OBIT : Paul LAWLER, 1946 - 2014

LAWLS : Folk Music Performer, singer/songwriter, instrument builder, watchmaker, artist-sculptor, events director, pyrotechnician - the List goes on.

Late of Maleny (Qld, Australia), previously of Darwin and Sydney, born Liverpool UK,
Paul Lawler died from a rare Cancer and its subsequent Chemo treatment, on April 12th, 2014.

A talented Singer/Songwriter, who loved harmony singing, Paul was a Creative Visionary balanced by a head for Details and skilled hands for Production of his ideas.
He had an enormous Heart and is fondly remembered for his ready Laughter which infected all around him, and for his quirky Sense of Humour.

He was a founding member in 1971 of the still-running Top End Folk Club (Darwin) and co-ran A Bit of Folk on the Side (ABOFOTS) in Maleny for 9 years.
Work in Progress / No Strings Attached / Gutter Press were just some of his many excellent musical groups.
Always busy, Paul recorded just one CD, entitled :
"A Taste of Good Music".
He was also Director for eight of the Woodford Folk Festival's Closing Ceremony Fire Events, from 2003 to 2011.

A wake was held at Woodford on April 26th where Paul's ashes were blasted from a cannon over the Amphitheatre, during a spectacular fire and music ceremony! A perfect send-off for such as he!
His life is also being celebrated musically at Darwin's Gun Turret, on June 9th, at the end of the 44th Top Half Folk Festival.

Paul leaves his long-time partner, Richenda Bridge (Maleny), his former wife, Rayner (Darwin), and numerous other close friends around Australia, both in and out of the Folk Movement.   

It's possibly an over-used and debased description these days, but Lawls really was Unique
– a one-off, maverick, magical man – and we all miss him like crazy.

Vale, PAUL LAWLER.