A QUICK chat with Lanefield farmer Bill Yarrow reveals he is more than just a third generation dairy farmer as his creative talents have taken him to places all over Queensland.
The 80-year-old has lived all his life on the family dairy farm in Lanefield, which was established by his grandfather George Yarrow in 1912.
On August 31, 1999, the dairy farm was turned over to cattle.
And Bill’s endeavours, as always, were aimed at the successful sustainability of his farming operations.
While Bill says the property has experienced many ups and down, country living has far out weighed any struggles that he has had to endure.
“Away from the farm life I have a real passion for singing, poetry and performing animal impressions,” he said.
“I started to share my music at the Grandchester Heritage Country Music Club where I was vice president and then president from 2004 to 2009.
“I was also part of the Country Mates Club in Rosewood which was a group that attracted people who shared a love of music, poetry and country yarns.
“In fact, our Rosewood club would attract hundreds of people from all over the area to the Royal George Hotel where we would just sing country and western music and have a great time.”
Bill described getting in front of a crowd as a “real high”.
It gave him the chance to sing country classics such as Slim Dusty who is one of his favourites.
“These meets were a great show of comradery made up of friends who all shared a common interest and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.”
As the club in Rosewood no longer meets, Bill now extends his outings to many other places such as Tamworth, Tenterfield, Warwick, Leyburn, Wynnum and Nanango.
He has taken home many prizes for “his great voice and personality” including a first prize at Boomdoomba, singing ‘Just Saddle Old Darky’ by Slim Dusty and a second at a senior’s festival that was held in Warwick with ‘The Showman’s Song’ by Slim Dusty.
“One of my favourite songs is the ‘Farm Yard Yodel’,” Bill said.
“It is a classic that gets people out of their chairs with a smile.”
As well as singing covers, Bill has also produced some of his own songs including ‘Don’t Run Away’, ‘Chances Of Love’, ‘My Country Western Sweetheart’ and ‘I Want To Stay Close To The Lord’.
“All of my own music has been written through life experiences, things I have been through on the farm, my animals and also about my partner Valerie.
“I love singing in itself and I liked singing to my cattle and animals because of course they cannot tell whether I was good or bad.”
Apart from his music, poetry has been a big part of his life.
“It is something that just comes naturally from the country life.
“I love animals; sometimes they are the main characters in my poems, I have also brought them to life through animal impersonations that make people smile when I incorporate them in song,” Bill said.
“I could never stand the city life, there is nothing like the open air and the freedom of the country.
“I enjoy each day on my farm with my cattle, chickens and my two dogs, Boofy and Candy.”
