Reg Poole was a pre-COVID regular at Warramunda in Kyabram, so his post-pandemic return to the aged car facility last week met with a full house of hand clapping and toe tapping residents.
The former Merrigum dairy farmer, despite relocating to Bendigo several years ago, has continued to perform for the residents through the years.
Warramunda activities co-ordinator Joy Orr said one of the resident’s families suggested she approach Reg for a comeback concert.
“He was more than happy to come. It was amazing, half the residents and their families knew him personally,” she said.
Basil Coleman, a Warramunda resident who has a long-time friendship with the soon to turn 80-year-old (in September) country singing legend, was among those in the crowd watching on in admiration.
The man referred to widely as the “Gentle Giant of Country Music’’ had the crowd, several not much older than him, singing and clapping along as he re-produced some of the songs that won him three golden guitars (the first one 39 years ago) at the famous Tamworth Country Music Festival.
It was 1974 that Reg Poole, then a dairy farmer, decided to trade in his shovel and overalls in for a guitar and cowboy boots, became the new talent of the year at the annual music festival.
More than three decades later he was included on the Australian roll of renown in 2006, the award honouring Australian and New Zealander musicians who have shaped the music industry by making a significant and lasting contribution to country music.
Fittingly, the legendary Tex Morton was the first man inducted into the roll (in 1976) and several of his songs were on the concert play list produced by Reg Poole last week at Warramunda
Every year only one singer is added to the Roll of Renown, in recent years the names have included Beccy Cole, James Blundell, Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daly and Lee Kernaghan.
Reg Poole’s last album was released in 2021, simply titled The Final Muster, but the former Merrigum Football Club president (in a premiership year of 1990) has maintained a strong connection to the music industry.
He visited the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame during the 51st Country Music Festival earlier this year and sang for fans who especially enjoyed his rendition of his CMA award winning song Australian Country Music Hall of Fame.
Reg Poole received an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to country music in 2005 and was elevated to Living Legend status by the country music association in 2016.