This is the second (see Episode 2) in an occasional series consisting of extracts from interviews recorded by Hugh Anderson, a primary school principal from Ballarat, on his portable reel-to-reel recorder in 1967, with Simon 'Simmy' McDonald , a well-known local character who lived in Creswick all his life, from 1906 to 1968. He was an amazing singer, musician, poet, story-teller and local character. The recordings now reside in the National Library in Canberra, and this series delves into them. Great stories from Simmy, and some insight into how one of his songs arrived in Creswick having started out in the Southern States in the 1840s.

Neil Murray is one of Australia's best-known and well-loved songwriters. For many, he is known as the writer of My Island Home, recorded first with the Warumpi Band in the 80s and then a hit for Christine Anu in the 90s. There is a wealth of history and interest in Neil, and his life-long commitment to indigenous people is a foundation for his work. Here, one of CresFest's great interviewers, James Freemantle, asks him about his life and work. It's a fascinating insight!

Judy started playing recorder in the early years of primary school and music has rarely been absent from her life ever since. Here she talks about her musical life and how it inspired the crazy idea that is CresFest! A great personal insight.