Tenterfield lights up the star spirit

Tenterfield’s Wintersong Carnival organisers will launch a week-long celebration of music and art from June 18-26.
Following a gala launch screening of ‘The Boy from Oz’ at the School of Arts cinema on Monday, June 18, day two of the carnival will be a dedicated Peter Allen Day.
The move follows the example set by the Mayor of Los Angeles who, on June 19, 1986, proclaimed Peter Allen Day in that city.
The honour was in recognition of the star’s humanitarian and charitable works.
The locally born songwriter created a special gift for his Australian home town when he wrote the hit song – Tenterfield Saddler.
Tenterfield enjoys international recognition from this song. So, for this and his inspiring legacy as a performer, Wintersong organisers have marked a day of homage here.
Tenterfield Tavern will host the celebrity occasion with an LA cocktail hour from 5pm on Tuesday. Allen settled in Los Angeles for most of his career.
The city is a magnet for celebrities and movie stars and Allen’s recording and entertainment success largely stemmed from there.
The tavern’s cocktail hour will take advantage of the international time difference. LA is 17 hours behind Eastern Standard Time so the cocktail hour will run from 5pm Tuesday until 10pm on Wednesday to finish on LA time the same day. Drinks will be served within normal opening hours.
The long hour puts a new slant of the “time is a traveller” song line. Tavern’s event manager Mathew Townes jokes, “The local start date is a chance for us to enjoy Tenterfield being ahead of the times for once.
“Admittedly, that’s not counting the fact that we are about 30 years late in giving the star his due.” Yet, he added, “We will do our best to make it a spirited occasion.”
Tenterfield Showgirl Melissa Ware, will be raising the first toast, beginning her week of official Wintersong duties at the tavern’s cocktail event.
Organisers say they expect Melissa’s dance card to be quite full that week. Friends can follow her on Facebook.
Ten FM community radio will be the first to mark Peter Allen Day in Tenterfield, by broadcasting a radio interview with the entertainer, recorded in the eighties.
The tape was retrieved from the National Sound Archives for this special airing. It is a rare chance to hear this candid interview with the man recorded by the ABC. Tune into 89.7 or 98.7 Ten FM to listen.
Saturday, June 23, will be the main carnival day, featuring a street parade through the town centre, which will close the New England Highway from 12.30pm to 1pm.
A prize for the best float will be awarded from Klas Accounting.
A Bandstand afternoon at the showground will feature live music (Fugarwie and others) plus family entertainment, markets, hot food, licensed bar and more.
The full carnival calendar is released this week.
Get all event details at www.wintersong.org.au or phone (02) 6736 1305.