Centenarygathering

MEMBERSofthe Lawless family gathered recently in Yinnar to mark 100 years since Anne and Jim Lawless married and settled in Hazelwood.

Jim Lawless came to Budgeree from Gordon, with his parents Thomas and Catherine Lawless (Scanlon) when he was one-year-old and grew up in the Budgeree and Driffield area.

He worked as afarmerand timber cutter in the Budgeree area.

Anne Brownewas born at Axedale and became a teacher. One of thefirst schools shewas appointed to in 1911 was Budgeree South East School, and she taught there until 1916. This is where their paths crossed.

Jim enlisted in the World War 1and served in France under Sir John Monash in 37th Battalion

THE Boolarra Folk Festival is on next month. The festival runs across March 3-4, and will celebrateits 20th yearbyhosting aline-up of fabulous musicians, food stalls offering a diverserangeofdelicious foods, abustlingarts and craft market, and must-have merchandise.

The programhas been released and headlines

Hip Pockets, a10-piece R&B Soul band featuring brilliant vocals and horn sectionand the high energy with attitude, Half Cit Hicks, who combine banjo, mandolin,trombone and ukulele with guitars and percussion.

Other performers include Jungle Jim Smith, aone-man electric boogie band and masters of high energy, upbeat American roots music, Skiffle Party.

Local favourites, TheStrzelecki Stringbusters are also on the program.

This 14-piece band combine elements of ole time country, bluegrass, blues andjug band sounds with good humoured banter and audience participation.

The festival opens on Friday, March 3, at the ARC, Yinnar, from 7am.

This is afree event featuring Nick Charles, avirtuoso of acoustic blues and roots guitar music withmorethan25yearsofrecording and touring the world, and acollaboration of Gippsland’s finest jazzmusicians,Doit Doit, who will perform new interpretations of jazz standards and jazz fusion.

Check out the Boolarra FolkFestival website or Facebook page for the full line-up.

After two yearsofa global pandemic its worth remembering that it’s music that brings people together.

It’s free, and it’s in Boolarra.