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Matt Charnley leads the class in the first Ukulele Night at Windsor ’ s Ori ’ s Bar . Everyone had a great time of it and left to spread the word amongst friends and acquaintances to join in the fun . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
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KitchenCornerRichmond by Greg Martin
There ’ s just something about the ukulele which lightens your mood and gets those feet tapping .
Hawaii ’ s late and revered musician , Israel Ka ‘ ano ‘ i Kamakawiwo ‘ ole – IZ to his multitude of fans around the world – could make a ukulele sing .
Especially when he played and sang the Harold Arlen-Yip Harbury composition , Over the Rainbow , which they penned for Judy Garland in the 1938 movie , The Wizard of Oz .
The song has been covered more times than Molly Meldrum ’ s head but IZ ’ s version on the ukulele is just about everyone ’ s favourite .
I love the uke , the folk next door love the uke , our postie love ’ s the uke , and so too do Kerryn and Ori Mattioli , mine hosts at Windsor ’ s Ori ’ s Bar .
So much in fact , on the first Wednesday of last month they kicked off Ukulele Night at the bar where the bar hasn ’ t been set too high for people wanting to learn , play and enjoy play the ukulele .
Each Wednesday of the month , popular local musician , Matt Charnley , is busier than IZ ’ s strumming of a uke , moseying around the room , giving hints to novices , and then leading the chorus of voices and ukuleles in singalongs .
The catalyst for Ukulele Night occurred 25 years ago when newly engaged couple , Schofield ’ s Oris Mattioli and Hawkesbury local , Kerryn Mattioli were on a backpacking tour of Europe and Great Britain .
“ We were in Ireland , and we never missed the opportunity to get along to a pub for a Craic night where just about every venue had the locals playing the fiddle and the ukulele ,” Kerryn explained .
Craic is an Irish word meaning fun and frolics on a particular occasion .
To be sure , to be sure , Ori and Kerryn fitted in perfectly !
Quarter of a century later , the couple , now married and the parents of five children , and grandparents are the affable proprietors of Windsor ’ s Ori ’ s Bar in the mall .
There ’ s just something about the ukulele which lightens your mood and gets those feet tapping .
“ I well remember the fun we had at those Irish pubs with the Guinness flowing as well as the music and I suggested to Ori that we create a similar atmosphere at our bar ,” Kerryn said .
The Ukulele Night attracted around 30 Ukulele enthusiasts and the craic was certainly cracklin ’!
“ Most of our guests brought along their own ukuleles and for those who didn ’ t , the lovely David Taylor , the proprietor of South Windsor ’ s OC Music , provided us with several loan instruments ,” Ori said .
“ David has been a tremendous supporter of our little musical venture and as well as giving newcomers the opportunity to try their hand a playing the instrument , he is also offering an amazing 20 per cent discount on the purchase of new ukuleles .”
The Mattiolis have operated the business for just on 12 months and their entrepreneurial skills have ensured the little bar is another Hawkesbury success story .
The bar , which is open 5pm-midnight Thursday , Friday and Saturday also is available for special events on other days , with Wednesday evening set aside for group gatherings , such as Ukulele Night , art exhibitions and , take this in , Death Night . Death Night ? “ The evening provides an outlet for people bereaving the passing of a loved one , preparing for the loss of a loved one , and preparing a funeral service ,” Kerryn explained .
“ No topic is taboo , and those who have been attending the evenings tell us it has been extremely cathartic .
“ The whole idea is to take the burden off their shoulders , and talking about their loss with others who have experienced the same process has lifted their spirits .
“ As well as participating in discussions , we also have a bit of fun , asking questions such as ‘ if you were informed you were dying tomorrow , what would be your last meal ?’ and ‘ give us your bucket list if told you had six months to live ’.”
I suggested to Kerry and Ori that the lists should include participating in a Ukulele Night !
10 ISSUE 155 // APRIL 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT