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News of these plans had been quickly passed around among members of the two Melbourne groups and several carloads travelled up for the weekend. Both the dance and the concert were a great success. Everyone had such a good time that suggestions for it to be an annual event to be held on the Labour Day weekend were received with enthusiasm. It was decided that this first festival was definitely to be followed by a second one on that weekend in 1964. Because this next one was the first to be held at the Labour Day weekend, some people consider it to be the first real festival, but Con, in an interview with someone from the National Library (Canberra) gave 1963 as the starting date.
An impressive program of 21 dances had been arranged for us, in this sequence: - Circular Waltz, Barn Dance, Varsoviana, Polka Mazurka, Progressive Barn Dance, Waltz Cotillion, Manchester Galop, Veleta, Highland Schottische, Circular Waltz, Lancers, Maxina, Pride of Erin, Alberts, Three Hop Polka, Gypsy Tap, Circular Waltz (played on concertinas) Maxina, Berlin Polka and Princess Polka, Circular Waltz. (Note- I have used the most common spelling of dance names so everyone will understand what is meant although Nariel, like many places where they have been danced for many years, have their own names for some).
The band members had put in extra practice for those old tunes which they hadn't played for some time. At that time the musicians in the band with Con Klippel and his brother George Were Charlie Ordish, Jim Harrison, George Cadman, Mrs Madge Everard, Mrs Dolly Caldwell and Mick Smith. Charlie Ordish certainly would not have approved of the crowd of musicians often seen on the stage at dances at the Nariel festivals these days. He always complained bitterly if there was not enough room to 'swing' his concertina in his usual vigorous style.
In discussions we had with Con and Beat and other local people, they were distressed that the older dances were losing their popularity, especially among the younger people. Con said that the last time he had put on a full program of old-time dances was for his Rifle Club in 1958. The dances on that program included most of their special dances such as the Manchester Galop etc as well as the First Set, Lancers and Alberts but none of the more modem dances that were on their usual 50-50 dances at that time. It was suggested to Con that it might help to build up an interest again if they were to start an Old Time Dance Club, as these had been successful elsewhere. This was done (the Upper Murray Old-time Dance Club) and it was well supported locally. It seems that the collectors from the Melbourne folk groups did come at a good time to help prevent the loss of the wonderful traditional dance and music of this district. Some of the younger people were surprised that a group of people, including some in their own age group, would come all the way up from Melbourne for what they judged to be old-fashioned, boring, and only of interest to their parents; some decided they might even take another look at it!
Official site of the Victorian Folk Music Club Incorporated (Reg No A2511Y)