put a tarp under the mesh flooring in the annex to keep the kitchen and living
area dry 'if it did rain', worked great I had the sides clipped up to the camper
to stop the water running in. The camper and annex was warm & dry, we had rain
from Sunday night right thru to the following Saturday.
My bush office was so
good, took my lap top and wireless modem and was able to keep my finger on the
pulse of my business, with the help of my genny, ( new Honda) putts away without
much noise at all.
The Muster site was
just a bog had to negotiate the mud ankle deep right thru the Muster Venue, what
a bog, still the music was great as usual and made up for the rain and mud,
lived in my high top rubber boots, full length Dryza-Bone and under the umbrella
all week.
The 3 creeks flooded
and we were not sure when we were able to get out, they had to bring in the 4
wheel drive bus from Frazer Island to bring the Artists in from Gympie, we made
it out no problems on Monday about mid day.
Aside from all that
had a great Muster and will be their again next year.
what
is the Gympie muster
Over 50 community
groups and 2000 volunteers annually help the event organisers, Gympie Apex Club
Inc, to stage this non-profit community-based festival to raise funds to assist
charities Australia-wide. Since it's inception in 1982, the Muster has raised
over $10M for charities and community groups. The Toyota Muster also raises
funds through it's Rural Aid Appeal, annually raising up to $100,000 for it's
nominated charity. Funds are raised through sales from a range of merchandise
which includes CDs & DVDs, shirts, caps, leathergoods and Bundaberg Rum, Driza-Bone
and XXXX merchandise.
Funds raised through
the Appeal will be distributed between successful applicants. The event's major
sponsor, Toyota, has added to their support by providing a new HiLux SR 4litre
V6 manual petrol pickup, including air conditioning and on road costs. This
vehicle will be awarded to the submission which, in the judging panel's opinion,
best satisfies their criteria of a worthwhile community group or project.
The Toyota Muster,
held over six magical days and unforgettable nights among the towering gums of
Amamoor Creek State Forest Park, celebrates the true spirit of country
Australia. It's a phenomenal experience rooted in music and community, far
removed from ties and clocks, suits and schedules. Thousands of patrons flock to
this iconic event, attracted each year by the smorgasbord of diverse programs
rich with our country's finest musicians, the bushland setting laced with
inviting whiffs of campfire cooking and fresh bush eucalypt, the easy
camaraderie created by convivial patrons all set to simply enjoy themselves...
'there are no strangers at the Muster, just friends you haven't met yet..'
Over the years, the
growth of the Toyota Muster has enabled the entertainment line up to diversify
into an exciting mix of musical genres while still maintaining its strong
country focus - 170 shows total over 227 hours of pure country! As well as
traditional and modern country, entertainment within 13 other stages and venues
includes an aural collage ranging from folk, bluegrass, balladeers and gospel,
to blues, bush poetry, clogging, line dancing, swing and rock 'an roll ...
there's even a short film festival and the serious competition of the Maton
Talent Search where future careers are established.
Artists confirmed to date
for the 2007 Toyota Muster include Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, Adam
Harvey, Beccy Cole, Graeme Connors, Gina Jeffreys, Marcia Hines, Wickety Wak,
Topp Twins, Carter & Carter, James Blundell, Donna Boyd, Laura Downing, Peter
Pratt, Jonah's Road, Paul Costa, Eric Bogle, The Black Sorrows and Vika & Linda
Bull with many more to come. And to top all this, we have a new attraction -
'Grease', the world's No.1 greatest musical and the perfect feel-good family
show, comes to the Muster with all those unforgettable hit songs including
You're The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly
Devoted To You, Sandy and Greased Lightnin', performed by the fabulous Zodiac
Players.
where is Amamoor Creek State Forest Park
Beautiful and
normally peaceful Amamoor Creek State Forest Park provides the perfect setting
for this quintessential Aussie event, with over 50 hectares of well maintained,
planned camping facilities, plenty of hot showers and toilets, and a central
entertainment precinct. Located 40-kilometres south-west of Gympie, it's an easy
drive 2-hours north of Brisbane, just 40-minutes from stunning Noosa and
heritage listed Fraser Island. The 20-minute forest drive from Amamoor is easily
accessible by all vehicle types, with several creek crossings easily
negotiated... just watch for meandering cows!
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