G'day Helen,

Gulgong is still on ... a good festival with solid local support and an historic township. Originally a NSW Folk Federation festival, moved from Hill End (to get away from avaricious publicans, National Parks rangers with business degrees ... and a string of 38ºC/100ºF drought summers) around the end of my term as chairman.

We (well, I) had an aversion to 'Sydney-types' coming in and running festivals in somebody else's town. Danny Watson, living more or less locally - ~80km/50 miles up the road in Coolah got it going with locals like the Norris family and it has soldiered on for some 17 years now.

Lots of Bush Music Club people go to Gulgong because it has a strong dance thread. I will get there for a day ... if I spend my usual new year with friends on the top ridge of the Blue Mts ... but I may even stay in Sydney and take in the premature millennium fervour.

Maleny is now at Woodford (no K ... you're just being haunted by Y2K bugs). Usually referred to as Maleny/Woodford. Wild world music and feral ankle-biters, but great fun for the North of Nimbin superannuated hippy set. A lot of friends go there and love it ... not quite my style.

Regards,

Bob Bolton