{"id":220933,"date":"2018-10-24T22:41:59","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T12:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=220933"},"modified":"2020-07-27T11:51:18","modified_gmt":"2020-07-27T01:51:18","slug":"surprise-star-rocks-the-waterhole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/10\/24\/surprise-star-rocks-the-waterhole\/","title":{"rendered":"Surprise Star Rocks The Waterhole"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rhonda Mackrell, Jeff Hancox, Vicky O’Keefe, Terry Mackrell and Vicky’s guitarist Glenn Heffernan at The Waterhole Rocks\u00a0 (Photo: Downunder Enterprises)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 25, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rockers at this year’s The Waterhole Rocks in Nanango enjoyed a surprise on Friday night … a star turn on stage by Vicky O’Keefe, daughter of Aussie legend JOK.<\/p>\n

There was no pre-publicity for the visit.\u00a0Organisers wanted loyal regulars at The Waterhole Rocks to be rewarded with the special bonus of meeting the daughter of “the Wild One”, Johnny O’Keefe.<\/p>\n

Vicky was just 17 when her famous father died but since then she’s carved out a music career of her own, writing and singing her own songs as well as performing tributes to her dad.<\/p>\n

The South Burnett’s own Elvis, Jeff Hancox, joined Vicky and her guitarist\u00a0Glenn Heffernan on stage to rock out some JOK favourites in a one-hour tribute gig.<\/p>\n

Vicky also took time out to mingle with fans and sign autographs.<\/p>\n

More than 330 caravans – which means at least 600 people – camped at Nanango Showgrounds for this year’s four-day celebration of everything 1950s and 1960s.<\/p>\n

Festival organiser Terry Mackrell, from the South Burnett Gas Guzzlers, said he was delighted with this year’s roll-up, which exceeded last year’s van numbers by roughly a third.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He was also astonished at the turn-out to an informal pre-festival meet and greet barbecue the Gas Guzzlers held at their clubhouse, which drew well over 100 guests on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

“We thought we’d introduce this as a new thing this year, and expected we might get 40 or 50 people,” Terry said.<\/p>\n

“But as things turned out, we were run off our feet with more than double that number.<\/p>\n

“Still, everyone told us they had a great time and making new friends is a big part of what the festival is all about.”<\/p>\n

Numbers at the annual Fashion Parade – another new feature introduced several years ago – were slightly down this year, but the quality of the impeccably dressed entrants was very high.<\/p>\n

And as is the case every year, the special dance floor was packed with eager rock’n’roll dancers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The dance floor – and an extension to it added a few years later – were funded by Nanango’s Heritage Community Branch and are intrinsic to the event’s success.<\/p>\n

Each year the floor is laid in preparation for the festival then pulled up and stored securely for another year after it concludes.<\/p>\n

“Serious rock’n’roll dancing needs a seriously good dance floor,” Terry said.<\/p>\n

“A big part of the reason we get so many people from all over south-east Queensland is because the festival’s dance floor is so good.<\/p>\n

“In fact, over the years many people have told us it’s the best they’ve ever been on.<\/p>\n

“So we really owe a big debt of gratitude to Heritage Nanango for making all of this possible.”<\/p>\n

Terry said this year’s musical entertainment included some bands that had been popular crowd-pleasers in previous years, as well as several new bands which also performed to a very high standard. <\/strong><\/p>\n

“We tend to attract a discerning audience and over time we’ve unearthed some really incredible performers who’ve become regulars on the festival program,” Terry said.<\/p>\n

“But we’re always looking for new acts, and we think we’ve found a few more bands this year we’ll be adding to future line-ups.”<\/p>\n

This year’s festival also helped raise money for a local good cause.<\/p>\n

Waterhole Rocks was Stop 1 on a special three-stop Nanango entertainment promotion – “Saturday Night Live” – which also included Nanango RSL Club’s inaugural Oktoberfest plus “Rock On Palace” at the Palace Hotel with Brisbane band Black Smoke.<\/p>\n

The three venues collected donations for\u00a0the town’s proposed Butter Factory Park inclusive playground.<\/p>\n

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