In tune for benefit

By Ed Merrison
A MONSTER music marathon bringing together friends from the Hills and further afield has been planned to ease the suffering of a cancer-stricken music icon.
The many mates of seriously ill Upwey-Belgrave RSL member Maitland Swallow – ‘Maity’ to his friends – are organising a shindig to remember at the RSL on Sunday, 2 July with all proceeds going to Mr Swallow’s treatment.
Mr Swallow is currently being looked after at his family’s home in Wonthaggi and has been too sick to work for more than half a year.
However it is hoped he will make the trip up to be the event’s guest of honour.
A member of the hugely popular Cobbers Bush Band in the 1970s and early 1980s, Mr Swallow has played regular sessions at the RSL over recent years to help the club boost its profile and membership.
Friend and RSL member Louey Hesterman, a fellow musician, said Mr Swallow had always been available for others who found themselves in trouble and it was now time to repay that friendship.
“Maity’s very sick with cancer and the whole idea of the RSL is welfare and looking after people when they’re not so well off.
“The thing about musicians is when one’s down they all get together and help, and the RSL’s been magnificent in donating the venue and anything they can do on the day to help,” he said.
Mr Hesterman said everyone was welcome to attend the event which will feature the first performance in 15 years by the specially re-formed Cobbers.
The rest of the bill reads like a Who’s Who of Melbourne-based Irish and Australian folk, with acts including the Gunda Guys, Celtic Storm with Christy and James Cooney, Redgum’s Hugh McDonald, Danny Bourke and Anthony O’Neil of the Idle Diddlies, The Free Selectors Bush Band, The Ardmores Oak Tavern Group, Maria Forde, John McAuslen, Neil Quinlan, Michael Flannagan, Linda Cooney and Mr Hesterman himself, plus special guests.
Entry to the benefit gig is by $20 donation and it is hoped further funds will be raised by a mini auction and sales of a specially pressed CD of Mr Swallow’s recordings.
As well as aiding his fight against cancer, Mr Hesterman said he hoped the money raised would be enough for a small button accordion for Mr Swallow, who now lacks the strength to play a large one.
The musical acts will play from 2pm until 8pm when festivities will kick on into the night with an all-singing, all-dancing Irish session in celebration of Mr Swallow’s life and hoped-for recovery.