My wife Rosemary, without her, none of this
would have happened., Rosemary is the Banker who pays all
the bills and I have been short many more times than once.
She also has to listen to me spend hours on the phone and
see me sweat out the many hiccups that occur.
Her taste in Bluegrass music is very different to mine, she
likes the best, I just like it all. That's OK.
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Rod and Judy Jones, without these folks,
Bluegrass in Australia may not have happened. They have
always supported my hair brain schemes, Well, sort of,
Thanks.
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Norm and Robin Walker, some of my dearest
friends, we share a love of the music and a love of God and
good works, these kind folk are like family to me. God Bless
and keep you safe.
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Gary Brown, Mr. Dobro, a man who held out his
hand to help and asked so little in return, Gary, I offered
you my friendship, hope that was enough, Thank you.
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Maurice Kurtz and his lovely partner, Louise,
who took over when I was honestly too sick to keep going
and made the event better than ever.
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Tony Hunter, master musician and world class
sound man, the task of sound could not have been in
better hands, any success rests squarely on Tony's
shoulders.
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Mike Pace and Stan Zetarsky, the Ausgrass MC
and Ausgrass bouncer, no gig is complete without these
important guys, Thanks.
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Steve Gilchrist, master luthier, and great
mandolin player, who popped out of the woodwork, and gave us
two great years, inspired us all and helped so
many.
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HARDRIVE Bluegrass band, what can you say
about a world class act, who not only look the part but are
the part.
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Nick and Janet Dear, you folk have always
been there and are always welcome, I know you both work
tirelessly to advance and promote the music,
Thanks.
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Mike Kear, who does the Internet thing, as
well as Foggy Hollow Band, without Mike we would not know
were to go to find a Bluegrass gig, Great work,
Mike.
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Tim Lee, master of the five string, we shared
a dream of how Bluegrass Music should sound and how
Australian Musicians could, if they put in the time and
effort, be every bit as good as their American counterparts.
Only a very few have made it and Tim and you were there
first.
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The Reverend Wallace Reid Robinson, a real
life Calvary Baptist minister, who reintroduced me to
Bluegrass Gospel Music, way back in the 70's, when we only
played 12 inch Vinyl Records, God Bless his soul, with his
help I collected 167 Bluegrass LP's.
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Peter Sweatman, in 1993 this guy appeared and
set up a tent and he has been a welcome guest ever since.
All the best, Peter, wherever you go, remember we will be
hoping you just turn up again at our next gig. Good Luck.
Always welcome.
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Judy Backhouse, my lovely woolly headed
friend, of all those I hold dear, Judy was the bravest
person I have met, she loved to sing and I loved to hear her
voice and see her smiling face and we all knew her fate.
"Cradled in the loving arms of God" is the song I sing
for lovely Judy.
RIP 2004
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My Uncle, Chuck Morgan, who brought back
those dreadful Hillbilly records from America at the end of
World War II and played them over and over, making Bill
Monroe and Carl Storey a part of my childhood. I wish I had
kept the records - BlueBird Records are worth $$$$
today.
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I have already mentioned Rod & Judy Jones, but I feel
I must mention the Band that always will go on first and
start the show and
"The Hot Foot String Band" was the first and now
"The My-Ty -Fine String Band" is the current
"bravest" among the best.
It really isn't Ausgrass with out you My -Ty- Fine
folks.
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Annie Zee, was always a great help at the change
counter and on the Radio, I miss you Annie, come back
sometime, Eh!
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To my dear mother Mary, with her beautiful voice,
who played banjo mandolin with USO during World War II and
was always too busy to teach me. It is OK, Mum, I took up
stringed instruments later in life and enjoy what I do, but
I really miss you , I know we'll meet again some sunny
day.
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A SPECIAL THANKS to Butch Robins, Jack Hatfield,
Walden Dahl, Dean Sapp and Andy Owens, who by their
faith in my ability to do almost the impossible with
practically nothing, were able to fulfill my dreams and in
the process, I hope they had the experience of a
lifetime.
You talented folks made the impossible a REALITY.
I have some very special people to mention, Dany Hayes
and all the great folks at the IBMA, who have found it in
their hearts and pocket books to help AUSGRASS out of its
financial wows and enable us to go on to the next year and
even better events than the past. May God bless your
generosity and I hope to repay your faith in my
abilities.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
Howard Miller
2007
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To those not mentioned, I am over
sixty now and I have so much to remember from a busy life,
please forgive me.
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