Welcome to Victoria’s Longest Running Folklore Club

During January 2021, major maintenance activities were carried out on the VFMC web site and email accounts. Despite the efforts of our hosting provider to mess things up, most of the site is now functional. There are still some known issues, but if you run into any difficulties at this time, please call Steve on +61 (0)408 055 777.

Our Regular Activities

The goals of the VFMC are:

• to preserve, research and popularise our Australian Folklore Heritage of traditional songs, music, poetry, prose and dance.
• to encourage the creation of contemporary songs, music, poetry, prose and dance in the traditional style.
• to maintain forums where singers, musicians, reciters, dancers and interested organisations may exchange information, receive help and guidance for the understanding and promotion of Australian Folklore.

Corona Virus Arrangements

Due to the Covid-19 virus, all our public events will be conducted on-line via Zoom until the VFMC Covid plan is in place, and Government restrictions permit.

Our first online Session for the year 2021 was on Tuesday 19th January.

Obviously we intend that regular VFMC Sessions, and Concerts, and Dances will be maintained as normally as possible as the virus continues its course. All seem to agree that making music in the company of each other is preferable to soloing alone at home, and the Committee is keen to get back to meeting at the halls when we feel it is entirely safe to do so.

The VFMC Committee are well advanced in preparing CovidSafe plans which will be published on this web site soon. We have tested the technology for online Zoom access at the hall so people can continue participating in VFMC Sessions and Concerts remotely, from home or wherever you happen to be in the world on any Tuesday night.

Sadly, we have now heard that the Ringwood Community Hall, which has such a wonderful acoustic and atmosphere, is to be demolished. We are currently searching for a new hall.

Whilst meeting online over the last nine months the Club has absorbed the costs of Zoom, public liability insurance and numerous other costs, and will have to find expensive rent when a return to the halls is finally made. This will involve reviving the usual very modest session admission charges of $5 for members, $6 non members, and the normal admission for Concerts. Ticketing may be necessary.

So at this stage we will continue to meet online using Zoom, starting Saturday 16th January for dancing, and Tuesday 19th for Sessions. I encourage all to contribute to the progress of the session nights by sending your scores or lyrics so the rest of the group can play along. Let’s continue to bring a good measure of enjoyment and cheer to the world through making great music.

The VFMC is conducting on-line music sessions at 7.30 pm on Tuesday evenings (since 7th April). These are proving very popular. If you require further information, please contact Don, the sessions convenor .

To support our performers during this difficult time, and for the benefit of our loyal audiences, VFMC will continue the monthly concerts on-line. Please monitor this web site for details as they become available.

From Saturday 7th March 2021, at 7.30 pm, VFMC is hoping to conduct its first face-to-face Family Bush Dance since 2020. This will be subject to Government regulations at the time. Please monitor this web site for last minute changes. On-line dance sessions using Zoom will continue on the 3rd Saturdays. Please contact Jane, the dance convenor for details.