OZcatters to 2009 National?

Subject: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Rowan
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 10:48 PM

Well, it's not all that far away so I thought I'd cast the net. I'll be there (and in Comms for a couple of shifts) and looking out for y'all. I've already promised Sandra I'll be at Hrothgar's session on Sunday morning.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: JennieG
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 11:46 PM

Heavens....it's not that far away is it!

I'll be there too, working in the office pre-festival as usual, and of course will be at Hrothgar's session. Rowan, do you reckon the Sally band will be at the session again?   They played very well last year.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 11:52 PM

I'll be there, with wife & daughter & maybe daughter's klezmer band.

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 11:56 PM

G'day Rowan,

I'll be there ... starting with Warren Fahey's Masterclass pre- Festival ... probably for the 'gadfly factor' ... and trying to fit in with (or mould ... ) the new regime's views on NFF photography.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Bugsy
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 12:04 AM

Can't see us making it this year (Unless we win lotto of course) Pension and p/t work just won't pay the airfares.

Have a wonderful time as I'm sure you all will.


Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Tangledwood
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 04:21 AM

Will be there for the first time. I'm driving down from Brizzy and plan to set up camp on site on Wednesday. There are quite a few from Brisbane going down I believe.

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 07:32 AM

So now we start the Where Will We Meet conversation that goes on for weeks!

The place where some of us gather for the obligatory Ozcatters pic (Ozcatters 2007 & Ozcatters 2008) is Hrothgar's sunday morning Hymn session (the best singing session at the whole festival, well the late night stairwell session is also fantastic!) but other suggestions are welcome, especially from 'Catters who are performing.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Andrez
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 03:06 PM

Ahhhhhhhhh, I was wondering when this thread was going to start up. Yep I'll be there too 'cept I hate getting up early on Sundays, its against my religion you see :-) Will play it by ear ho, ho, ho!
Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Rowan
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 04:12 PM

And for those who are coming but don't yet have Bob's dinky little Mudcat insignias, let him know ahead of time. I'm making a huge assumption here, Bob, that you're both willing and able to "help out".

What's the story on the new regime's views on NFF photography? We haven't been inundated with yet more trainees from Canberra's bureaucracy, surely?

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 08:27 PM

G'day Rowan,

(A)
I reckon I can run off an update set of Mudcatter tags ... given reasonable notice. (I will be off to Canberra on Monday 6 April - so don't leave it too late!)

(B)
Not so much of a 'high level' change - but Jan Nary, the former NFF Publicist has gone off to see if she still has a life in the real world ... and the new incumbent is trying to establish tighter procedures and develop a procedure by which selected NFF photographers will only submit a selection of ~ 100 images for the whole event.

I can see why they want to have a solid pre-selection by the photogs ... and I have been outlining the approach I will be taking ... now I have been dragged into the digital fold ... all involving:


A/ Full backup of everything I take to my laptop (around midnight in the Press Room) with 'structured' date / event / photog / image #...

B/ Selection to a sub-directory for each event day ...

C/ Back-up of full file and selection file to my portable hard drive ...

D/ Drop off prime selections (either daily ... or morning after end of NFF) - and assuming they have a Mac that will talk to real world devices ...

It will be interesting to see how it all works out ... and how the selection and utilisation of images might change!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 12:17 AM

Bob, what if you all take pics of the same events & other interesting stuff is missed?

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Rowan
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 04:22 PM

I suspect, Sandra, that the Publicity Coordinator (chief wally in charge of the photographers) will be giving each a schedule and list of tasks; Bob might just get lucky and be able to choose a large selections of the ones he's interested in at the cost of a few that he's not particularly keen on.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 08:46 PM

G'day Sandra & Rowan,

There was a definite shooting list issued by Jan, in the past and I'm sure that Jane Speechley will continue that practice. The changes will be in the way the NFF expects the photographers to make pre-selection and submit a small enough set of images that the NFF publicity people can quickly choose. If all the facities are as before ... it may work well.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: freda underhill
Date: 27 Feb 09 - 09:53 AM

Bob, I hope you get to take all the photos you want. This is a creative event - your images are our history.

I'll be there!

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 03:41 AM

refresh!

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: JennieG
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 07:59 PM

Just keeping this going for a bit longer......

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Mar 09 - 08:16 PM

Andrez, the hymn session starts 9 & finishes near 11 when the Ozcats photos are taken.

see ya there

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: JennieG
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 12:31 AM

And if you aren't in good voice when you start singing....you certainly will be by the end!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 02:09 AM

Roger supplies medicine! Very good for throats, I believe.

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Andrez
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 06:41 AM

Okey Dokey Sandra, 9.00 am I can cope with, see yez there.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 07:59 AM

& a dose of Roger's special medicine will help you with the early start!

Someone with better eyes than me needs to check the on-line program for the starting time. I found it almost impossible to read the tiny weeny font. Last year it started at the more civilized time of 10.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: JennieG
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 08:25 PM

Sandra, the first link of the three has very easy to read font. But if my eyes don't deceive me, the time allocated is 10-11am - only 60 minutes - isn't it usually 90 minutes?

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 02:09 AM

according to the 2008 program we had 90 mins -

sandra (getting closer to her cataract operation - hooray!)

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: cloudstreet
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 12:35 PM

we'll be there.

Sunday morning!!!???

sheez

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Rowan
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 05:07 PM

Sunday morning!!!???

sheez

When else are you going to get a bunch of confirmed atheists (and others) to sing hymns?

See you there!

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 05:51 PM

Both John Warner & John Dengate use hymn tunes in their parodies & serious songs! John D. & I were at a funeral recently where the soprano sang "Abide with me" & I was mentally singing John's words.

I was taken to my first Hymn session at my first National in 2000 by a nominally Jewish friend - he knew more than I did, but then he had been going to Festivals & singing sessions for decades & I hadn't been to Sunday School since I was 12.

One year a group of Evangelicals came from the Church service & complained that the hymn session was on at the same time. Some of them also preached when asked to lead a hymn! Not the usuall pattern as Roger reminded them. I was sharing my book with one of these latecomers who said "I'm a Baptist, we stand up to sing" so I said "I'm a folk-singer, we sit down to sing" causing my atheist friend sitting behind to get the giggles. The woman sharing my book also waved her right hand gracefully in the air as she sang. I'm accustomed to right fists in the air on occasion ...

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Rowan
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 06:37 PM

Ever so graciously put, Sandra, as ever.

For those 'not in the know', perhaps I should have paraphrased John Wesley's (?) words about not letting any one side monopolising all the good tunes?

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Andrez
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 05:01 AM

Yes but we all know where the best fiddle tunes are to be found........... hey its getting hotter 'round here isnt it?

:-)

Andrez

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 11:52 PM

Oops! As usual for this Mudcat lurker, I forgot to put up my hand on this thread (does that make sense?)

I'll be giving the Radio Training session as part of the National Folk School, then engaging in the annual Easter Folk Immersion. I really truly will try to catch up with other 'catters, but perhaps not early on Sunday morning.

Bob, if I can manage to cadge a grant to help deliver this radio training stuff (NB. not from the NFF!) surely we can find some way to find a few dollars to stage a long overdue 'NFF Bolton Photo Retrospective' in a year or two. Perhaps the "new regime" at the NFF needs a prod to recognise the archival value of what you have stored away.

Bruce

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Chris Maltby
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 03:02 AM

I shall be praising the lord and passing the medicine on Sunday morning no matter how late the stairwell session goes on Saturday... that is unless some wicked scheduler puts the Eeks on at the same time.

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 10:28 AM

very kind of you to pass the medicine! Do make sure you have a dose of your own, Chris!

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: GUEST,Canberra Chris
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 07:18 PM

I missed this thread - sorry! Yes, I'll be there, and happy to provide any local resident support for guests to our fair city.

Re hymns - those who get twitchy about the idea will be heartened by the astonishing collection in the Hrothgar Hymnbook, which includes for example Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through the Goalposts of Life which to my recollection got sung last year. Those of opposing ideologies can of course mentally remove the commas and still sing it with equal gusto.

They might also check out Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band's hymn CDs, which illustrate the original intent, which was to have a bloody good sing. I suspect the early gatherings, however devout, sounded on approach more like a shanty session than an insipid reverent mumble drowned by an organ. That is certainly the impression you would get on approaching the Hrothgar Hymn Session.

Oh, re Rowan's 'confirmed atheists' are these late converts, or is there a confirmation ceremony I am unaware of?

Chris

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 11:58 PM

an insipid reverent mumble drowned by an organ. That is certainly the impression you would get on approaching the Hrothgar Hymn Session.

I must have missed a comma or two; Hrothgar's Hymn Sessions are certainly not insipid and "reverent" is not how I'd describe them. Vocal chords are "At the High Port" and are the only audible (or even visible) organs.

re Rowan's 'confirmed atheists' are these late converts, or is there a confirmation ceremony I am unaware of?

Like what "The Bosun" says; if I say it three times, it must be true! It's not just the people of the Book that do things by threes.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: GUEST,Bruce D
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 06:29 AM

I might even be able to make this year as well, It's been at least 5 to six years since I last went. It will be good to catch up with the friends from the BMC

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 05:45 PM

G'day Bruce from Bathurst,

I wasn't saying the NFF "new regime" was necessarily "wrong", "repressive" ... or any other negative - just 'new'. They are trying to pick up from Jan Nary's good work ... and to analyse how they work with what has become a flood of photography, in recent years. I'll be working on the best ways to deliver only a "selected" take of ~ 100 images from the whole event ... and it will be an interesting dicipline (and a a fiddly exercise in image file assessment and management on the fly ... and - maybe - good for my soul!).

Of course, the entire take will remain in my archive ... and ... one day ... may end up with take from some 27 NFFs (so far) in some coherent body of images!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 04:38 AM

only 16 sleeps till I wake earlier than sparrows to catch the 8am bus to Canberra! (note to self - get to bed a tad earlier than the usual 2am the night before)

Bob will have left 2 sleeps earlier taking his extensive collection of button accordions & other musical stuff + my camping gear.

So far we only have 1 known Mudcatter performance - Ecopella save-the-world-music & maybe a performance by Gerry's daughter Sarah & friends Di Khupe Heybners

any other performances by Mudcatters?

Any other Mudcatter going to the National?

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Rowan
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 05:29 PM

I hope to get a 3am start for the drive to Canberra with daughter #2 and her mate (the latter is a folk newbie); daughter #1 and her mate (the latter also a newbie) are having HSC exams on the Thursday and are arriving by plane but will start their mug juggling the next day.

We have a new Ozcatter (Bodgie; I'll not blow his cover immediately) who will certainly be there and performing; his collection of songs and singers on Friday night may well rival Hrothgar's on Sunday morning.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 06:08 PM

Bodgie has blown his own cover in his posts! Bob can give him his badge on Monday

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 09:50 PM

I've offered to sing at Bodgie's Friday night session, but as he's looking for good Australian specimens of the genre and I've confessed to knowing only bad American ones I'm not sure he'll take me up on my offer. So mark me down as a guest Ozcatter who may or may not be performing.

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 01:31 AM

Free concert @ The National Library -

Down the Lawson Track - A celebration in Song, Music, Poem and Story of the great Australian Poet and writer Henry Lawson 1867-1922

Wednesday, April 8, 2009          6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

National Library of Australia Theatre.

Devised and scripted by Martyn Wyndham-Read and presented In association with the National Folk Festival

Featuring Martin Wyndham-Reed, Warren Fahey, Clare O'Meara, Garry Steel and Professor Bill Gammage.

Cost: Free

Bookings: 02 6262 1271 or [e-mail]

The concert will be recorded for broadcast on ABC Radio National.

------------

see ya there

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 04:41 AM

here's the list so far

Rowan
Sandra in Sydney
JennieG
Guest, Gerry
Bob Bolton
Tangledwood
Andrez
freda underhill
Cloudstreet
Bruce from Bathurst
Chris Maltby
Canberra Chris
Hrothgar
Bodgie

any additions? Apart from Mark Gregory who I just remembered saying he'd be there.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: JennieG
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 07:41 PM

The NLA concert sounds good Sandra - we might give it some thought. We have friends in Canberra and usually meet up with them at least one night before the festival starts.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:15 AM

If you get to the concert, you can meet my colleague & her husband who will also be there. They are owned by 4 cats & I'm sure you'll have a great time comparing cat stories!

Bob is arranging for the new Ozcatter labels to be printed (his preferred printer is not working) & he'll be able to hand them out.

Tangledwood - do you know Bob? If not keep an eye out for an official photographer wearing a new Akubra & a Mudcat fish & banjo label! Check out the Ozcatters pics I linked to in an earlier post. Will you be camping anywhere near the Mathiesons?

only 5 more sleeps!

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: JennieG
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 06:33 PM

Bob has a new Akubra??!!! well well......he will look very spiffy.

Only one more sleep for us Sandra! We were originally going today, but Kevin has spent much of this week at doctors having various tests and procedures (he's fine now) so we delayed it by a day. I will be starting work in the office on Monday.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Tangledwood
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 06:53 PM

Tangledwood - do you know Bob? If not keep an eye out for an official photographer wearing a new Akubra & a Mudcat fish & banjo label! Check out the Ozcatters pics I linked to in an earlier post. Will you be camping anywhere near the Mathiesons?

Thanks Sandra, I don't think that I know Bob but I'll certainly be keeping my eyes open. It's my first time at the Nationals so I don't know the camping layout. I'm hoping to catch up with I friend that I haven't seen for a year or so who says he'll be "near the trotting track opposite the session bar". The laptop will be coming along so we can update via here.

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 01:29 AM

Jennie, I also have a (new) Akubra - I bought mine in Bendigo when Dot & I visited the famous Bendigo Hat Shop. Bob waited over 4 months to get his as a special order from the Hat Shop in the Strand arcade (who specialise in Akubras!)

Tangeledwood - I believe there are a contingent of Qlders on the other side of the arena from the session bar. My Vic friends will also be there near them.

If you print a copy of the previous Ozcatters pic you can use it to locate many of us! We tend to congregate in the Singing Sessions at night & afterwards in the stairwell (between the singing session room & the session bar!)

sandra

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 07:46 AM

here's the list so far

Rowan
Sandra in Sydney
JennieG
Guest, Gerry
Bob Bolton
Tangledwood
Andrez
freda underhill
Cloudstreet
Bruce from Bathurst
Chris Maltby
Canberra Chris
Hrothgar
Bodgie

any additions? Apart from Mark Gregory who I just remembered saying he'd be there.

Count me in, Bruce D from Melbourne, Its been a while since I was registered, but I know Bob quite well.

Bruce D

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Tangledwood
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 05:18 PM

Thanks Sandra, I'll keep my eyes open. Unfortunately I don't have a handy photo of myself to post you.
Look forward to meeting you
Mal

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 08:09 PM

Have fun, gang!

And don't stay up too late or you may get slogged in the foggy foggy dew.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, 10,000 miles away!

Subject: RE: OZcatters to 2009 National?
From: Bruce D
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 03:00 AM

I've re-registed with Mudcats so I'm now a a mudcatter again !!!!

Bruce D
from Melbourne