3 Page Letter printed on A4 printer paper. Bearing the letterhead of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. Postal Address Secretary PO Box 922 Bendigo 3552 Telephone number (03) 5442 1153 email [email protected] Mark Maddock Case Officer Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat Government house Canberra ACT 2600 28th February 2011. Dear Mark, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak for Peter Ellis. We know Peter to be a worthy candidate for the award and I think that most people that know him would agree. I had been putting together a nomination for Peter that was suggested by a couple at our club meeting on a night when Peter was not present. Everyone felt that he should have recognition for all the work that he has done and it was unanimously voted on. I was given the job. As someone else has beaten me to it I now can speak for him on my own behalf and in my role as secretary of the Bush Dance & Music Club Inc. Peter Ellis is a very good friend of mine and I have known him since April 1975 when we met at a Saturday night dance. At that time there was a small group of us that went around the dances. We would go 100kms to find dances that were not on the average programme, dances such as The Lancers, Albert's, Waltz Cotillion and lots of Polkas. We bemoaned the fact that they appeared to be dying out in the Towns and Cities so we tried to get the Bendigo Old Time Dance Club of which we were members, to introduce these dances on to the programme, but they were not interested. After a lot of discussion Peter, Maurie Rayner, myself and several others decided to start our own dance club where we could do the dances that we liked, and to endeavour to keep them alive. We formed the Sandhurst Dance Club in June 1979 (renamed ten years later as the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc.) In 1981 Peter made two attempts to form a band for the club and in 1983 the 'Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band' was born, with Peter as the leader. Later Peter set up a junior section of the Emu Creek Band and some of these children grew up to become competent musicians and leaders of their own bands/Groups. Peter's friendship with the late Harry McQueen of Castlemaine led to and increased knowledge of the dances, calls for the sets and the various tunes used. Peter joined the Wedderburn Old Timers Orchestra in late 1979 and travelling around Victoria and interstate with them was of immense help in learning to MC dances, call sets acoustically and in collecting new 'old dances' and tunes. He met elderly MC's who gave him information on the way that they ran the dances in the old days. It was also an introduction to playing items at concerts and in reviving much of the old traditions of the bush. Demand for the tunes for dances led to Peter compiling a series of three books called 'Collectors Choice' which were published by the Victorian Folk Music Club in 1986, 1987 and 1988. 1988 was a very busy year for Peter and The Emu Creek Bush Band as they recorded two double music tapes for the club 'The Merry Country Dance' and 'The Waltz the Polka and all Kinds of Dancing' which were in much demand at the time. Also in 1988 he collaborated with the late Shirley Andrews and they co-authored the book 'Two Hundred Dancing Years and how to celebrate them with a Colonial Ball' for the Bicentennial of 1988. this publication, was instigated by the Government backed Bicentenary Committee, and distributed free to every municipality in Australia. In 1996 The Emu Creek Bush Band and Peter recorded and produced a single CD called a Friday night at 'The Spring Valley Hop'. In 1998 The Bush Dance & Music Club again happily agreed to financially back Peter to produce a series of CDs. The first thing he did was to revive and update the 1988 music tapes for CD. The first of the Qadrille Mania series of double CDs with companion call books was launched in 1999 then in 2000 and 2001. then the triple CD called The Waltz Polka & all kinds of Dances in 2002 followed by the Merry Country Dance CDs in 2005, 2006 and 2007. There were six double CDs and one triple CD produced which was a major undertaking that went on for eight years. The CDs have a great many tunes that Peter collected over the years mixed in with well known tunes and there are very few repeats. During this time we applied for a Grant from the Victorian Government to publish a book on the social History of country dances and dance instructions with Peter as the author. We were successful and published it in 2005. Our CDs and book have all been lodged with the National Library of Canberra as has all Peter's sheet music, boxes of it, as well as everything he has produced. At the 2005 Canberra National Folk Festival, at a meeting of collectors, it was stated that Peter has the largest collection of dance related material in the National Library. Peter compiled and produced his own project a triple CD called 'Take Me Back to Bendigo' in 2002. 2006 Peter and Emu Creek Bush Band produced another single CD 'Bush Concert Vol one Back to Goornong'. 2008 A pet project of Peter's was compiling and producing a double CD for the Wedderburn Old Timers it was of all the recorded material performed by them at concerts and taped by friends and fans. It was funded by Gavan Holt a son of the late Lindsay Holt an original 'Old Timer'. Recent publications are a book mainly music 'Music Makes Me Smile' a tribute to Con Klippel and the music of the Nariel Valley near Corryong Victoria. Peter Ellis & Harry Gardner 1998. The Waltz, The Polka & All Kinds of Dancing' a sheet music book for musicians supported by the Folk Song & Dance Society of Victoria. 2007-8 not sure of year. Peter has been involved over the years in collecting music and dance by himself and also with Rob Willis and the late John Meredith for the National Library in Canberra. He is continually asked for information and to write articles for people and to verify points re dance and music. He corresponds with like minded people overseas and frequently goes off to Folk Festivals all over the country, usually running dance classes, musician's workshops or just playing for dances. He is an excellent musician and plays Piano, Button Accordion, Concertina, Mouth Organ, Tin Whistle, Ukulele, Spoons and the Bones. He is regarded as one of Australia's foremost collectors and presenters of Australian traditional dance tunes, dances and some musical instruments. Over the years I have heard him referred to as the Guru of folk dance and music. Peter lives and breathes for this passion of his and always has several irons in the fire. He is a life member of The Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc. The Victorian Folk Music Club, and The Bendigo Field Naturalists Club. He was a recipient of the David Squance Award in 1994 presented by the Folk Song & Dance Society of Victoria. Over the last twelve months for the folk magazine 'Trad & Now' he has written articles on the old dances and music and this is an ongoing project. This has led to our clubs present project which is the filming of the dances to be shown on UTube as it is referred to in the magazine. This involves members in hours and hours of practising the dances then filming them, and all with Peter's expert teaching and watchful eye on everyone. The Bush Dance & Music Club are and always have been behind Peter wholeheartedly in everything that he does and we are extremely proud of what he has achieved. His drive and enthusiasm for the preservation of music and dance is catching. People like Peter are absolutely necessary in finding and preserving our Australian Heritage, without them it would be lost forever and Australia would be a great deal poorer for it. The Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. and I fully support this nomination for an award as he is truly deserving of it. Yours sincerely Mary E Smith. Secretary of the Bush Dance & Music Club Inc. Peter's Timeline. 1979 A Foundation Member of the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc. 1979 Joined the Wedderburn Old Timers Orchestra. 1983 The Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band was formed. 1986 Collectors Choice. Volume one. 1987 Collectors Choice. Volume Two. 1988 Collectors Choice. Volume Three. 1988 Recorded Tapes - The Merry Country Dance & The Waltz Polka & all Kinds of Dances. 1988 A book with the late Shirley Andrews called Two Hundred years of Dancing. 1991 Across to Perth collecting for National Library with the Late John Meredith. 1996 Single CD A Friday Night at the Spring Gully Hop. 1998 Music Makes Me Smile. A tribute to Con Klippel 7 music of the Nariel Valley. 1999 Double CD Quadrille Mania 1&2 2000 Double CD Quadrille Mania 3&4 2001 Double CD Quadrille Mania 5&6 2002 His own project triple CD Take Me Back To Bendigo. (Goldrush to Federation and Beyond). 2002 Triple CD The Waltz The Polka & All kinds of Dances. 2005 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 1 & 2. 2002 Book, The Merry Country Dance. 2006 Single CD with Emu Creek 'Bush Concert Vol 1 Back to Goornong' 2006 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 3&4 2007 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 5&6 2007-8-? A book of music, The Waltz, The Polka & All Kinds of Dances. 2008 Double CD The Wedderburn Old Timers in Concert.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Peter Ellis collection. Series of invitation cards issued by the Victorian Folk Music Club Inc. For a woolshed ball, various dates.clubs, social, ball dancing

Three Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo & District Newsletters, Sept 1989 (yellow), October 1989 (green) and December 1989 (yellow). Newsletters contain contacts, Coming Events, dance programs and September 1989 edition has a map of how to get to the Notley's Picnic area. Also reports and in the October edition a sketch of how to get to a picnic area in the Wellsford Forest. The December issue has the contacts, Christmas Break-up and next meeting. On the back is the monthly dance dates for 1990.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, bush dance & music club of bendigo & district, wayne blandford, mary smith, gary clancy, marg lapham, notley's reserve, reservoir hotel, wedderburn old timers, harry mcqueen & friends, lorraine ogilvie, mike jackson, val wilson, barry simpson, peter ellis, victorian folk music club, shirley andrews, john meredith

TSDAV Magazine, No. 1, May 1981. It has a yellow cover with sketch of dancers in costume. Peter n. Ellis written at the top of the front cover. Photos and illustrations inside. Contains a copy of an interview with Alistair Anderson by Fay McAlinden, news of functions, feature on traditional social dance, feature on Steps and styles and callers' headaches by Shirley Andrews, Aims and objectives of TSDAV, Feature All about Sandhurst Dance Club, Coming Events, Q & A, Technical Notes and Discussion Point.magazine, club, traditional dance association, peter ellis collection, tsdav magazine may 1981, peter ellis, jenny milne, penny lane, shirley andrews, fay mcalinden, bruce mcclure, norm ellis, alistair anderson, johnson elwood, sam sherry, john kirkpatrick, sue harrison, hugh rippon, beat klippel, con klippel, efdss, tony sutter, rowan webb, pedr curteen, michael thatcher, victorian folk music club, margaret kiddle, steele rudd, sir roger de coverly, banjo paterson, patsy adam smith, jean lawson, larry harrigan, harry mcqueen, sandhurst dance club, ian thwaite, lynne stone, mark power, roy hay

Five Folk Dance and Music advertisements. The white one is for an Australian Social Dance and Music Weekend held on 10th - 12th June 1995 at the East Bendigo Progress Hall. The green one is the TSDAV 1996 Dance Dates. The light blue is for TSDAV Dance Weekend held on the 8th - 10th November 1996 at the Foreshore Community Hall at Portarlington. There was a Dance Programme and Workshop Programme. The darker blue is for TSDAV 1994 for a Dance Composing Competition sponsored by the Vic. Folk Music Club. The cream one is an advertisement for a Concert presented by Folk Victoria. Two singers, Julie Felix and Judy Small appearing at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute on Saturday 18th February (no year). On the back are brief notes about Julie and Judy.clubs and associations, theatre, victorian traditional social dance, peter ellis collection, traditional social dance association of victoria, bendigo bush dance and music society, lucy stockdale, carol higman, colin towns, vic folk music club, folk victoria, julie felix, judy small, folk song & dance society victoria inc

Three copies of the Australian Tradition, two copies of June 1996 and one copy of March 1997. Contains club news, an article on the Thirtieth National Folk Festival, regular Functions at Other Venues, Membership Forms and Contacts. March issue has a postscript on the Nariel Creek Folk Festival 1996/7Festival Guide, the Multicultural Nature of Australian Traditional Social Dance, Festival Guide, Regular Functions at Other Venues, Application Form, Newsletter Contributors and Contacts.clubs, music, victorian folk music club, peter ellis collection, australian tradition, victorian folk music club incorporated, harry gardner, betty davis, rick garrick, wongawilli colonial dance club, jo cresswell, wliza carthy, nancy kerr, ted egan, martin pearson, james fagan, alistair hulett, dave swarbrick, danny spooner, bernard bolan, simon nicol, ric sanders, roy bailey, nina simone, kristina olsen, phil wilson, elma gardner, bill buttler, maree buttler, jane bullock, melbourne folk club, bush dance and music club bendigo, the peninsula folk club, comhaltas ceoltoiri eirann, danswyr cumreig melbourne, melbourne scottish fiddle club, aussie music workshop and session, scottish box and fiddle group, fiddlers' workshop, colonial dancers, geelong folk music club, tsdav, modern american square dance workshops, shirley andrews

Victorian Folk Music Club Inc. Calendar 1987, printed on yellow paper. Has dates of dances and workshops for June, July and August, Club Venues, Folk News-Club Items for Sale, date, item and place for a Woolshed Ball, application for membership form, aims of the V.F.M.C. Also contains information on workshops, Dances and Woolshed Balls, Singabout Club, Publications & Reordings, Billabong Band, Other Bands and Membership.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, victorian folk music club inc calendar 1987, peter ellis, billabong band, elma gardner

1985: 8-10 November. General historic theme As per previous years, the Society participated in the Festival Parade with a float to ride on or walk beside. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club again accompanied us. The Parade started at 12 noon, members assembling prior in Cecil Street at about 11.30 dressed in appropriate period costume.award, eltham community festival, eltham festival, festival parade award, grand parade, shire of eltham historical society, 1985

1986 Grand Parade, 8 November. The Society's entry in the Eltham Community Festival parade included Ben Hall's Cobb and Co. coach and was awarded the major prize for the parade. This involves a perpetual trophy which the Society holds for one year. Individual shields attached to trophy inscribed with annual Grand Parade winners: 1979 - Cubs of the Eltham District 1980 - Montmorency South Primary School 1981 - Co Winner, Eltham Primary School Dalton Street 1981 - Co Winner, Our Lady Help of Christians 1982 - Cubs of the Eltham District 1983 - Research Primary School 1984 - Montmorency South Primary School 1985 - Montmorency Garden Club 1986 - Shire of Eltham Historical Society and one blank shield It appears the trophy was replaced in 1987 with a Best Display award which again was won by the Society, and again in 1988 Polished wooden trophy with gold plastic wreath, inscribed metal plaques and ten inscribed metal shields. Gold plastic ornament sitting on top (broken off)The Rotary Club of Eltham Perpetual Trophy Awarded to the Best Display In the Grand Parade Eltham Community Festivalaward, eltham community festival, eltham festival, trophy, shire of eltham historical society, eltham district historical society, victorian folk music club, rotary club of eltham, perpetual trophy, 1986, grand parade, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, cubs of the eltham district, eltham primary school, montmorency garden club, montmorency south primary school, our lady help of christians primary school, research primary school

1984: 17 November. “Pioneers of Eltham” The Society arranged a float for the Festival parade with members dressed appropriately to the theme "Pioneers of Eltham". Participants assembled at 11.30am in Cecil Street with the parade commencing at 12 noon. As in past parades a number of members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the float and members, the group greatly added to the occasion with their happy music. The Society also arranged a display at the Eltham Community Centre in association with the activities there over the Festival weekend. The theme of the display was waterways of the local area.1984, award, eltham community festival, eltham festival, festival parade award, grand parade, shire of eltham historical society