Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This year’s Terara Country Music Campout is set to feature one of the biggest names in Australian country and western music.
Chad Morgan, affectionately known as The Sheik from Scrubby Creek, will headline a packed three-day program at this year’s sixth annual campout on the Terara property of Owen and Thelma Ison.
“There is only one Chad Morgan and to have him at this year’s campout will be fantastic.” Mr Ison said.
Described as a “living legend”, the 84-year-old is known for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, his prominent teeth and goofy stage persona.
“I first came across him years and years ago. Ever since we started holding the campout we have wanted to get him to perform,” Mr Ison said.
“I met him at Tamworth last year and worked for 12 months to finally get him here.”
Number one Shoalhaven fan Graham French is “devastated” he won’t be in town for the performance.
“I love Chad, he’s one of the legends of Australian entertainment. I like his humour, it’s good old fashioned Aussie honour,” he said.
“I’ll be away and am distraught and devastated I won't be able to see one of my favourite artists perform locally.
“I saw him in Kalgoorlie 40 years ago. I have lots of his albums, you know records, those round black things.”
Still extremely popular, Morgan is predicted to sell more CDs than any of the other 11 main artists on this year’s program.
“Everyone just seems to love Chad,” Mr Ison said.
This year’s campout will run from Friday, March 31 until Sunday, April 2.
And as well as Morgan, other big names like Peter Coad, the Coad Sisters and Jim Hermel and The Gun Barrel Highway Men featuring Owen Blundell, Terry Gordon and Reg Poole are on the program.
Morgan will make one appearance, headlining the Saturday night show from 8pm.
“The campout is getting bigger every year,” said Mr Ison who this expects to top 400 vans staying at his 21 acre property just east of Nowra on Millbank Road.
Last year the couple got the chance to get a bird’s eye view of their property while the campout was on, when local helicopter pilot Max Cochrane took them for a flight.
“We know how big it is on the ground but from the air, wow,” Owen said.
“It was just incredible to see it,” Thelma said.
With the help of a dedicated and loyal group of sponsors, the Isons support Noah’s Ark, Terara Public School, Life Without Barriers and the Shoalhaven Superheroes from the campout.
“We can’t thank our local sponsors enough. They are all so willing to back us and help support children,” Mr Ison said.
“This year we have also done a 1000 letter box drop in the area.
“It’s funny, sometimes people say ‘we didn’t know it was on’. If they just looked east from Nowra they’d see it. It’s like a whole new suburb goes up overnight.”
The caravans start arriving the week of the campout and often stay through the following week.
“They put a huge amount of money into the town,” he said.
“Most of them go out for meals every day, they all going shopping in town and buy everyday items like food and petrol.”
On the odd occasion there has been inclement weather, the campers have also been known to buy all of Nowra’s umbrellas, raincoats and gum boots.
The campout officially starts at 10am on Friday, March 31, however walk up artists and poets will be performing from the Tuesday prior (March 28).
Friday’s activities include a performance by Terara Public School students and will conclude at 10pm.
Saturday’s activities start with a poets’ breakfast at 7am and goes through until 10pm, while Sunday starts at 8am again with a poets’ breakfast and continues until 5.40pm.
Food and drinks will be available throughout the weekend.
Chad Morgan - Living legend
Chadwick William “Chad” Morgan was born in Wondai, Queensland in 1933 and raised by his grandparents.
He was discovered through Australia’s Amateur Hour radio program and started recording with Regal Zonophone (a subsidiary of EMI).
Chad, known fondly as “The Sheik of Scrubby Creek”, released his first album in 1952 and is renowned for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, and goofy stage persona.
Chad is the ultimate comic of Australian country music.
He is instantly recognisable with his unique trademark – those teeth!!
Tex Morton once described Chad as the only original country music artist in Australia.
When Gordon Parsons came up with the pub with no beer, Chad’s the bloke who wrote the words down and even one verse of his own.
Chad has toured extensively, including the Slim Dusty Show, the All Star Western Show, Normie Rowe, Mental As Anything and his own Chad Morgan Show. He has been prolific in his recorded output and live performances, even recording a duet with John Williamson, “A Country Balladeer”.
Dubbed the clown prince of comedy by Slim Dusty, Chad has platinum and gold album sales, and is one of Australia’s most popular and loved country music artists.
He has played all over Australia in all of manner of places, from tents to trucks to clubs and pubs, festivals, the Sydney Opera House – even a touring circus!
Chad portrays Aussie culture, warts and all – and we love him for it. The dry humour he uses to send up our beloved institutions and customs have thousands of people laughing at themselves every time they hear him sing.
He still has an enormous and devoted following and is constantly touring the country, he still eagerly awaits his performances at the annual Tamworth Festival.
Since 1952 Chad’s been performing a unique array of comic country and western songs such as The Sheik Of Scrubby Creek, I’m My Own Grandpa, The Shotgun Wedding, Double Decker Blowflies, There’s Life In The Old Dog Yet, and many more.
Chad was inducted into the Tamworth Hands of Fame in 1979; the Roll of Renown in 1987; was awarded Kempsey’s Living Legend award in 2002 and the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2004.
He was the first person to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 CMAA Awards.