Coverage in Junee Southern Cross of inaugural 2008 Rhythm n Rail Festival

Thursday, February 28, 2008 — Pre-Festival announcements

The Junee Southern Cross newspaper had three editorials in the February 28, 2008 issue covering the upcoming Junee Rhythm n Rail Festival.

The first article, “School ready to rock record” announced that Junee High School had proudly put its hand up in a bid to try and break the world record of the most guitarists playing the same tune at one time. The record currently stood at 1802 guitarists.

The next article, “Handicrafts on show at museum” called for donations of handmade, knitted, crocheted or woven woollen rugs to be included as part of the Rug up on Broadway display and competition.

The final article, “Music lovers can delight at rhythm festival” listed a number of acts that would perform over the Festival weekend, including;

• Franklyn B Paverty, a bush band
• Silver Fox Barbershop Quartet
• Wind in the Roundhouse, featuring Riverina Concert Bands dn Murrumbidgee String Orchestra
• Rusty Shake, a grunge rock band
• Sukay
• and various buskers lining the streets.

 

Thursday, March 6, 2008 — Pre-Festival Advertising Feature

The day before the inaugural Rhythm n Rail Festival, the Junee Southern Cross headlined the from t page with an article entitled “Full steam ahead for new festival” and featured a photograph of original organisers, Sandra McArtney and Robyn Cousens, at Junee Railway Station.

This was followed with a double page advertising spread on pages 6-7, featuring;

• Festival Program, listing the various events occurring around Junee over the three day Festival weekend;
• an announcement that an attempt to break the world record of the largest guitar ensemble would happen;
• an article advising that an art and sculpture show would be launched at the Junee Railway Station Cafe;
• Tin Hare trains arriving and operating shuttle services from Junee to Wagga Wagga and Cootamundra;
• A summary of events entitled “Loads to do at Junee Festival”, including another world record attempt at Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory for the longest liquorice string, a bush dance and Wind in the Roundhouse with the Riverina Brass Band;
• and various event and sponsor advertisements

 

Thursday, March 13, 2008 — Post Festival Coverage

The week following the inaugural 2008 Junee Rhythm n Rail Festival, the Junee Southern Cross had coverage of the festival spread across three pages, including a headline article virtually filling the front page!

The headline read “Sweet Treat sets a new world record” and the article went on to cover how visitors to the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, assisted in smashing the world record for the longest length of licorice. The previous record was a mere 10m long… now it was set to a massive 244 metres!!!

Then over two pages, there were a number of photographs and articles focussing on various other aspects of the Festival.

The photos included;

• Rhiannon Druce, Danielle Leiminger and Courtney Wirth jumping for joy after being part of the world record attempt to produce the longest licorice strand
• Lance Tucker, showing off his skills as an old-fashioned blacksmith at the Broadway Museum
• Peter Boyton, demonstrating a hand-operated Viceroy sewing machine, whilst dressed in period clothing
• Nick Cook (6) Kirra Duck (6) and Ben Cook (8) enjoying the face painting
• Daniel Wattie, Margaret Hill and Jack Schulz getting their hands on the first section of the record-making piece of licorice

 

The articles were;

• “Festival fanatics travel from afar” — Covered events and displays including Jim Wright from Victoria riding around town on his Penny Farthing whilst dressed in period costume; Fashion Thro’ the Ages at Monte Christo; Bush Poets’ Breakfast; Interdenominational church serve held in the Railway Refreshment rooms, with standing room only; and the vintage Tin Hare train rides to Wagga Wagga and Cootamundra; plus the “living museum” displays of wood carving, ceramic art and blacksmithing.
• “Guitar record fails to strike a chord” — Unfortunately the attempt to gather about 2000 guitarists only attracted 66… but they still had fun!
• “Maiden festival a ‘learning curve’ — Festival organiser, Sandra McArtney, discusses how the first festival involved a steep learning curve, but lessons had been learnt and would make future Junee Rhythm n Rail Festivals even greater.

 

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the staff at the Junee branch of the Riverina Regional Library for searching their archives and providing the original scans of the Junee Southern Cross newspaper pages.

Seeking photos & videos from previous Junee Rhythm n Rail Festivals

The Rhythm and Rail Festival Committee are asking local residents and businesses, as well any past visitors to the Festivals, to search through their photo and video archives for any relevant photographs or video footage from previous Festivals, especially from our inaugural 2008 festival.

If you have any images, please click here to submit your photos.