The talented young drumming group from Narooma Public School, the Rhythm Hunters has won the People's Choice award and the Best School section in the national finals of the Australian National Busking Championships in Cooma over the weekend.
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The 34 excited students from Narooma Public School were also named runners up in the overall finals.
The Rhythm Hunters qualified for the ANBC finals in Cooma held on Saturday, November 4 by taking out the Narooma Busking Festival held at locations around town back in May. The Narooma festival is hosted by Narooma Rotary Club, and this year they partnered with River of Art.
Narooma Busking Festival organiser Sandra Doyle, attended the national finals in Cooma, along with her husband John and fellow Narooma festival organiser Lynda Ord.
“I am so overwhelmed with the school’s Rhythm Hunters and the opportunity and experience it has given those students,” Mrs Doyle said. “It’s amazing to see how attentive they all are and how well they follow they teacher Juanita Lowe’s instructions.”
The Narooma Busking Festival’s other first place winners,Tyler Strucklak and Skye Armstrong of Batemans Bay from the Open division, Matilda Rose of Bredbo from the Secondary section and Shelby Grace, who hosted the Narooma Plaza performance at the Narooma festival, also performed up at Cooma.
Tyler and Skye, Matilda Rose and Shelby Grace were all runners up in their section with Shelby Grace, who happens to be the granddaughter of Narooma organisers Sandra and John Doyle, also being second in the People’s Choice category.
Mrs Doyle said the “wow of the day” was definitely the Rhythm Hunters, some of whom were interviewed by Channel 9 television at the event.
“From the time they started on their timetable they attracted people from everywhere,” she said. “The whole day showed testament to their dedication of time to learning what the hand signals meant, respect for their drums and each other, attention to their conductor and perfection in timing.”
She congratulated them on winning first place in the Schools section, first place in People’s Choice and were runners up in their overall section.
“These students were so focussed and so very proud of their achievements. This, of course, could not have been achieved without the dedication and creative talent of their conductor and teacher, Juanita Low,” Mrs Doyle said.
“Any school who has Juanita as a teacher in their school must think they have struck gold. Well done Narooma Rhythm Hunters!”
And the music is set to continue with Narooma again hosting a leg of the Australian National Busking Championships on May 26, 2018.
Stan Gorton
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
Walkley-nominated journalist based at The Islander on Kangaroo Island with an interest in the local community and the environment.
