2 A4 sheets. Handwritten pencil note at top of first page reads: Eulogy published in Trad & Now Magazine. Vale Peter Ellis OAM. By John Williams. The folk community lost a giant on May 18th when Peter Ellis passed away after a short illness. Peter had been a collector, author and musician for nearly forty years and his work has been prodigious to say the least. Peter has the largest collection of dance related material in the National Library and had travelled Australia on his collection trips. He produced twenty CDs of dance music and historical music with his Bendigo based band the Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band which he founded and led for thirty four years. His final project was the double CD 'Cooee, Songs of the ANZACS' which he organised in conjunction with the Bendigo Historical Society. It was launched on 24th April and was Peter's last performance. Peter has also been a member of the Wedderburn Old Timers for over thirty years and has assisted with many of their recordings including their latest Bush Concert CD which Peter Organised. Peter has contributed to many other CDs over the years and has been thanked on many a CD cover by many folk artists. Peter has also written several books, the three volume 'Collectors' Choice,' 'Two Hundred Dancing Years' co-written with Shirley Andrews OAM, and 'Music Makes Me Smile' the history of the Nariel Valley musicians co-written with Harry Gardner. Peter's recent major work The Merry Country Dance will become the bible for people wishing to learn about our bush music heritage with its matching six CD collection. Peter has also contributed to 'Verandah Music' edited by Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australian Folklore' edited by Graham Seal and is a regular contributor to Trad & Now. He completed his last Trad & Now article the week before he died. Peter was also a life member of the Field Naturalists and was extremely active in campaigns to preserve Lake Pedder, the Whipstick Forest and Kamarooka Forest (now part of Bendigo National Park and preserved forever) One Tree Hill, Jackass Flat Flora Reserve and Saloman's Gully bushlands. Peter has discovered and named plants in the whipstick and enjoyed propagating native plants. He loved his amazing bush block in suburban Bendigo. Peter was also a keen photographer and had photos published in the book 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. Peter taught dancing and music classes with Continuing Education for many years and encouraged many young musicians over the years. Peter was an accomplished ballroom dancer and had achieved gold medal status in that field. He was one of Australia's finest exponents of the button accordion, concertina, harmonica and tin whistle. Peter also played piano, organ and ukulele as well as the Swanee whistle and bones. Peter was the founder of the Annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk as a tribute to the old MC's. Peter was happy playing for fund-raisers for any organisation who asked and also enjoyed plying the big gigs such as for the opening of the Melbourne Museum or for State Parliament. He played in the National Folk Festivals in four states and was a regular at the National in Canberra where he gave regular classes, performed with his bands and was a stalwart of the Aussie section of the session bar. He performed at nearly every Maldon Folk Festival and was MC at Nariel Folk Festival dances for many years. Peter was very proud of his OAM and wore the little medal at all of his performances. That honour was rightly given to one who did so much to preserve Australia's dance history. Peter lived a full life and was a friend to hundreds of people. He was taken far too young and in typical fashion was planning new projects right till the end. His passing is a huge loss for us all but one thing is certain. He will never be forgotten.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Yellow with black printing poster for Break O'Day Bush Band. Band was playing on Sat. 4th September, outside Tuckerbag, Victoria St. Eaglehawk. Written on the back - Peter Ellis's first band which later became Emu Creek.entertainment, music, bush band, peter ellis collection, break o'day bush band, tuckerbag, emu creek

Newsletter page. Items include an Idea by Barry, More from the National Folk Festival Canberra by Peter, a comment on the Festival from the Barkers, a comment on the rain and dancers and musicians by Anon, a comment by Kurt (Ian Walder) regarding electronic instruments in a band and the culture and heritage were popular, Asst Editor wanted some strong Groupies to move a piano, Olive Dobbyn commented on the weather, the lack of a piano, the Australian content and Ted Egan playing his fosterphone and singing 'the Drover's Boy', and Carol Higman commenting on the dances, how well the festival went and thanked Mary, Peter and anyone else who helped to organise the trip to the 1994 National Folk Festival. Handwritten at the top of the page is a thank you from Dianne and Barry for the success of Ben's 21st Birthday Party, Geoff Barker at the BBQ, Don & Julie for helping set up and for Videoing and Garry Clancy for calling and overnight caretaking.person, individual, peter ellis oam, peter ellis collection, shirley andrews, monaro colonial dancers, emu creek, bush dance and music club, colin silk, rob willis, ted egan, the barkers, kurt (ian walder), olive dobbyn, carol higman, geoff barker, garry clancy

Colour photo. Band on stage in hall. 4 men standing. Violin. Concertina. Back of photo reads: Emu Creek Goornong Aust. Day Concert. Singers John Williams Stan Symes Wayne Blandford Peter Ellis.photo, group, musicians

Colour photo band on stage. 4 Men standing. Back of photo reads: Emu Creek Goornong Aust. Day Concert. Des Skinner Peter Ellis Bradley Baker Stan Symes.photo, group, musicians

Colour photograph quite faded. Showing bush band playing. Accordion. Concertina. Back of photo reads: Emu Creek.photo, group, musicians

Colour photograph showing band playing on stage in hall. Most people seated. Recorder. Clarinet. Lute. Violin. Accordion. Back of photo reads: Emu Creek.photo, group, musicians

Colour photograph. Bush band. Violin. Accordion. Concertina. Back of photo reads Emu Creek. Photo has been in an album an still has some residue on rear.photo, group, musicians

Colour photograph. People dancing. Piazza Dance Displays Daily 11am - 6 pm. Bush Band. Banjo. Couples. Wooden stage. Rear of photo reads 10/1 1st Canberra NFF Emu Creek & Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo.photo, group, dance

Colour photograph. Bush band. Men sitting and playing music. Tent and campsite. Lute. Bbq. Violin. Accordian. Concertina. Back of photo reads Emu Creek First Canberra NFF. 24 top right corner.photo, group, musicians

Colour Photograph. Band members on stage older man on Emu Creek washboard. Younger man playing accordian. Partial member playing guitar.photo, group, musicians

Colour photograph. People sitting in chairs around garden. Instruments. Music sheets. Back of photo reads: Emu Creek. 'Buda' Castlemaine 23rd March 2002 Twilight Concertentertainment, music, musicians

Colour photograph. Peter Ellis dark red waistcoat. Concertina. 2 other band members. Back of photo reads: Emu Creek Stan Symes Peter Ellis Des Skinner.photo, individual, peter ellis

Colour photograph. Band seated for photo. Drum. Guitar. Bass recorder. Concertina. Banjo. Lute. Accordion. Violin. Mrs Corry. Peter Ellis. Back of Photo reads: Emu Creek late 1980's.entertainment, music, bush band