We, Melbournians, are so blessed with varied natural beauty and attractions. Take, for example, the Mornington Peninsula - it has lovely beaches & National Parks and short ferry rides to Queenscliff, French Island and Phillip Island. It has unforgettable Portsea, Sorrento & Flinders – famed playgrounds for the rich & famous but who’s stopping the not so rich & famous from also enjoying these seaside towns? What’s more, there is the picturesque Red Hill with pick your own strawberries and cherries farms and, of course, hosting its annual Red Hill Country Music Festival – the Mornington Peninsula’s very own Mecca for Country music, hot rods & dancing.

Another very enjoyable day for all at Red Hill on Sunday and it doesn’t matter whether you are into hotrods, country music or a rock & roller. A big line up of artists with Sonytar Trahar, Phoenix, Rene Diaz & the Avalon, Sandra Humphries, Bryen Williems & including our favourite Black Hill Ramblers & Prairie Oysters. Special mention must go to Doug Bruce & the Tailgaters (multiple award winners - Australian Country Music). I haven’t seen this band before but I am very glad I did at Red Hill on Sunday. Doug Bruce is very talented indeed blessed with a lovely voice & great music. I sensed too those ladies sitting in close proximity to me were all going a bit “excited” when he came on stage – and not just about his music but also the way he projects himself on stage and they even talked about the new glasses he was wearing …… well, if you don’t believe me, just ask Hotrodgirl, Calamity Jane, Essex, Jenny, Judy etc ……..LOL.

Ezra Lee closed the festival with a mixture of Hank Williams and Honky Tonk music. Those of us who have been fortunate in the past to see him & his “Jerry Lee Lewis” style of piano playing at Rockin’ Suzie’s and the Gully would know just how exciting he can be on stage. And he didn’t disappoint his fans at Red Hill yesterday.

The weather started off on the cool side but by lunch time it was just about perfect for an outdoor music festival with plenty of sunshine. It is very easy to get to Red Hill if you take the new Eastlink Connect. So if you haven’t been to the Red Hill Country Music Festival, you must do it soon.

For me personally, the festival is a poignant reminder & symbol of happy families and of the young & old coming together to enjoy a picnic with good music & dancing. Also, one of the festival highlights is at one time seeing 3 groups of dancers happily sharing the “grass” dance floor – rockabilly dancers doing the stroll, rockers dancing rock & roll and country music lovers doing their line dancing. What a wonderful sight! If only the rest of the world can learn the art of happy co- existence from us dancers – it will be a better world to live in!