Eileen McCoy (1917-2011) plays 'Soldier's Joy'
Channel: Rob Willis
Date: 2013-10-12

We first met and recorded Eileen for The National Library in 1993 and recognised the importance of her broad repertoire of traditional and other tunes.
 "I'm just like an old chook, Rob, picking up bits and pieces of tunes everywhere" 
Eileen started playing fiddle at an early age in her family band near Gunn's Plains Tasmania, picking up the old dance tunes from older players. Her later years were involved with the travelling Hillbilly shows, Australia wide,  Eileen even travelled with the legendary Tex Morton. All the time she was 'picking up tunes'. Canadian fiddler, Peter Mollerson, Tasmanians Angus Cameron, Ron Crane and many others contributed to her repertoire.
We persuaded Eileen to visit the National Library and National Folk Festival on many occasions and her field and studio recordings are housed in the NLA. http://www.nla.gov.au/what-we-collect/oral-history-and-folklore 
Eileen McCoy was 78 when we videoed her at her house in Bega in 1995.
Says a lot for the good Tassie air, I think.