Seven pages of the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo & District (Colonial & Old Time) Inc. Statement of Purposes and Rules.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, bush dance & music club of bendigo & district (colonial & old time) inc statement of purposes and rules

Green poster advertising the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo at the Spring Gully Hall. Music by the Emu Creek Bush Band. The programme consisted of Set Dances, Couples Dances and Novelties. Stamped at the bottom of the page is Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo & District Inc. Sec. Mary Smith.entertainment, dance, bush dance, peter ellis collection, bush dance and music club of bendigo, emu creek bush band, mary smith

Leaflet containing the Calendar of Club Dances for 1995. Also a brief history of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. and the Emu Creek Bush Band.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, bush dance and music club of bendigo inc, sandhurst dance club (colonial and olde tyme), emu creek bush band, spring gully hall, ywca building, mary smith

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall wearing pyjamas. Balloons on wall Hanging star. Back of photograph reads: Bush Dance and Music Club, Bendigo Bendigo East Hallclubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

Financial Report for the Dinki Di Ball held in the Eaglehawk Town Hall in September 1997.Listed are the expenses, income and profit. Signed by Mary Smith, Secretary. In the top right corner is the logo of two emus playing musical instruments and a koala and a wombat dancing. Underneath is a banner with Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo. Written on the back is Emu Creek.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, bush dance and music club inc, greater city of bendigo, mary smith, alan russ, wilhelmina johnson, betty martin, arthur pantazis, keith bell

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

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall wearing pyjamas. Balloons on wall Hanging stars and moon Back of photo reads: Bush Dance and Music Club Pyjama Dance Bendigo East Hall.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

Green covered history of dances, The Dance Program, Musical Forms and Dance Examples and Celtic Music Forms. Dance Programs include the Eighteenth Century, the Nineteenth Century, the Twentieth Century, the 50/50 Dance, the Old Time Dance the New Vogue Dance, Decline of the Set Dance, the Contemporary Program and Old Time and New Vogue and musical time signatures. Collected by Peter N Ellis and dated 23 June 1992. On the front are sketches of two emus playing musical instruments and a koala and a wombat dancing. The name Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc. is printed on a banner below the illustration.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, bush dance & music club of bendigo, john williams, peter n ellis, michael treacy

Information sheet on the Australian Social Dance & Music Weekend Bendigo, 1995 Jo White. Includes Program, Colonial Ball - Sunday Night, Musicians' Workshops, Hints for the Musos, Soapbox Corner - Peter Ellis & Shirley Andrews, and the Farewell Lunch.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, jo white, coral eden, shirley andrews, peter ellis, anthony & lisa simon, jim moir, emu creek band, olive dobbyn, stuart simms, morrie gierisch, the gay charmers, bendigo bush dance & music club

President's Report dated 1999/2000-02-13. Details concerts, dances, Tour, Christmas Party and Balls. On the back is some information on The Mi-Cassa Singers who entertain the residents of Retirement Villages, Nursing Homes and Other Senior Citizens Groups.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, bush dance & music club, julie manypeney, jo white, kevin long, matthew long, don manypeney, wilhelmina iping, michael treacy, wayne blandford, gary clancy, peter ellis, tom & margaret dean, bethlehem, st laurence court, mirridong, queensland folkloric group and colonial dancers, shirley andrews, elma & allan gardner, ila & colin silk, skyla johnson, elka budge, olive dobbyn, helen bramley, trevor holt, neville simpson, olive mcqueen, kevin long, derrick gibson, harry wiegard, trevor & alys holt, kevin holt, emu creek bush band, weekly times, carolyn marrone, the senior citizens, castlemaine market, maldon fold festival, robert vaughan, dave de hugard, kangaroo flat lions club, greg rankin, noel rankin

Copy of a handwritten letter to Rob (and Olya) which accompanied a copy of the CD which was sent to them, from John Williams & Pierre Noir. In the top right corner is a logo of The Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band. It has a sketch of an emu in the centre. Also a printed page titled The Celebrated Emu Creek Band CD; which refers to the making of the Cd. Both are taped into a folio with The Australian Big Big Book of Superlatives and Praise printed on paper and taped to the front. Written on the front are: CD Launch notes at National F F Canberra by Rob Willis OAM (a close friend of Peter Ellis and major collector at National Library).clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, national f f canberra, rob willis, peter ellis, national library, john williams, emu creek band

Copies of emails between David De Santi, Philip Ashton, and Peter Ellis regarding the making of a video. Also some notes to Mary from Jen regarding dance videos and which ones are suitable for Primary school children.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, david de santi, graeme murray, philip ashton, abc marketing, wongawilli colonial dance club, chateau dore, nell challingsworth, alex hood, peter johnson

Three President's Reports containing Club news, etc. One has the conclusion to a series titled 'Quadrilles'. Another has an article titled 'Vale Trevor'. Trevor Holt was a member of the Wedderburn Oldtimers.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo, peter ellis collection, mavis mcgregor, lex ottrey, latrobe university school board, whipstick parks advisory committee, bendigo field naturalist club, western victorian field naturalist clubs association, jack kellam, bert gibson, shirley andrews, trevor holt, myers, brash's, wedderburn oldtimers, morrie gierisch, ian johnson, jack condon, salvation army, carolyn marrone, wally & phyllis tugwell, peter hunter, pedre gurteen, jack stroud, max klubal, rae doudle, bob allen, alex fisher, tom brereton, colin silk, mary smith, ellen smith, harry mcqueen, joe byatt, beat klippel, bertie gibson, ron mcnally, anthony & lisa simon, tom adams, ted egan, geraldine doyle, les rankin, maree murrell, victor silvestor, ken hall

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

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall wearing pyjamas. Balloons on wall Hanging moon. Man in shirt and tie.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall wearing pyjamas. Balloons on wall Hanging star.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall some wearing pyjamas. Balloons on wall Hanging star and moon.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall wearing pyjamas. Balloons on wall.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall. Balloons on wall Hanging stars and moon.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

Colour photograph. Couples dancing in hall wearing pyjamas. Balloons on post Hanging stars and moons.clubs, music, bush dance & music club of bendigo

The Merry Country Dance, a description and social history of colonial and old time dance and music, published by the Bush dance and music club of Bendigo and district with black & white photographs and illustrations.Peter Ellisperforming arts, elocution, bush dancing, dance, music, musical instruments.

Colour photograph. People dancing on wooden stage in front of marquee. Back of photo reads: 14A/2 NFF Canberra. Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Dancing Emu Creek Playingentertainment, dance, bendigo old time dance club

Colour photograph. Not enough lighting in front. Band members on stage with various instruments. Australian flag bunting. Banner reading: Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo with the Emu Creek Bush Band. Back of photo: 6Aphoto, group, musicians

Colour photograph. Band on stage outside. Banner reading 'The Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo with the Emu Creek Bush Band'. Australia flag bunting. Back of photo reads: 7A Sound Shell Rosalind Park Bendigo.entertainment, music, musicians

Colour photograph. Bush Band on tray of small truck with hay bales. The Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo. Emu Creek Bush Band. Crowd watching. Back of photo reads: Bendigo Easter Fair 1990'sentertainment, music, bush dance and music club

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. Quite hard to see, photo too dark. Band on stage outside. Banner reading 'The Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo with the Emu Creek Bush Band'. Australia flag bunting. Back of photo reads: 5A Sound Shell Rosalind Park Bendigo.entertainment, music, emu creek bush band

Documents relating to the National Folk Festival 96 held in Canberra on 4th to 8th April 1996. Included are suggestions for activities, information for performers, Festival Shop, Emu Creek Bush Band CD Launch and Performers' Consignment Stock List. Also Australian Tradition at the 1994 National Folk Festival, Canberra with a program of events for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There were dances, music and a Colonial Parade. Forthcoming Events are also listed. There are some small photos. Also Suggestions for the 1994 National Folk Festival Canberra by the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo combined with the Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band. Pasted onto the bottom of the page are two sketches of kangaroos, emus and some other animals and birds either dancing or playing instruments.clubs, music, national folk festival, peter ellis collection, j williams, peter ellis, emu creek bush band, maggi kerr andrew, jo cresswell, phil wilson, alan russ, joseph jenkins, welsh swagman, bendigo bush dance and music club, 1994 national fold festival - canberra, gwen burke, graeme murray, peter ellis, wongawilli colonial dance club inc, emu creek bush band, wongacreek, rob & olya willis, gwen burke, graeme murray, crooked corner band, john warne, peter painter, stan treacy, athol & eileen mccoy, tex morton, carrie milliner, jeff brownrigg, carole garland, bruce cameron

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

4 page A4 printed document. Achievements of Peter Ellis (for consideration for the Order of Australia) Peter is regarded as one of the leading collectors and presenters of traditional dance tunes, dances and musical instruments in Australia. At the 2005 National Folk Festival it was announced by Robyn Holmes that he has the largest selection of dance related material collected in the National Library Archives in Canberra. Peter has been collecting for many years and has collected with the late John Meredith (AM), Shirley Andrews (AM), Rob Willis and Dave Di Santi amongst others. Peter has literally travelled Australia collecting over the past thirty years. He has extensive field recordings from Western Australia and Tasmania in addition to his Victorian collection, for example. Most of his recording has been in North Western and Central Victoria. Peter collected a lot of his material from Harry McQueen ( Castlemaine), which led to a double CD of Harry's music. Harry had played in dance bands for over sixty years in Central Victoria. Harry had a number of tunes from Bill McGlashan who had taken Harry under his wing as a young man. Through Peter's efforts much valuable material and knowledge from almost a century ago was saved for posterity. Founder, Charter member and life member of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo. Life Member of the Victorian Folk Music Club. Recipient of the Graham Squance award (for the person who has done the most to promote folk dance and music in Victoria)) from the Folk Song and Dance Society of Victoria. Member of the famous Wedderburn Old Timers Band for over twenty-eight years (two platinum and several gold recordings in that time). Founder and leader of the Emu Creek Bush Band (twenty-nine years old in 2010) Emu Creek has made many CDs of dance music as listed. Friday Night at the Spring Gully Hop, Three double CDs called 'Quadrille Mania' which contain many rare dances and tunes which have been learnt and recorded, under Peter's guidance, so they would not be lost to posterity. A triple CD called 'Take Me Back To Bendigo' with heritage songs and music from the Gold Rush to Federation (solely organised and financed by Peter) These CDs show the multicultural heritage in Bendigo and include music and groups from the Koorie, Chinese, Cornish, German, Irish, Italian, Scots, English and Welsh communities of Bendigo and district. Upon his recovery of costs Peter has handed over copyright to the Bendigo Community so future profits go back into the community. Three double CDs called 'The Merry Country Dance' with dances and tunes going back to the time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's Ball in 1804. Most of the tracks are performed by Emu Creek Following much practice under Peter's tutelage. For further authenticity Peter liaised with other musicians to record some tracks which were revived from almost two hundred years ago and have now been recorded using the instruments of the time. A three volume set of Bush Concert recordings (Vol 1 Goornong (launched Australia Day 2006 with any profits going to the Soldier's Memorial Hall Committee), Vol 2 Heywood and Vol 3 Maldon/Sutton Grange, already recorded and to be released as money from other projects becomes available. NOTE: None of these CDs have led to any profit. All money raised is put back into the community and further heritage recordings, books and videos through the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. In 2009 a full collection of all Peter's book and CDs was donated to the John Gorton Library as part of the recognition of the fifty year career of the Gay Charmers Dance Band from Lake Charm. 'Music of the Diggings' (4 tracks by Peter or Emu Creek). In addition the Emu Creek Band, under Peter's leadership, has appeared on a CD backing Bruce Watson on his song, 'The Old Bush Dance'. Emu Creek has performed at National Folk Festivals in four states and several times at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. They have also been mainstays of the Maldon Folk Festival for over twenty years as well as doing dance programs for the Port Fairy Folk Festival on two occasions. Peter has written and published many books related to traditional music and dance. These include Three volumes of 'Collectors Choice' which is musical notation for bush dances coupled with much dance history which would have been lost without Peter's efforts. 'Two Hundred Dancing Years - How to run a Colonial Ball: (co-authored with Shirley Andrews (A.M.), 'Music Makes Me Smile - The Music of the Nariel Valley' (co-authored with Harry Gardner). The Merry Country Dance' (292 pages) a companion to the three double CDs. He has also been a contributor to Verandah Music' authors Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australia Folklore' Ed Graham Seal. Peter is also a regular contributor to 'Trad and Now' Magazine. His latest completed book is titled 'The Merry Country Dance' and is over three hundred pages of social history, recipes and dance instructions. It was completed with the assistance of a Victorian Government Heritage Grant. The first edition sold out in only a few weeks. Peter has taught many children about old time musicianship through the junior bands which have functioned over the years with many children joining Emu Creek and then going on to follow their own musical inclinations. He has trained several young concertina and button accordion players over the years. Peter has been a regular tutor with Continuing Education in tin whistle, harmonica and old time dancing for many years. Peter has conducted workshops in music dance at National Folk Festivals in Perth, Alice Springs, Maleny, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kuranda and more recently at several Canberra National folk Festivals. He has also done this at Maldon for many years, Port Fairy, Glen Innes, Jamberoo and Kiama Festivals. For over thirty years Peter has been a guest player and MC for the dances at the Nariel Folk Festival (Australia's oldest continuing Folk Festival) Peter is very well known in the Corryong area as a collector and the co-author of the book, Music Makes Me Smile, about the Klippel/Simpson dynasty in the Nariel Creek Band. This book is currently being revised for re-issue as more material has come to light since the original publication. For many years Peter trained Debutante Sets in the Bendigo District. Peter was an instigator of the annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk for the past thirteen years. At this ball three bands play for a quarter of the night and then join together for the final part of the evening. The bands are Emu Creek, The Wedderburn Old Timers and the Gay Charmers. Up to four hundred dancers, many in heritage costumes have attended this dance. The ball also pays tribute to, and involves, the old MC's. Through this example their skills have been passed down to a younger generation of MC's. All profits are returned to the Dance Club to foster our musical heritage. Each Ball includes presentations designed to promote social dancing in Australia. Over the years several young musicians have been presented with musical instruments at the Ball, libraries have been given copies of Peter's books and CDs and one year a keen young dancer was presented a pair of dancing shoes. Peter is a trained ballroom dancer and has gained gold medal status in this field. Peter is an accomplished musician and is one of Australia's foremost button accordion players. He is also highly accomplished on the tin whistle, bones and harmonica. He is the only exponent of the Swanee whistle that I have seen. Peter also plays the piano and ukulele. Thirty six years membership of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Club, Secretary in the 1970s and actively involved in campaigns to save Lake Pedder and establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks (now part of the Bendigo National Park). Peter was also extremely active in the establishment of the Salomon's Gully and Jackass Flat Flora Reserves in Bendigo which have now been saved for posterity. Peter has also been involved in efforts to save One Tree Hill and this area has now been included in the Greater Bendigo National Park. He has discovered and named new plant species in the Whipstick Forest and propagates Australian plants. Peter takes regular guided tours of interested people through the Whipstick each Spring on wild flower educational tours. He is a keen and gifted photographer of local plant species. Life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists. Peter contributed text and photographs to their publication 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. When the Victorian State Parliament had its first historical sitting outside Melbourne Emu Creek played during lunch for the guests and public. They have also played at functions such as the Centenaries of Federation, the Bendigo Post Office, the Shamrock Hotel and the opening of the new Melbourne Museum and the Federation Museum in Bendigo. The band regularly plays for Seniors week and at homes for the aged such as Bethlehem, Mirridong, Bignold Park, Bendigo Village and others. Peter has been instrumental in getting the band to play for fundraisers such as schools, scouts and environmental groups. The band plays many charitable 'gigs'. The band supports the Bendigo Easter Fair and the Eaglehawk Fair when able and has appeared in several parades over the years. The above list shows the invaluable contribution that Peter Ellis has made towards the collecting and distributing of Australia's musical and dance heritage. No one has done more than Peter in this area. He has also been active locally and nationally in his endeavours towads saving the natural environment. He has put many years of time and energy into both area's and has many on going projects in mind for the years ahead. The awarding of an honour from Australia would be just reward for a man who has preserved so much of our musical and dance heritage for future generations. Knowing Peter I have no doubt he would treasure such an honour as he has given so much to preserve Australia's music and dance heritage over most of his sixty plus years. Compiled by John Williams. Handwritten notes at bottom of last page reads: Referees Jacinta Allan MLA Steve Gibbons MHR Willie Carney ex Mayor of Bendigo Supporting letter Mary Smith Sec. Bush Dance + Music Club.person, individual, peter ellis oam