On the Grapevine

• Vanessa Sanger, considered one of the fastest rising stars in country music today and, while playing in several bands from a young age, is now a popular solo artist.

• John Battle, a finalist in songwriting awards, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

With such fantastic musical talent, dancers didn’t stray far from the dance floor, and several kept up to the beat for much of the night.

It was a great night enjoyed by everyone, even those who preferred just to sit and enjoy the music after a day of high temperatures.

This was Strathmerton Lions Club’s 22nd country music event, and it is proposed that the next will be an afternoon event held on May 11 next year at the same location.

Ken Wong going strong

I headed down to the Beach Café recently to check out the Lazy Sunday musical entertainment where I noticed a sign behind the solo musician, The Wong Brother.

That was a blast from the past as it took me back to when my eldest daughter had booked the Wong Brothers — Ken and Gary of Shepparton for her wedding. It was 1993, and the duo was the top group in the region at the time, playing a fantastic range of music.

The special day arrived, and the wedding ceremony was held in the garden at a magnificent reception venue and while everyone was enjoying a celebratory glass or two, a call was received from a devastated Ken Wong to say their 1967 split screen VW Kombi Van had caught on fire and their sound equipment and instruments were damaged or had been destroyed as they were motoring up the Hume Fwy from Melbourne.

Taking time out for a chat between sets, Ken and I laughed at each others’ recollections of that day.

The wedding venue owners found another group (not with the same talent as the Wong Brothers), and the van was insured.

Yet, in Ken’s words, “We were devastated, and it was the only gig we never made it to. I would love to have the van still today, it would be worth quite a lot of money,” he added with a wry smile and a laugh.

The brothers moved to Melbourne to pursue their musical careers as singer-songwriters, where they had considerable success and were often booked to entertain viewers of the Morning Show, hosted by Ernie Sigley and Denise Drysdale.

Eventually, Ken moved into visual arts, running a small gallery in South Melbourne, before accepting other curator roles before moving back to Shepparton in 2008 and continuing his involvement in the arts.

Today, he works part-time at the Shepparton Art Museum and continues to do what he loves most: play music.

The duo of Ken and Gary Wong played a significant role in the Shepparton music scene for many years and were constantly in demand.

Footnote: Current pricing for a 1967 split screen VW Kombi Van in clean original condition is between $28,500 to $35,950. However, it could be sold for as much as $100,000 if totally reconditioned and detailed.

Lewis — The next generation of buglers

The trumpet is not exactly the easiest instrument for a youngster to learn, however at the age of eight years Lewis Brown made a decision to play trumpet.

Born into a family of musicians, mum Janice plays flute and piano and dad Geoff guitar, drums and tin whistle, while older brother Isaac, 18, has been playing the harp for the past eight years. For the family, music plays a significant role in their lives and an activity they do together.

For Lewis, the trumpet is a challenge, but he loves having the ability to play tunes such as the Last Post.

It is one of the most distinctive and recognised sounds in existence.

It is haunting and filled with emotion, and for the last two years, Lewis has been invited to play at services held at Anzac, remembrance and Vietnam veterans memorial days to honour the lives of those who fought and died for their country.

Not only is Lewis dedicated to improving his ability to play such a difficult piece, but mum Janice, in support of her son, drives him every two to three weeks to a tutor in Swan Hill, a two-three-hour drive each way.

That is indeed dedication.

Lewis was fortunate to learn and practise with master bugler Noel Stedman a month or so before he died in 2022. Readers will recall Mr Stedman played the Last Post at memorial services for more than 60 years in the local district.

The family of Mr Stedman invited the young man to play the Last Post at their father’s funeral, a tribute to their dad and in recognition of Lewis’s ability with the trumpet.

He also plays tin whistle and violin.

In 2020, with COVID restrictions in force, on Anzac Day, Barooga community members joined together outside their homes, holding candles as dawn approached.

To add greater significance to a solemn occasion in his neighbourhood and in an unofficial capacity, Lewis took his trumpet to the upstairs balcony of the family home and gave a moving rendition of the Last Post.

It was a touching moment appreciated by locals and later relayed to the RSL. Since that day, Lewis has been invited to play at all official memorial services held in Cobram and Barooga.

Being part of a dedicated musical family holding solid Christian values, the Browns play most weeks at the Anglican church, and attend music festivals at Malmsbury and Melbourne.

They play all types of music, and it appears their love and ability are a genetic inheritance. Janice’s grandfather plays ‘squeeze box’, and Geoff’s family plays organ and piano.

For Lewis, “it’s a big honour to be invited to play a significant role in a service recognising those who fought for our freedom. There is a lot of emotion.”

This exceptional young man does not as yet have a bugle but will use his trusty trumpet until the day comes that he takes ownership of his very first one.