Homestead CMC is a branch of ACMA
	Home    AboutUs   Calendar   Gallery   Links   ReadMe  Clips

Barbara Hall

(Profile – compiled by Barbara Hall)

An expatriate New Zealander since 1978, I was a late comer to the music scene, not venturing out in public until 1991.  I first sang at Jim’s Barn at Narangba and still have that terrible debut on video.  Jim’s Barn was actually just that – a barn – they pushed the sides up and spread hay bales around for the audience to sit on and during the winter months, there was a drum of wood burning at the side to keep us warm.  Because of health issues, the venue sadly had to close and the group moved to Petrie and is now more widely known as Pine Rivers Country Music club

 Prior to visiting the barn, I met Marianne Stevenson and we began singing together as a duo called ‘Lace’.  Marianne was also a late comer to the music scene and like me was a sole mother.  Between us, we had eight children who used to troupe with us to the various country music clubs.  One year at Cooroibah, the visitors thought a cult had arrived as we had kitted all of the children out in matching T shirts with ‘Child of Lace’ written across the back – at least we didn’t lose any of them that visit!!!.  We were under the watchful eye of Peg and Ivan Spann and Desiree Ilona Crawford back then and had the privilege of working at Tamworth for several years and also going to New Zealand to participate in the Gore Music Festival.  We travelled to different venues to entertain during our trip and also began another side line with Paul Spithill.  Line dancing was only just hitting the New Zealand scene so the three of us joined together in a trio called ‘Satin and Lace’ and taught the Kiwi’s how to Line dance.

Marianne and I were also part of a band called “Rumors’ and it was the need for a bass player that brought Peter Bigg into the country music circle.  Peter backed the band and duo as our bass player and eventually became my partner.

 Lace dissolved when Marianne’s interests took her away from music so once again, I became a solo performer and until recently backed myself on acoustic guitar.  With Peter, Steve Fraser and Bill Turgeon, we became known as ’Nexus’ and had a lot of success in the group vocal section at various festivals and took third place in ‘champion of champions one year. Since the disbanding of Nexus, I have sung in various duo and group line ups and have enjoyed fostering my love of harmonies.

I became a member of the ACMA in 1991 by joining the now defunct ‘Southern Cross’ branch.  Along with Peter Bigg, I am one of the founding members of the ‘Homestead’ branch ACMA and hold it near and dear to my heart.  The branches achievements over the years make me proud to be known as a member.  Through the branch, I have made life long friends and learnt much from our talented club.