The country and western guys

Trevor Gunter and Graeme Bardsley-Smith joined the band in 1978. This pair of guitarists had been playing together for years and had a really tight, sweet sound. They became the heart of a recreated Donga Dan that specialised in bush dance. With Robyn Rodger providing melodies, Ray Christison, Glenn Rodger and Peter Aroney running rhythm the band developed a tight sound that was perfect for dancing. 

Trevor and Graeme brought a good slice of country and western, old time gospel, Chad Morgan and Australian folk music to the music mix. The new band was an instant success.

Bush dance mania sets in

The early 1980s saw everyone focused on building their families and careers. Allan Chard was pursuing his calling as a professional musician and the rest of us were buying homes and the domestic stuff. 

Over time many of the original band members moved to the Lower Blue Mountains and started attending Blaxland Gospel Chapel. It was here that a new chapter of the band's history was to be written. 

At Blaxland we teamed up with a few of the local musicians who had a bent for both kinds of music (Country and Western) and in July 1987 we revived the concept of the Big Nite Out. After that we decided that we should do bush dances. 

A gig at the Nepean Christian School led to bookings from people who wanted to pay us money to play. This was too good to pass up. 1988 and 1989 became a blur of bush dances from Katoomba to Arcadia. We raised enough money to buy a new pa system for the church at Blaxland.

In the 1980s Gordon Gecko said: "Greed is good." Donga Dan said: "Heel and toe!" and then some more ....