Gympie's first Muster

THE Gympie Times reported on Saturday, September 25, 1982, nearly 7000 people were expected to visit the Webb family property, Thornside, on Saturday and Sunday for Widgee Muster activities.

"The program, which began with a campfire concert last night, combined two days of country and western music with celebrations marking the Webb family's 100 years on Thornside and the Webb brothers' 25 years in the entertainment field,” The Times said.

"Widgee Muster has been organised by the Apex Club of Gympie and the Widgee community.”

Hundreds of visitors to the district were camped in caravans and tents on the specially prepared grounds.

Mrs Tanda Webb said several vans arrived as early as Thursday, September 23, but the trickle of caravans had become a steady stream by Friday afternoon, September 24.

"They are coming in groups of two and three vans,” she said.

"There is certainly great activity on the camping site.”

After 25mm of rain early in the week, the Muster site with its natural amphitheatre on site of the original Webb selection in 1882, was in tip-top condition to handle big crowds.

The first Muster came hot on the heels of The Webb Brothers' 1981 hit record on the beef scandal.

The Gympie Times reported on Thursday, September 10, 1981, the country style record, The Colonel put the lickin' in the chicken, but who put the roo in the stew?, was scheduled to hit the Australian airwaves September 11, 1981.

The idea for the song was born shortly after the beef scandal in which horse meat and kangaroo meat were substituted for beef exported to the United States.

The Webb brothers, Fabian, Marius and Berard, were hoping that the record would be as big a hit or bigger than their smash with Bellbird which sold around 70,000 records.

The Gympie Muster has been running for 36 years growing into a camping and festival experience. It will kick off on August 23-26.