The band grows

Left to right: Ross McLachlan, Glenn Rodger, Graeme McWilliams, Peter Aroney, Ray Christison, Richard Ollerton, Robyn Rodger, Allan Chard

After the 2SM Pepsi Pop Poll we decided to draft new members into the band. Peter Aroney and Ross McLachlan joined in late 1974. Peter took over the bush bass, freeing David Ryan to pursue his desire to play the drums. Ross bought the magic of his hands and a washboard to the band. 

Ross became a washboard legend. He provided a perfect foil to the insanity of the large egos, standing at the back with his hands and forearms being the only things on his body moving as he set a frantic rhythm.

Picture: A bunch of hippies and cesspool salesmen - Donga Dan's Derelict Band in 1978.

A mission statement

When Donga Dan's Derelict Band first formed the members sat down to develop a set of aims. We considered our values and beliefs and the unifying understanding that together we held little of what the world around us would value as talent. After much discussion the group agreed on the following statements regarding the purpose of the band:

• Use our combined 'talents' to the glory of God.
  
• Prepare people for a message.
• Humour and spectacle second.
• Combine Christian and folk songs.
• Promote fellowship.

It's not bad to think that a group of persons, the oldest being 20, came up with a simple mission statement in the early 1970s. Well before the corporate world discovered the value of 'vision' and 'mission'.

Radio Station 2SM Pepsi Pop Poll

In the early 1970s, in the days before FM radio, Sydney's top two rock and pop radio stations were 2SM and 2UW. Each year 2SM facilitated a Sydney-wide search for talented young musicians. Donga Dan's Derelict Band decided to enter the 1974 Pop Poll. We were one of 180 bands that recorded a song at the 2SM studios in Clarence Street, Sydney.

When we arrived we could see that the studio technicians had been rendered almost catatonic by the number of pop music covers they were being forced to record. The morbidly saccharine sounds of 'Bread' and other '70s middle-of-the-roaders were dripping off the studio walls like grease in a fish and chip shop.

The technicians were quizzical when we arrived with our strange array of instruments, and quite obviously elated when we put down our recording of Botabolar Boogie. Immediately after we finished one of the techs ran down the hall and grabbed the station manager. On hearing the playback he made the famous remark: "Sounds like a commercial for acid!"

It was done. We were the novelty act in the finals. One of 10 bands given the privilege of playing in the Concert Hall of the then almost new Sydney Opera house. We didn't get anywhere in the finals but we had a great time!

The Botabolar Boogie

In its early years the Botabolar Boogie was Donga Dan's signature tune. This cacophony of sound based on a 12 bar blues was originally used as a warm up tune for band practices. Over time the band worked up a sequence of instrumentals, creating a crazed experience that built to a spectacular climax. 

After the band recorded it at radio station 2SM's Sydney studios for the 1974 Pepsi Pop Poll one of the studio technicians commented: "It sounds like a commercial for acid." The tune ensured the band a place in the finals held at the Sydney Opera House. It also received airplay on 2SM.

As time went on the instrumental was refined with an introduction borrowed from Elizabethan popular music that said it all:

"The little chirping birds, the robin and the wren they sing a me.

The nightingale bears the treble.

Blackbird, the thrush they bear a tenor.

While the four-footed beasts, with their bleating and bellowing, they sing a bass.

Only man, as being a fierce and wild creature,

Has no certain note or tune.

His instruments are the guts of dead creatures.

A token of his cruelty and a reminder of his riot ..."

Donga Dan's original line-up

The first lineup of the band was as follows:

• Allan Chard - guitar, banjo mandolin and recorder
• Ray Christison - dongaboard, jug and funnel
• Robyn Aroney - recorder, autoharp and vocals
• Graham McWilliams - guitar
• Richard Ollerton - guitar
• David Ryan - tea chest bass
• Glenn Rodger - lagerphone (murrumbidgee rattler)

The name

Naming anything is a difficult task. When we name something we own it. The name evokes the nature of the beast. The name Donga Dan's Derelict Band came out of intense discussion. We wanted a name that was alliterative and memorable. We wanted something that evoked the Australian country - the bush, and we agreed that the word 'derelict' illustrated who we were. We were a group of people without much to give, flotsam on the sea of life, 'derelict' in the face of a perfect God.

The name was born.

Donga Dan's Derelict Band

Following a camping trip to Hill End and Tambaroora in October 1973, and numerous campfire songs, Allan Chard and Ray Christison decided to form a band. This pair of misfits shared a mutual appreciation of a variety of musical genres including folk, blues, country, bluegrass and the amazing 'Self Portrait' album by Bob Dylan. 

During early to mid 1974 Allan and Ray gathered around them a group of young people who were crazy enough to be 'different' and a new jug band was formed. 

The photographs show the campsite on Tambaroora Common where Allan and Ray first explored their mutual appreciation of music and each other.