Australian country music legend Reg Poole OAM became famous for sharing his stories through song and at his 80th birthday celebration on Sunday he was again the headline act.

With microphone and, later in the afternoon, guitar in hand he shared some little known facts of his life with the assembled mass at his beloved Merrigum Football Netball Club.

Among the anecdotes he brought to bear was his role as the Silver Haired Showman in a John Williamson production called Quambatook (Williamson’s home town) that never quite took off after five shows at the Penrith Panthers Leagues Club.

He also reflected on his selection in the Kyabram District Cricket Association country week cricket squad where his only role was to perform for the team every night of the tournament.

It was a long way from his days sitting under the table at the family’s Girgarre East farm where he would quietly sing to himself as a shy primary schooler in the 1950s.

As expected he was quite comfortable being the centre of attention as family and friends celebrated the special occasion, his wife of the last 59 years Dot (or Dorry as he calls her) at his side with their three children and two grandchildren.

If the significant amount of candles on the cake were one sign of the music great “getting on”, another was the fact that for only the second time since 1974 (the other was the COVID year of 2021) Reg did not attend or perform at the Tamworth Country Music Awards this year.

Another rarity was the size of the birthday party itself. Celebrations have always come second behind performing and being on the road has meant gathering any significant amount of family and friends in one place has been a significant challenge.

Reg was born at Rushworth on September 24, 1944 and grew up on the family farm at Girgarre East with four siblings. Only Reg and the youngest of those, 68-year-old Margaret, survive.

His eldest sibling, Lex died in 2022, Alison was lost to the family in 2006 and Christine died as an infant.

Reg is among only two living members of his first two bands, the other being Frank Letcher, who was there to celebrate with his long time friend.

The son of a farming father and nursing mother (prior to having her five children) was the only musical member of his family and he didn’t start playing guitar until his Shepparton North Technical School days as a teenager.

Even after he was married - to Dot a day after his 21st birthday on September 25, 1965 – it would be almost another decade before he broke onto the Australian country music scene.

Reg and Dot, who now live at Strathfieldsaye in Bendigo, will celebrate 60 years of marriage next year and they still share a passion for entertainment in their retirement years.

Reg, who had his guitar on hand for an impromptu performance at his birthday, still performs the odd show here and there for aged care residents at Kyabram, Bendigo and Kyneton.

And it was only last year, at the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame during the 51st Country Music Festival, that he sang a rendition of his CMA award winning song Australian Country Music Hall of Fame for adoring fans.

All three of Reg and Dot’s children, Russell, Colin and Kristy, were at the celebration on Sunday. Russell lives near his parents in Bendigo, while Colin remains in Kyabram and Kristy lives at Romsey, where Reg is a regular to watch his 17 and 14-year-old grand children in their various sporting and community pursuits.

While the musical talent skipped one generation, both grandchildren have picked up the musical gene, Ryder keen on the electric guitar and Macey has performed with her “poppy” on stage a few times.

Reg’s daughter, Kristy Bodenko, explained that her dad always said the kids could sing, but wouldn’t.

It was that song, Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, that gave Reg his start in 1974. It also won him best new talent a the famous Tamworth country music awards, that honour bestowed on him by his country music hero Slim Dusty.

Reg’s original bands, The Satellites and Country Trend were formed - at least in The Satellites case - by neighbouring farmers.

Bill Nevett was his next door neighbour, Frank Letcher lived down the road and Allan Humphries worked for Bill. Country Trend was made up of Sandy Atkinson, Barry Adams and Wayne Fields, all who have now passed.

He also shared the story of his 31-year stint with the Gunbarrel Highwayman, which included another OAM recipient Terry Gordon and Owen Blundell.

Reg Poole’s amazing record of producing more than 25 records in a five decade performing career has seen him rub shoulders with everyone from 1960s-70s legends Tex Morton, Smoky Dawson, Slim Dusty, Chad Morgan (The Sheik from Scrubby Creek is now 91-years-old) and John Williamson (two years Rex’s junior).

Such is Reg’s amazing longevity that he has similarly close ties to the likes of modern greats Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daly, James Blundell, Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole.

As if rubbing shoulders with this lot is not enough, he shared the story at his birthday celebration of his MCG performance in 1986 in front of not only 100,000 people, but also Pope John Paul II.

Always the light hearted and gentle giant he made light of his achievements, explaining OAM (at least in his case) stood for Overweight Australian Musician.

He found time to reflect on the success of his beloved Essendon through his own dominance of the country music scene in the mid-1980s (he produced eight albums in the 1980s).

But, on Sunday it was his “local” family that were the focus of his attention.

He spent nine years, 1990-98, as president of the Merrigum club and his secretary for half of that time Andrew Embling was a fitting master of ceremonies for the birthday.

And, as a fitting finale to the event, there was plenty of music, laughter and funny stories shared to finish the afternoon in a typically convivial manner - just how Reg likes it.

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Friday, 22nd March 2024

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