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

SUFFERING constant BACK PAIN? Want to ENJOY LIFE again? Work & play like you used to after just a few sessions! I’ve personally developed this technique after 16 years experience: “After years of severe back pain I’m now enjoying golf, fully pain free and even started brick-laying again!” John Hasler, Glenmore Park LIFE & STYLE Heartbreak for country music awards night Andreas Klein Nutritionist & Remedial Therapist BSc, Adv Dip Nut Med, DRM “I’d given up really - I’d tried so many things. In just a couple of sessions the pain and muscle spasms had gone. I’d recommend your work to anyone.” Craig Gibson, Richmond Rising and established country music artists (l-r): Jacinta Laws, Emma Jene, Don Wagner (promoter), Steve Passfield and Ciara Taylor. Photo: Kathryn Johnson. Remedial Muscle Elogation Therapy targets the cause of chronic back pain and inflammation to really eliminate them. This technique works well for shoulders and knees too! FREE OFFER! If you’re sick of being in constant back pain CALL NOW for your FREE 30min Assessment Session! Valued at $55 Call Andreas 0418 166 269 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