So these three are the Chief Crows.
Jim Haynes is responsible for the idea that became the Stone The Crows Festival. Among Jim’s other ideas over the years has been the creation of morning shows at the Tamworth festival, the Australian Bush Laureate Awards and Concert (now in it’s 20th year), the educational show, ‘Singabout Australia’ and the musical play ‘Voices From Gallipoli’.
Jim’s connection with Wagga Wagga is that he wrote and recorded three songs about the city, including ‘Don’t Call Wagga Wagga Wagga’ which was a hit about twenty years ago. He was also writer in residence at Charles Sturt University and often recorded at Grant Luhr’s ‘Flying Fox’ studio in Wagga Wagga.
‘I always thought Wagga Wagga was the perfect place for a festival,’ Jim said, ‘and the idea of awards to recognize the talents of the Grey Nomads and over-fifties had been floating around in my mind for a long time.’
Grant Luhrs has lived in Wagga Wagga since 1982 when he established Flying Fox Recording Studio. He has been involved in the local arts scene and festivals and events in Wagga Wagga for three decades, helped many local artists and groups, taught sound engineering at Charles Sturt University and works part time at ABC Riverina Radio. He was made the Citizen of the Year in 2012 for his charity and community work.
Chrissy Eustace met Jim when he entertained at a motorhome rally more than fifteen years ago. Chrissy’s job was Official Photographer but she offered to help Jim with his CD sales after the show and they got chatting. That led to Chrissy creating a website for Jim. When Grant Luhrs decided to revamp his website, Jim suggested Chrissy and the three became mates.
Chrissy began doing embroidery at age three, she was soon addicted to anything involving needle, thread, yarn and fabric. These days photography, gardening and computers also compete for her ‘spare’ time. She is past President of the Queensland Embroiderers Guild and taught patchwork and embroidery professionally.
Her favourite non-humans are border collies – so please say hello to Nikki (the chocolate one) and Diesel (black and white) if you see them. Chrissy and husband Bob tried all types of RV’s before settling on motorhomes. She started the ‘Craft Barn’, an activity which continues twice a year at CMCA rallies and was director of Casino Village Resort for four years where she created events such as the National Camp Oven Festival. and the Bushman’s Heritage Festival.
And here’s how it all began
‘Grant and I had discussed the festival idea many times,’ Jim says. ‘We knew Wagga was the perfect place and Easter the perfect time, but until Chrissy came along, with her grey nomad connections, to actually do all the work and get things started – it was just an idea, now it’s a reality!’
‘Working together is a delight,’ says Chrissy, ‘It won’t be the last time we put our talents together. The support and enthusiasm we receive from our grey nomad flock makes all the hard work worthwhile.
‘With our team of volunteers, we have put together something really special and that was acknowledged with our Bronze Award at the 2014 NSW Inland Tourism Awards, behind two really established events, Tamworth Country Music Festival and the Canowindra Balloon Challenge and Festival,’ she added.
‘We don’t want to be the biggest Festival in the world – we want to be the one that people love, the one they want to come back to year after year and most importantly, something they will feel proud to be part of when they talk to their mates and others.’
So to everyone who has worked with us to create the magic which is Stone the Crows – thank you – keep enjoying it and spreading the word!
Same place – same time
Wagga Wagga – Very Easter