Greetings Bob,
The Bushwackers didn't appear at the 1973 National, which was based at Melbourne Uni. In fact the only, even remotely exciting, bit of instrumental playing at the main concert that year was a trio including Bob McInnes; for the life of me I can't recall the other two names but I think one was on mandolin. They were great but it was interesting to see how the standard of instrumental playing took off after that year. An LP was made of interesting bits of the '73 National and it may be that the trio appear on it.

The contretemps I described was definitely at the 1979 National, which was based at La Trobe Uni. The (Melbourne) Bushwackers may have been involved in prior ones but I don't know of them. Of course, their reputation (concerning their attitude towards the folk scene that had nurtured them) certainly preceded 1979.

Greetings Joybell,
Northcote south of Separation St was where I spent my primary (and Central) school youth and then I became a Thornbury lad at Northcote High. Being a boys' school we had our school socials in our school auditorium with girls from Preston Girls' High; they were extremely awkward affairs because of the lack of dancing ability. The churches in Northcote ran very successful monthly dances (which started my dancing) and I remember, as a Yr 11 (as they now call it) student, conning the teachers into running dance classes for students from both schools in our auditorium on Tuesdays after school. My favourite partner in those classes was a Joy McGregor, who sang in the choir at the Church of the Epiphany, at the top of Rukker's Hill. That helped start my singing as well.

And now I also have a home among the eucalypts (and Angophoras) although none are gum trees. And I get very careful every fire season.

Cheers, Rowan