A Bush Xmas 2020
Channel: Rob Willis
Date: 2020-12-22

The late Biddy McLenehan, niece of Australian traditional musician Harry Schaefer, describes how Christmas was celebrated with little money but plenty of family spirit, hospitality, music and dance at their bush property near Forbes NSW in the 1920’s. Her memory of the preparations for Christmas and Mum and   ‘Uncle Harry (Schaefer)’ playing for the dance after their Christmas meal is among the best oral history segments I have recorded.
We have used family images of Harry, the family band and Christmas day on the Verandah in about 1923 that were supplied by Biddy. Biddy, a wonderful bush woman herself is also there.
Interview with Biddy NLA ORAL TRC 4778/184-185

 Many thanks to Illawarra band, ‘No Such Thing’, for permission to use two of Harry’s tunes in the video.
More information on Harry Schaefer can be found in ‘Verandah Music, Roots of Australian Tradition’ Graham Seal and Rob Willis and  ‘The Tunes of Harry Schaefer’ , Graham McDonald and Rob Willis.  
http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/musicfolder/schaeferbook/schaeferlife.html 

The Schaefer musical manuscripts and relevant Oral History and Folklore recordings are housed  in the National Library of Australia.  
Harry’s tunes are played Australia wide.