Hills District Independent August 2020 #62 August 2020 | Page 16

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Rising and established country music artists (l-r): Jacinta Laws, Emma Jene, Don Wagner
(promoter), Steve Passfield and Ciara Taylor. Photo: Kathryn Johnson.
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by Maryann Callaghan
What’s as drear as a pub with no beer?
A country music artist with no gig.
Boys and girls from the bush won’t be
performing for the scheduled 21st annual
Maureen Wagner Memorial Awards.
Seems a sorrowful thing called
COVID-19 has put a temporary stop to the
live stage shows, mingling, dancing and
capacity crowds these dinner awards are
renowned for.
The man behind mustering up new
and established talent, Don Wagner,
said the planned 2020 event is only the
second time in the show’s history it’s been
postponed.
“I feel heartfelt sorrow for all the
artists at this time, but especially the
younger ones,” the country music
promoter said.
“The more famous artists can live on
their royalties for a bit, but these up-andcoming
artists have few avenues now.
They cut their teeth performing three
or four gigs a week backing prominent
artists and now they have nowhere to
play.
“Hopefully the 21st awards show will
go ahead soon.”
Over the years, Don’s dinner and
awards show has been drawing country
music greats such as Tanya Kernaghan,
Angus Gill, Adam Harvey, Gina Jefferies,
Felicity Urquhart, the Chambers family,
Amber Lawrence, Rod McCormack,
Charley Boyter, Tracey Killeen and even
Slim Dusty’s wife, Joy McKean, who
presented the first award.
While early programs were billed as
“country music spectacular” they are now
known as the Maureen Wagner Memorial
Awards. Shows have been staged at
Windsor, Kurmond, Kurrajong Heights,
Rooty Hill, North Richmond and the
Central Coast.
“Those three-course meal and country
music award shows became part of our
lives,” Don said.
“I was a bit lost for a while when
Maureen died, she was never sick, but the
cancer got her. Now these shows keep me
going.”
The awards are dedicated to the
memory of his late wife and childhood
sweetheart Maureen. The couple met and
lived in Cloncurry, Queensland, watching
every travelling country show that came
to town.
They moved to Sydney and opened
a smash repair business in Castle Hill. At
the same time Don started his promotion
company, Betta Blast Entertainment, and
began staging the shows.
Known to many as the “Bait and
Tackle Man”, Don also opened a tackle
shop in Richmond, moved it to Windsor
Road, McGraths Hill, and now he manages
it through Blake’s Marine.
The smash repair business, Prestige
Car Repairs, is now in Wilberforce, and run
by his sons.
Don has promoted country music
on Hawkesbury Radio, inviting artists to
perform during his shows. He’s managed
Tracey Killeen, Audrey Auld and promoted
shows for Adam Harvey, Amber Lawrence
and Rod McCormack.e’s
Musician, singer-songwriter Steve
Passfield, a Golden Guitar winner and
Aussie star in his own right, runs the
awards show with Don, as music director,
production and stage band manager.
A feature of the show is the award for
Most Promising Young Artist in Australian
country music and the finale when the
new talent performs on stage with an
established star.
“Steve and I bring artists together,
some well-known, others up-andcoming,”
Don said.
“Many have gone on to become
nominees or winners of Golden Guitar
awards at Tamworth, others have gone
onto Nashville.”
Sponsored by Fender and a host of
local businesses, the awards also feature
raffling a guitar signed by Tamworth
Country Music Award stars.
All funds raised go to the Cancer
Foundation.
“We’ve raised a few thousand dollars
through the raffle. I keep hoping to do it
again and look forward to presenting the
21st show at Richmond Club when things
get better.”
16 ISSUE 62 // AUGUST 2020 www.hdinews.com.au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT