The Gympie Muster.

It's The Gympie Muster time again, next weekend.


The Gympie Muster celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year, it has
grown from humble beginnings back in 1982 to a festival celebrated
by crowds of 25,000 per day, the muster is spread over 3 main days
and is held at the Amamoor State Forest just west of Gympie.

The true enthusiasts start to gather at Amamoor up to a month
before the Muster which is held on the last weekend in August
each year.

This weekend was chosen as it was statistically the driest period in
August, having said that there have been a few wet Musters, this
has not been enough to dampen (pardon the pun) the spirits of the
crowds who have still turned out in their thousands.

Sitting on “The Hill” at 10 pm under a million stars, in the brisk
night air, enjoying the music offers the chance to sample life’s
very best on offer.

This year there is a special bonus, my favourite daughter and her
husband will be here to share it, that’s the sort of bonus I really
enjoy.

Amamoor provides a perfect setting with a natural amphitheatre
located at the edge of a lightly wooded area ideal for the
“tent city” which will spring up as if by magic each year at Muster
time.

This “City” comes complete with all services including a Police
station, Ambulance service food and drink venues, souvenir
shops, and the all important 13 live music venues.

The cream of Australia’s country music talent are invited to attend
the Muster, and without exception grasp the opportunity to perform
before the largest and most appreciative crowds in Australia.

There is a main stage area located in front of “The Hill” where
entertainment is non-stop thanks to the dual stages set side by
side, while one act performs the next is set up behind the curtains
on the second stage, change over occurs after a decent time lapse
for the applause to die down.

The entire entertainment area is fenced of from the camping area,
you pay your entry fee, ($75.00 for a 15 hour day) and are then
free to wander between the 13 music/dance venues for the day,
pretty darned good value to see the best artists in the country.

The whole concept was the brain child of a group of country music
enthusiasts on board a bus to visit “Tamworth Country Music
Festival” in 1981, The Apex Club of Gympie took on the organization
of the event, and still run it to this day.

Many and varied charities and rural events have benefited from the
Muster, to the tune of $10 million over the years, making it an event
that can be supported with the knowledge that you are not only
hearing and seeing the best on offer but your dollars are being used
to help the rural community.

All on site workers are volunteers, so the money raised is
available to the selected charities, we Dips Our Lids to Apex and
their wonderful volunteers.