Our Journey: From School Dance to Sydney Harbour
It’s hard to believe that what started as a “one-off” school bush dance has turned into over three decades of music, laughter, and community connection. Looking back at our journey from 1989 to today, it’s amazing to see how The Ducks on the Pond has evolved while staying true to our core mission: bringing people together through the joy of Australian bush music.
The Beginning
It all started back in the autumn of 1989 when Peter Rafferty, the new Principal at St Rose School, Collaroy Plateau, sent home a message asking for musically inclined parents to help with a school bush dance. Little did we know that this simple request would spark something that would continue for decades.
The original volunteers were quite a mix: Gillian Evers (a teacher at the school on guitar and vocals), Shane Evers (Gillian’s husband who offered to manage our sound – and still does!), Joe Lizzio (piano accordion), Glen Nichols (the church organ player on keyboards), and Paul Buckingham (guitar and vocals).
The name “Ducks on the Pond” came from Peter Rafferty himself – it’s an old shearing term used when ladies were present in the shearing sheds to warn the men to stop swearing. Quite appropriate for a school show, we all agreed!
Those Early Days
Six weeks later, we held our inaugural bush dance in the St. Rose School playground with the band performing on the back of Mr Chiarelli’s fruit and veggie truck. Despite our rusty musicianship, the combination of song selection and eager audience participation made for a successful and enjoyable evening.
Word spread quickly, and soon other schools and organizations wanted bush dances too. We realized we needed to expand our repertoire and perhaps add some different instruments to enhance the entertainment value.
Growing Our Sound
One of Joe’s mates, Geoff Ford, joined us early on. Geoff could play anything you could blow, suck, strum, or pluck – plus the occasional gum leaf! His mastery of the tin whistle and harmonica added a new dimension to our bush songs and dances.
We pooled our resources for a shopping spree at Smithy’s in Camperdown, constructing our own PA system with amplifiers, a small mixer, an old full octave equalizer, Session speakers, and a couple of SM58 microphones on Joe’s homemade stands (which we still use today!).
From Hobby to Heritage
Over the years, many talented musicians have graced our lineup. We’ve had drummers from the big band era, didgeridoo players, violinists, and vocalists who’ve each brought their unique flavor to our sound. Our repertoire has grown to include traditional bush songs, original compositions, country music, and even some good old rock and roll.
Some of our most memorable performances include playing on a Sydney Harbour ferry on Australia Day, at the Manly Pacific Hotel, for various charity events, and countless community gatherings. Each gig reminds us why we started this journey – to keep Australian bush music alive and bring communities together.
Looking Forward
Today, The Ducks on the Pond continues to evolve while honoring our roots. Our regular three-hour shows remain community-focused, with proceeds going back into the band for equipment and improvements. We’re not just preserving Australian musical heritage; we’re actively sharing it with new generations.
Whether you’ve been following us since those early school dance days or you’re just discovering us now, we invite you to join us at our next performance. After all, the best part of any bush dance is the community that comes together to enjoy it.
Want to book The Ducks on the Pond for your event? Get in touch – we’d love to bring some authentic Australian bush music to your community!