Blue Heeler Film Festival 2014 is on its way!

Serving the Hunter for over 20 years with a readership of over 4,000 weekly! s going on! The only way to find out what Thursday 20th March, 2014 YOUR WEEK LY GU ID E Missed an issue? www.huntervalleyprinting.com.au/pages/entertainer.php Blue Heeler Film Festival 2014 is on its way! See inside ADDING TO YEARS TV Guide Last Friday entries closed to the 2014 Blue Heeler Film Festival. In total a 163 cast and crew members have been involved in entering 19 short competition films. Films have come from Muswellbrook, Denman, Aberdeen, Scone and Singleton. Continued on page 10. A new standard of service, dining and luxury Next Race Day Scone Equine Hospital Race Day Tuesday 25 March 2014 8 TAB races Free gate entry - open 11.30am See pages 2, 6 and 8 for details. The Hunter s ultimate recreational experience! 434 Bunnan Road Scone NSW Tel: 02 6545 1607 events@sconeraceclub.com.au sconeraceclub.com.au SRC10062 SCONE CUP CARNIVAL EASTER SPECIAL Emirates Park Scone Cup Race Day Unpowered camping available Friday, 16 May 2014 ONLY $13 per head Inglis Guineas/Dark Jewel Race Day (includes car entry) Kids under 12 years FREE Saturday, 17 May 2014 Book early to avoid disappointment City class racing, country style... Photography by Tanya D Herville Photography 434 Bunnan Road Scone NSW Tel: 02 6545 1607 events@sconeraceclub.com.au sconeraceclub.com.au ;MTTQVO aw]z PWUM' 6W\ []ZM _PMZM \W [\IZ\' Phone SRC10071 www.lakeglenbawn.com.au WIN! )\\MVL \PM 07? <7 ;-44?-44?WZS[PWX[.ZMM XZM[MV\I\QWV[ WV PW_ \W XZM[MV\ aw]z XZWXMZ\a NWZ [ITM \W IKPQM^M UI`QU]U ZM[]T\[ JZW]OP\ \W aw] Ja 4IVLUIZS 0IZKW]Z\[ 3I\ZQVI 8IZ\ZQLOM 8PW\WOZIXPa \PM ->-6< [\WZMZWWU 02 6543 7193 Email: reception@lakeglenbawn.com.au a double pass to Majestic Cinemas. See page 2 for details <P]Z[LIa )XZQT 3QVOLWV ;\ZMM\ ;KWVM IU IU WZ XU XU :MNZM[PUMV\[ I^IQTIJTM :;>8 -[[MV\QIT )LIU 7 :MOIV 4IVLUIZS 0IZKW]Z\[ ILIU(_T\ VM\ I] The ONLY station in the Hunter with the award-winning No:1 Rugby League show in Australia - the Continuous Call Team on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. www.facebook.com/entertainerpublication

what s on to The Remington. A NEW STANDARD OF SERVICE AND LUXURY. OPENING 24 MARCH 2014 IN MUSWELLBROOK. Providing a level of service, quality and style previously only available within city locations. The Remington offers guests a fresh and affordable new approach to quality accommodation and dining. Contemporary in design, our suites feature the latest in room technology and the very best in luxury accommodation furnishings and finishes, boasting 5-star king beds and 47 inch TV s as a standard. in-house guests and the public The Remington includes a modern Australian cuisine, fully-licensed restaurant and is Muswellbrook s newest dining destination featuring a menu that will take you on a journey through culinary heaven. The restaurant is open to the public 7 days for breakfast, lunch and dinner for any occasion personal or business. Contact us now to organise your inspection and corporate booking rate 28-32 Maitland Street, Muswellbrook P 02 6541 5858 E reception@theremington.com.au www.theremington.com.au Scone - Horse Capital of Australia 9 Guernsey Street Scone Phone 6545 1700 Program information Thursday 20th to Wednesday 26th March Would you like your story, event or advertisement in The Entertainer? Contact Cheri Gibson at Hunter Valley Printing E publications@huntervallyprinting.com.au P: 02 6545 2888 F: 02 6545 1465 WIN two double passes! The Entertainer in conjunction with Majestic Cinemas are giving away two double passes each week to two lucky readers. Look for the handwritten word WINNER along with the editor s signature on this page above HVP logo. Present the winning Entertainer edition to the Muswellbrook office of Hunter Valley Printing, 6 Wilkins Street Muswellbrook and collect your passes. (must be claimed within one week of publication date) Professional, friendly service - The quiet one g b b r r b Valley 2 Vineyards Trike Tours available - book now! www.v2vtriketours.com.au 2 - The Entertainer - Thursday 20th March, 2014 www.facebook.com/entertainerpublication

what s on The man behind The Gum Ball By Laura Sykes Any lover of music will know that you can t call yourself a music festival junkie until you have attended The Gum Ball. Held at Dashville, in Belford each year, the celebration of all things musical has fastly become one of the best collection of fans, bands and solo artists in the state, if not the country. And the man behind it all is Matt Johnston. Matt grew up on the property, and loved every second of it. Adventure was always a part of my childhood, Matt says, remembering how he was egged on by his older brother and sister. Growing up in the country you have to make your own excitement, so there were plenty of broken bones. As a teenager, music and parties were always around. It wasn t until I was around 14 that my brother taught me a couple of songs on guitar and away I went from there, writing songs and playing in punk bands. As a young 18-20 year old, Matt spent a year away overseas, travelling, discovering the world, attending music festival and gigs, taking stuff in and being unashamedly bulletproof. Coming home, Matt found that, one beautiful sunny morning, the idea to hold his own music festival right LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EVERY Sunday from 4.30pm to 8.30pm Food served from 6pm - 8pm RAILWAY HOTEL MUSWELLBROOK OPENING SOON the all-new LADIES BAR there in his parent s front yard formed itself fully in his mind; although he now admits that the seed had probably been lying dormant for some time before. Even now I can t fathom what I put myself through to get it up and running back then, he laughs. But get it up and running he did, and The Gum Ball has never looked back. And while the name of the event does raise a few eyebrows, to anyone who attends the festival, the meaning suddenly becomes clear. It s pretty straight forward. The site where the festival was fi rst created, the same site as today, has a number of very prominent large gum trees. Because they are really majestic and full of life, when we light them up at night and they drape over the stage it looks stunning. The name kind of just popped up when it needed to, and it wasn t until after that we realised a few confl icting things such as the international rally and the connotations with bubble gum. But I think we ve overcome that now, Matt says. The event hasn t been without its trials and tribulations, from problems with the DA from the council, to funding and clashing dates with other prominent music festivals in the state. But, Matt says, The Gum Ball has grown into an event that is as successful as it is fairly close to the original idea he had in mind. Continued on page 4. Image: Matt Johnston performing with his band, The Dashville Progress Society. March 23 - KYDA March 30 - Jared Scott April 6 - Matt O Leary Restaurant: Lunch Wednesday - Friday 12pm - 2pm Dinner Monday - Friday 6pm - 8.30pm Market Street Muswellbrook 02 6543 1061 91-93 Maitland Street New England Highway Muswellbrook www.thejohnhuntermotel.net E: thejohnhuntermotel@bigpond.com.au Phone: 6543 4477 Luxury Accommodation The John Hunter Motel is the largest motel in Muswellbrook with 68 rooms ideal for corporate or family travellers. We offer quality service with 24 hour reception and room service for breakfast or dinner. Choose to dine in our licenced restaurant or have it delivered to your room. Interconnecting Rooms Disabled Access Licenced Restaurant & Bar Guest Barbecue Area Pool & Heated Spa Catering for All Occasions Wifi Access Austar In Room Meals Airconditioned Rooms Off Street Parking 18 Hole Golf Course (Opposite) SCONE MOTOR INN BUSINESS CLASS TRAVEL Accommodation; Corporate Rates Cnr New England Hwy & Mount St 02 6545 3079 www.sconemotorinn.com.au www.huntervalleyprinting.com.au/pages/entertainer.php Thursday 20th March, 2014 - The Entertainer - 3

creative Creative Arts arts The man behind The Gum Ball By Laura Sykes Continued from page 3. Our audience has probably become more mature than we thought back then, as in we ve attracted a larger proportion of mums and dads and loads of kids, because the festival relates to how things used to be and it s so easy to attend as a family. We have had to build organically and attract the discerning music enthusiast. Thankfully now it proves that hard work does pay off, as you could say our festival has become a better experience because of it. With bands from all over the world lining up to play each year and this year marking the 10th in the festival s history, the next Gum Ball will be the same old festival you know and love, but bigger and better than ever before. We will have bigger bands than before, and some favourites from years gone by, Matt says. We ve got more kids entertainment and workshops, a bigger skate ramp, more camping space, the boutique cocktail bar will have more variety in beverages to offer. As a fi rst on Sunday morning, we have a special songwriter showcase during breakfast, which is going to be a new and revitalising way to end a big weekend. Tickets are almost sold out, so you d better get in quick if you ve been thinking about attending especially as this may just be your last chance to do so for a while. With marriage and other personal commitments on the cards, Matt admits that he isn t sure if The Gum Ball will be running again in 2015. And after that, well, we will just have to wait and see. Our family property, as in Dashville, named after the old man, Dash, is something awesome. A lot has gone into it over the last 10 years, so rest assured Dashville intends to be here for the future, says Matt. The Gum Ball will only ever happen at Dashville. If you haven t booked your tickets yet for The Gum Ball 2014, now is your chance to do so. You can fi nd out more about the music festival, the grounds and who and what will be there by heading onto the website, at www.thegumball.com.au THE WAYFARER MOTEL New England Highway, Muswellbrook Muswellbrook s only 24-hour check-in motel Room service available for breakfasts, home cooked dinners and packed lunches Backing onto golf course Clean, comfortable and affordable 25 air-conditioned rooms Pool and barbecue facility WIFI 6541 1744 reception@wayfarermotel.com.au Sunday Pastels with Jean Davies By Zack Phillips On March 30, the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre will hold its fi rst monthly pastel workshop. This is a free event that will run from 10am-1pm on the fourth Sunday of every month. The Follow the Page pastel workshops last year in 2013 were extremely successful. Jean Davies will once again be guiding a completely-free pastel workshop every month in 2014. This will help rising artists or somebody that wants to have fun make a stunning pastel artwork. Jean Davies is an artist that has created some of the best pastel artworks across the Hunter Valley and New South Wales. Last year, she guided students that took part in the Follow the Page pastel art workshops last year, and puts her own artworks and her student s artwork on display around Muswellbrook. For more information on the workshops or to reserve a place at the arts centre, call 0265 49 3800 or email arts.centre@muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au Image: Grey Day Riverside, pastel. 1 Oglivie Street Denman DENMAN MOTOR INN 8 Crinoline Street, Denman Ph: 6547 2462 Fax: 6547 2976 email: reception@denmanmotorinn.com.au www.denmanmotorinn.com.au Fully cooked breakfast Peaceful and central location FREE Internet Austar BBQ facilities Pool 4 - The Entertainer - Thursday 20th March, 2014 www.facebook.com/entertainerpublication

creative arts Winner of the 24th Muswellbrook Photographic Award announced The winner of the 24th Muswellbrook Photographic Award is Edward Gillan. The Award was announced last Saturday night at the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre by the adjudicator Anne Loxley, Curator C3West from the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay, Sydney. For Edward Gillan the Award is worth $10,000 thanks to the sponsorship of Coal & Allied and the Muswellbrook & Districts Camera Club, as well as his winning work entitled Man Taking Photograph entering the permanent collection held at the Arts Centre known as the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection. Anne Loxley said that the competition between the fi fty fi nalists was fi erce. I was intimidated when I fi rst entered the Arts Centre, because the quality of the works was so high she said. I felt almost overwhelmed by the outstanding impact of being in a gallery with so many standout photographic works to choose from, Anne continued, In the end it comes down to looking for a work that not only has that wow factor but also has that special something in art that will bring the viewer back to a work many, many times. It s something I call the works aura. Anne found that special something in Edward Gillan s black and white image of a man crouching to take a tourist snap. This is an image with a strong narrative but it also raises more questions about our relationship to photography than it answers. It really makes you think about why and when we take photos and how they affect our perception of the world, said Ms Loxley. Edward Gillan is also the producer, writer and director of the award winning Australian feature length documentary fi lm, Desperate Man Blues 2003, an extraordinary look at the passion of collecting through the eyes of Joe Bussard, an original American character and his quest to save America s real music. The crowd of eighty guests at the opening of the exhibition were captivated by both Anne Loxley and the photographs. While the fi fty fi nalists came from up and down the eastern seaboard of Australia, it was a local Muswellbrook artist who was singled out by Anne Loxley to receive the one and only Highly Commended citation that the adjudicator awarded. Leanne Ward was thrilled when Ms Loxley announced that her work entitled So You Think You Can Dance was the recipient. While the Highly Commended citation carries no monies, to be the only one in a fi eld of forty nine fi nalists culled from the original two hundred and ten entries is high praise indeed. The exhibition continues at the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre until Sunday 20th April 2014. Images: [Top] Winning artist Edward Gillan with Councillor Jennifer Lecky, Chair of the Muswellbrook Shire Council Art & Culture Advisory Committee. [Above] Man Taking Photograph 2014 type c print [Bottom left] Highly Commended in the 24th Muswellbrook Photographic Award: Leanne Ward, So You think You Can Dance 2013 digital output print. [Bottom Right] Adjudicator Anne Loxley from the Museum of Contemporary Art gives her deliberations. 24th Muswellbrook Photographic Award Exhibi on Dates > 9 March - 20 April 2014 Opening > 6pm Saturday, 8 March 2014 Image: Koji Makino, Alexia 2012 (detail) gela n silver print, Highly Commended 23rd Muswellbrook Photographic Award 2012. Corner of Bridge & William Streets, Muswellbrook NSW 2333 t 02 6549 3800 e arts.centre@muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au w muswellbrookartscentre.com.au Tuesday to Friday 10am - 5pm Weekends 10am - 1pm Mondays by appointment only Closed public holidays www.huntervalleyprinting.com.au/pages/entertainer.php Thursday 20th March, 2014 - The Entertainer - 5

food & wine The Remington - your newest fi ne dining and accommodation experience By Laura Sykes Muswellbrookians and passers-by might have noticed construction works taking place at a new establishment on the New England Highway these past months. Well, the wait is nearly over, because on March 24th Muswellbrook s newest accommodation and fi ne-dining experience is set to open its doors with the offi cial opening of The Remington. Manager Grant Gill says that The Remington will bring with it a standard of service, style and luxury to rival the big city hotels. The Remington brand, fi rst conceptualised a few years ago, is fi nally nearing fruition, with 5-star king beds, 47 inch TVs, free blockbuster movies, 22 Foxtel channels including all sky racing and sports channels, complimentary high speed WiFi and professional friendly service that will have you wanting to come back time and time again. And this is only the beginning, says Grant. The Remington Motor Inn Muswellbrook is the fi rst in our chain of accommodation buildings to open; other projects are already underway in other major regional centres throughout NSW. Along with this new approach to regional accommodation, The Remington also brings a new standard of dining to the table. With a focus on local and quintessentially modern-day Australian cuisine and the standards set high, there is no doubt that The Remington will impress locals with the food as much as it will impress travellers and guests with the motel service. Bookings are essential, so make sure you get in early to avoid disappointment. Our onsite Modern Australian restaurant serves both our guests and the local community for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days per week and offers an intimate style of dining with hand-selected hunter wines and a specially-designed menu by our chefs, so whether you are after a barista coffee on your way to work or to give you a delectable option for dinner, The Remington has a solution for you, Grant says. We feel this is something that will benefi t the community as a whole, another option for somewhere to dine out. We have great relationships with other businesses in town including Hunter Belle Cheese, Muswellbrook Race Club, Hollydene Estate and many others. We believe in working together for a greater outcome. Continued on page 8. Bringing more than 25 years of experience of high quality work in both digital and offset printing 90 kelly street scone 6545 2888 6 wilkins street muswellbrook 6541 1358 www.huntervalleyprinting.com.au 6 - The Entertainer - Thursday 20th March, 2014 www.facebook.com/entertainerpublication

food & wine Visit our Tasting Rooms: Denman (02) 6547 1055 440 Denman Rd, Muswellbrook Distinctive Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Vinegars Pokolbin 0408 144 149 2347 Broke Rd, Cessnock pukaraestate.com.au Your hosts Karen & Ian Campbell royalscone@bigpond.com Kelly Street, Scone White Hart Hotel Kerv Espresso Bar Paddock to Pantry Royal Hotel - Motel, Scone Hunter Belle Cheese Pukara Estate Olives Two Rivers Vineyard Broke Welcome to Muswellbrook Shire Muswellbrook - Denman - Sandy Hollow A great place to experience a host of fabulous events, festivities and the culture of the Upper Hunter Let us help you make the most of your visit to our beautiful shire Muswellbrook Visitor Information Centre 87 Hill Street, Muswellbrook NSW 2333 Phone: 02 6541 4050 www.muswellbrook.org.au www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au Denman Visitor Information Centre 7 Ogilvie Street, Denman NSW 2328 Phone: 02 6547 2799 www.visitdenman.com.au www.huntervalleyprinting.com.au/pages/entertainer.php Thursday 20th March, 2014 - The Entertainer - 7

food & wine The Remington - your newest fi ne dining and accommodation experience By Laura Sykes Continued from page 6 Working together is certainly something that Grant and his wife Shelley know all about. After managing a property in Port Stephens for the past 5 years, as well as managing some of Australia s most well-known 5 star properties before that, they decided that the Muswellbrook region would be the perfect location for the new business. We have been coming to the region for many years now for a variety of both business and pleasure, both being interested in the horse industry and also connected with various businesses in the area, Grant says. The Remington also offers facilities for small functions or boardroom meetings, as well as a variety of business services which, if you are looking for the perfect place to hold your next function or committee meeting, you can fi nd out more about on the website. Located at 28-32 Maitland Street, Muswellbrook on the New England Highway, The Remington offi cially opens doors to the public on Monday the 24th of March, with door prizes for a few lucky restaurant diners throughout the night and a special surprise for one lucky guest. If you d like a chance to be one of the fi rst to sample the delicacies on offer at Muswellbrook s newest dining experience, book now as seating in the restaurant is already limited. You can fi nd out more about The Remington, the restaurant, motel and exquisite services offered at www.theremington.com.au Experience. Sound advice. Positive outcomes. We think that just about covers it! MUSWELLBROOK Market House ~ 4 Market Street Muswellbrook NSW 2333 02 6542 5566 02 6543 4397 8 - The Entertainer - Thursday 20th March, 2014 www.facebook.com/entertainerpublication

equine trend & more Desex your bunny? Please! By Tiffany Tung, Pet Medical. Rabbits are legendary breeders. Left unchecked, one female rabbit and her offspring, can produce 50,653 rabbits in three years, 69,000,000 in fi ve years, and 64,000,000,000 in seven years! Desexing your pet rabbit is a good idea. Not only will desexing prevent unwanted pregnancies, but it has other benefi ts as well. Rabbits are very social animals and are best kept in pairs but without desexing, rabbits fi nd it diffi cult to bond with each other because they are more likely to fi ght (both males and females!). Desexed rabbits make much better housepets. Desexing ends obnoxious male rabbit urine spraying and humping. Desexing female rabbits tends to improve their attitude - they are less hormonal and less likely to be aggressive. In short, desexed rabbits make much better companions they are calmer, more loving and dependable once the urge to mate has been removed. Desexing female rabbits is also important because it prevents disease and cancer. Rabbits experience false pregnancies and this makes their womb an ideal environment for bacterial infection. This is why there is such a high risk that female rabbits will develop cancers in their wombs. 80% of female rabbits over the age of four will develop cancer in her womb. This cancer will slowly make a rabbit very sick, spreading through the liver and lungs. Desexing your female rabbit will eliminate this risk. Once desexed, rabbits can be box-trained and live indoors, cage-free in a bunny-proofed home, freed from the constant worries and hormonal surges of their outdoor, intact counterparts. House rabbits enjoy the security and comfort of living indoors, and benefi t from the attention of their human companions. Desexed rabbits are happy rabbits, indeed! your local club Scone Jump Club Marcia 0407 403 802 sconeshowjumpingclub@hotmail.com www.sconehorsetrials.com.au Upper Hunter Riding for the Disabled President: Chris Hayes (02) 6541 3847 Anne-Marie Williams amglwilliams@skymesh.com.au Riding & carriage driving: Muswellbrook centre Tuesdays and Thursdays (3rd and 4th school terms). Open to all children and adults with a disability. Volunteers welcomed and always needed. Look for us on Facebook. MacCallum Inglis the Upper Hunters Leading Stock & Station Agency providing you with a wealth of local experience combined with the strength of Australia s foremost Bloodstock Auctioneers William Inglis. Specialising in the following areas: 198 Kelly Street Scone Tel +612 6540 1200 Fax +612 6545 2687 www.maccalluminglis.com.au www.huntervalleyprinting.com.au/pages/entertainer.php Thursday 20th March, 2014 - The Entertainer - 9

leisure & lifestyle Blue Heeler Film Festival 2014 is on its way! Continued from front page. The judges who include acclaimed documentary fi lmmaker Michael Dillion, ABC Open Producer Bronwyn Purvis and local fi lmmaker and theatre director Ryan Langford will now be very, very busy watching fi lms. Prizes are to be awarded to the winners of the junior, senior and open categories along with an overall winner who will claim the coveted Bluey trophy. Audiences also get an opportunity to vote for their favourite fi lms at the screenings of each category. Prizes are provided with thanks to Harvey Norman Muswellbrook. Spokesperson for the fi lm festival Deputy Mayor, Cr Malcolm Ogg said, The most satisfying part is the number of young people that have been involved in making fi lms with just under a 100 primary school age students participating as cast and crew in the Junior category. The inaugural major sponsor Bengalla is again generously supporting the festival along with sponsors Hunter Mutual, Muswellbrook Race Club, and Two Rivers. Media partners include the Muswellbrook Chronicle/Hunter Valley News and 98.1 Power FM/2NM. The Blue Heeler Film Festival is part of Muswellbrook Shire Council s cultural program supported by Screen NSW and Upper Community Services. The fi lm festival will run from Sunday April 13th to Wednesday April 16th 2014. For more information visit http://www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au/ index.php/bhff-home or come huddle with us at the Blue Heeler Film Festival Facebook page. A deep connection By Laura Sykes What do horses and a tennis ball have in common? Not much, might be your answer, but for Raymond Bové, the two are so connected, they set him on a pathway that has taken him onwards to the career of a lifetime. The professional, deep muscle equine therapist has always harboured a love of horses in his heart. Originally from Melbourne, Ray grew up right near the Caulfi eld racetrack and never looked back. My parents had a few racehorses, and I remember these horses as a young lad, and loved visiting the stables and seeing some great horses, Ray says. I have always been fascinated by them and interested in the racing and horse world. My mother was a good dressage rider when she was young, and I always loved watching the showjumpers. Adopting a hands on approach to his work literally Ray says it was a combination of events that led him to pursuing a career as an equine practitioner. After purchasing his property on the mid- north coast 33 years ago, he also purchased his fi rst horse. She was a beautiful stockhorse mare named Gretchen. I had so much fun, and before I knew it, I was breeding stockhorses and thoroughbreds. I learnt a lot about horses this way, with all the trials and tribulations. One day, a thoroughbred yearling that Ray bred dropped a hip. And this is where the tennis ball comes in. Some guy with a tennis ball spent two minutes on her and said he fi xed her. Ray explains. Well he didn t, and I spent 12 years thinking about this. Continued on page 11. Images: [Above] Ray Bové [Page 11] All stretches are done at the end of treatment. This is a great stretch which all horses love, and show the same reaction. The shoulder joint lets go, and stretches all the forearm muscles, tendons and ligaments of the lower leg. Real Estate Pty Ltd ABN 60 071 503 136 109 KELLY STREET, SCONE NSW 2337 TELEPHONE: (02) 6545 2626 FAX: (02) 6545 2702 EMAIL: patrick@patgleeson.net.au Pat Gleeson: 0408 689 949 Brooke McInerney: 0488 216 126 www.patgleeson.com.au 10 - The Entertainer - Thursday 20th March, 2014 www.facebook.com/entertainerpublication

leisure & lifestyle A deep connection By Laura Sykes Continued from page 10. After studying remedial massage in 1999, Ray decided he wanted to apply his newfound skills to the horses he cherished so much. With a fi nal result in the course that proclaimed distinction and a passion for thoroughbreds, Ray went straight to working at Warwick Farm in Sydney. The fi rst horse I worked on had a sore back and got up and won after an hour of deep muscle therapy. Then the phone started ringing. Ray s intuition and skill at helping these equine athletes earned him some top-of-the-game gigs right from the off, even being contracted to work with a Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper winner in his very fi rst year, around 15 years ago. These days, and over 4500 much-more-happier horses later, Ray continues to do this amazing work, and says that after so many years in the business, the differences in the horses he works with before and after still amazes him. They are more relaxed, walk better, run better and have a good recovery rate from work, stated Ray. All professional athletes get a good rub down by a professional and experienced therapist. So why not the horses? I do a lot of connective tissue release (called the fascia). The connective tissue covers and protects everything in the horses body, and when released provides muscles with memory restoration and lowers the frequency of the nervous system. After working all the muscles over including the legs and below, it takes the pressure off the framework or skeleton, and I can adjust the pelvis, back, shoulders and balance the skull. The horses love it! Horses need good blood circulation and pressure off the ribcage so they can fi ll their lungs up and get the maximum amount of oxygen into the bloodstream which the heart pumps out and then goes to the brain. My treatments are as much neurological as anatomical. Once the stress is out of tired and sore muscles it is amazing how recovery is so quick from problems horses may have had for some time. There are a lot of horses that have been sore and out of balance for some time. Ray bases his business around Sydney, Newcastle, and the Upper Hunter, however his work has taken him all over the world including to Argentina and Brazil. I work on horses pretty much everywhere I go, he says. But the Upper Hunter has become one of his favourite destinations, after beginning to visit more regularly last august. I fi nd myself working a lot these days in Northern NSW and Gold Coast and Brisbane, but now I like to concentrate on the Hunter. I teach on occasions and I have had students from around the world and all over Australia. If you would like to fi nd out more about Ray and his life s work, you can check out his website at www.eqmusclerelease.com WIN A DOUBLE PASS! What do you LOVE about The Gum Ball? Send us your response in 50 words or less to publications@huntervalleyprinting.com.au for a chance to win one double pass valued at $400 which is valid for the two days of the festival. The winner will be notified on Thursday 3 April via email. Isis Motel is the best value place to stay in Scone and offers ideal accommodation for travellers, families and workers. The Isis Motel is conveniently located on the New England Highway at the southern entrance to Scone. Come and stay for a night or stay for a week! Phone: 02 6545 1100 Fax: 02 6545 1750 Email: isismotel@yahoo.com.au www.isismotelscone.com.au www.huntervalleyprinting.com.au/pages/entertainer.php Thursday 20th March, 2014 - The Entertainer - 11

local gig guide Melody Pool performing at Gum Ball Showcase By Zack Phillips Furniture, Giftware, Soft Furnishings, Jewellery, Accessories, Clothing, On Sunday April 13, Melody Pool will be performing at The Gum Ball s Sunday Songwriter s Showcase. Commencing at 9am through to midday, Melody will perform at different times throughout the morning s showcase. Melody Pool is a young artist from Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley. Her debut album, The Hurting Scene, sends the listener back in time to the late 1960 s, with music reminiscent of early artists Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. She was able to write and record the Hurting Scene in Nashville with producers Jace Everett and Brad Jones by crowd-funding in her home town, Kurri Kurri. In July 2013, Melody signed to Mushroom Music Publishing and Liberation Music, and had her album re-released. She then toured California with duo The Milk Carton Kids, who then invited her to tour Europe with them. The Hurting Scene is one of the most accomplished debuts by an Australian singer-songwriter for many years. stated Iain Sheddon of The Australian giving Melody four and a half stars in his review of her album. The Hurting Scene contains many original songs that will be performed at The Gum Ball s Sunday Showcase. For more information on The Gum Ball s Sunday Showcase, visit the offi cial website on www.thegumball.com.au Image: Melody Pool. Royal Hotel, Muswellbrook Friday 21 March Funked Up Friday with DJ Shots Fired FAST & FURIOUS @ 8pm Free admission Muswellbrook District Workers Club Friday 21 March The Lamplighters @ 8.30pm Free admission in the main lounge Railway Hotel, Muswellbrook KYDA @ 4.30pm Sunday 23 March Free admission Royal Hotel, Muswellbrook Friday 28 March Tim & Dario @ 8pm Free admission Railway Hotel, Muswellbrook Sunday 30 March Jared Scott @ 4.30pm Free admission Railway Hotel, Muswellbrook Sunday 6 April Matt O Leary @ 4.30pm Free admission The GumBall Music Festival 11 and 12 April 2014 Featuring Hoodoo Gurus plus 20 more artists Belford, Hunter Valley www.thegumball.com.au THE LAMPLIGHTERS FRIDAY 21 MARCH 8.30PM FREE IN THE MAIN LOUNGE www.muswellbrookworkers.com.au You can find us at 16-18 Muffett Street Scone whilst we build our brand new dealership 12 - The Entertainer - Thursday 20th March, 2014 www.facebook.com/entertainerpublication