Kevin Borich on stage at Sunbury.
SunburyIzzyForeal

 

Sheila Dixon and some friends provided a very helpful ‘Information Centre’ on the main walkway, where patrons could not only receive advice but also leave written messages for friends. She was able to tell some very amusing stories from questions asked and advice given.

Prior to the third Festival, the Duncans’ neighbour to the north, over Jackson’s Creek, issued a Supreme Court writ to stop the Festival unless he was paid compensation. With the unpaid assistance of my friends Mr Hartog Berkeley QC and Mr Peter Hayes, the matter was settled. More free publicity.

 The third Festival was covered by a crew from GTV-9, organised by John Fowler and directed by Peter Faiman from their mobile control van. Peter was also a client and he seemed to enjoy the scene. I have never seen all their films, but parts appear on TV documentaries from time to time.

Overseas bands created some interest. It was decided to get Queen for the third Festival; they were not then well known. Arrangements were made and they were welcomed at the airport by Pauline, who brought them later to my office. What a thoroughly nice group of courteous young chaps! They sat on the floor and we had a very enjoyable talk. Little did I know that they would become so famous. Pity that there was apparently some banter between some louts in the crowd and the group, but I am told that they were well received, despite what is written on Google.

The not so grand finale.

So to the last Festival.

In the middle of 1974, a decision needed to be made as to the next event. The financial result of the latest one had left a deficit for unsecured creditors which could only be met from the next event. None of those creditors were pressing for payment and it seemed reasonable to assume that they would wait. It was decided to run a 1975 Festival. An awesome decision.

I have mentioned that each event became more expensive in overheads and it was indeed very difficult to make a budget because with increased costs and no means of having any accuracy of income from attendance, of course it was a gamble. Surely that was well known by anyone dealing with the company. Anyhow, it was decided to try to keep the overheads down, even though contractors always tried to increase their fees in the false belief that the promoter was making big money. As to income, it was decided to attract a larger attendance by having a better known overseas British band, Deep Purple. I had never heard of them but ‘everyone’ said that they would bring big numbers of patrons and that the cost would be more than justified. There was much optimism.

DeepPurple-450So the planning proceeded. The entrance fee was determined at $20, which was the highest ever. The band was then in the USA and its fee was paid. Their air fares and freight were arranged through a travel agent. I had no part in any of the arrangements for Deep Purple or any other band.

Happily, I had suggested in the week prior, that rain insurance should be obtained but I do not remember the details. However, as misfortune prevailed, it rained very heavily over the weekend and the attendance was much less than expected. A financial disaster ensued.

Despite the weather, the organisation worked splendidly in all departments. Deep Purple played but obviously they were not the expected drawcard. Google has a myth about a fracas with the roadies of an Australian band, but those present at the stage area, including my cousin Geoff Hall, attest that nothing of the sort happened.

One drama occurred involving a bikie gang that was wandering through the site causing trouble and fights. I was following the reports on the radio and asked that they be tracked by our security guys so that the police could assist. They were ‘spoken to’ but continued to cause trouble late into the night, so I asked John Dixon to organise eviction at first light next day. With expected military skill, a cordon and eject operation was planned. Our security guys, including the Karate team, backed by many uniformed police, woke the gang and ‘requested’ them to leave immediately. They were escorted to their bikes in the car park and farewelled. Later in the morning, we were told by the police that a large gang of bikies was proceeding north up the Calder Highway. Having told the police that the promoter would deny them entrance to the Festival, we sent a senior police officer in the chopper so he could co-ordinate the many traffic units which had been mustered, to stop the invasion. Apparently, the bikies went back to Melbourne and the senior policeman described it as all good fun, because really they had little to do during the weekend.

Mississippi-450On the other hand, I had no fun but much worry in view of the financial situation. I phoned Lewis Luckins and asked him to come to Sunbury urgently for a conference with Bob Waters and me. He did, and on seeing him I burst into tears because I felt responsible as the solicitor for the whole drama. However, we three agreed that Lewis as debenture holder should immediately appoint a Receiver and Manager and that the company should be put into liquidation. Therefore, I phoned another of my insolvency clients and told him of the circumstances and of his appointment as Receiver. I also phoned another insolvency client to tell him of his intended appointment as Liquidator.

I was asked to make some quick decisions as to who should be paid and the answer was that only the employees should be. Others were unsecured creditors these included those bands not paid up front. That decision was later upheld by the Supreme Court, when the bands contested my advice.

After the last Festival, Mayne Nickless tried to exercise a lien over the cash it collected to cover its charges for various services. That claim went to Supreme Court and was settled by the Liquidator.

I have mentioned the unsuccessful claim by the unpaid bands for priority payment as employees rather than as independent contractors.

Queen-450There were a multitude of matters for advice and attention, although I did not, of course, formally act for the Receiver or the Liquidator or any creditors.

There were separate meetings of the lenders and of the unsecured creditors, which I attended. The lenders volunteered to accept a lesser rate of interest on their loans.
There was the usual de-brief with the Police. St John sent a deputation seeking money for their services.

Then nasty drama arose after I was told that the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs was conducting an inquiry as to the possibility of offences following complaints by creditors. Well, that took six years of worry and work before I was advised that, following my representations to the Attorney-General, who I had briefed when he was a barrister, no action would be taken.

However, it was a long time before all the consequences of the Festivals were completed, and I was the only one who could handle the problem.

Finally, I should mention that John Fowler made no profit from the promotion of the Festivals and I received no fees.

Looking back over the 35 years since those events, I cannot say that my being involved was one of my better decisions. I certainly have no greater liking for rock and roll! It was all a lot of work and worry for no reward. Some of my friends benefitted and most of the bands gained exposure and improved their careers. I hope the patrons had a good time.

Stories of those who attended are often amusing – for example, at a cocktail party, a friend introduced a girl as ‘one of the organisers of Sunbury’. I was curious, as I did not recognise her. After some interrogation as to her role, it seemed that she slept with the cook!

I read with amusement of the chap who was taken back to Sunbury as a teenager by his parents and shown the tree under which he was conceived.
I am constantly amused when Sunbury is mentioned that people say they attended or, in the case of one good friend, that he sold watermelons. However, they are always happy stories. Most people seem impressed that I had Queen in my office. I know that the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants attended when a young girl.

SForea.-450It was interesting to me that none of the senior Army officers made any comment on the civilian activity of the Regiment. The exception was a phone call in 1974 from Major General Ken Green, who was Secretary to the Premier’s Deptartment, when he asked me to request ‘the Sunbury Promoter’ to organise pop music for the Commonwealth Youth Sunday at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl which would be attended by the Governor. So at Vice-Regal request, Odessa Promotions and 4/19 PWLH turned on another show with great success! Poor old Governor Delacombe took my advice and had cotton wool in his ears, but looked very pained. John Fowler and I were later invited to Government House for afternoon tea in gratitude. In fact, it was so boring that I asked the military ADC to take me on a quick tour of the place.

After that, I made it known that ‘We’ would be available to organise functions for a fee, but without result. Pity, because the Regiment could have made a good business and bought its own vehicles.

I am sorry for those who were adversely affected or were not paid. However, they surely should have realised the commercial risk. I assert that there are special rules of commercial morality when dealing with entertainment entrepreneurs. I don’t feel sorry for the bands: they benefitted from the exposure, and I understand that they received some money later through the Musicians’ Union.

I am sorry that the Duncans’ land was left in such a mess. It must be of little solace to them that the property is now a National Treasure with a shrine to Billy Thorpe.

I am particularly sorry for the travel agent who was apparently left to pay the airlines for the fares and freight of Deep Purple. I have long intended to inquire of him and only hope that the airline took pity on his misfortune.

I am sorry for those parents who suffered concern because their children insisted on attending.

However, on reflection, I do feel proud that we were able to stage such big events with such success. Still, I suppose the Regiment is always successful in its undertakings.

© Graeme Rees-Jones, 2012

Images:

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Mississippi at Sunbury, 1973. Image: Tony Feder

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Deep Purple at Sunbury, 1974.

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Kevin Borich on stage at Sunbury.

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Izzy Foreal (Paul Knox) channels Frank Zappa, Sunbury 1973.

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Queen at Sunbury, 1974