With a population of less than 100 people the village of Nevertire, at the intersection of the Mitchell and Oxley Highways, certainly punched above its weight in the entertainment stakes last weekend.

Social media was abuzz leading up to Friday’s St Patrick’s Day event at the Nevertire Hotel and, with a large Irish backpacker population currently working in the district, the idea of a ‘Paddy’-themed night proved a popular one.

St Patrick’s Day is observed throughout the world on 17 March each year and commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. The day has become a celebration of Irish heritage and culture, with music, dancing and drinking Guinness all hallmarks of the occasion.

Nevertire Hotel licensee Dympna Lawler, who hails from County Cavan in Ireland, said the night was a huge success.

“My husband Sam and I hadn’t hosted a St Patrick’s Day event at the pub since 2009 so we thought it was high time to do just that," Mrs Lawler said.

"Friday night is usually our busiest night and we wanted to give back to the community and have a bit of fun so we put on a band and opened the doors."

Catching up on St Patrick's day Pam Storer, Tracy Stephens, Erin Hunt, Carmen Anderson and Jess Taylor. 

“We had more than 150 people turn up, many dressed up in Irish green, and there was plenty of Guinness flowing and Irish-themed food. The highlight of the night was the Storers playing their repertoire of Irish music, and this combined with Warren musician Frances Evans on fiddle, was absolutely amazing.”

Mrs Lawler was also spotted playing the ‘bodhran’, an Irish drum, much appreciated by those keen for an Irish jig.

“I can’t tell you who won but we had a Riverdance-style dance-off too, the backpackers were very happy!”

One sensational seeker 

From Ireland to a person who is quintessentially Australian, Keith Potger, founding member of The Seekers, who played at Nevertire Hall on Saturday night, an event hosted by Warren Arts Council.

Keith Potger plays at Nevertire, a self described 'wandering minstrel'.

Keith first came to Warren in January as an Australia Day ambassador and was so impressed with the welcome that he offered to return for a concert. After leadup performances at Cowra and Peak Hill, he was well acclimatised to bush hospitality by the time he made it back to Nevertire and the newly renovated hall, with freshly polished floor boards, re-lined ceiling and fresh paintwork, was the perfect venue.

A self taught musician, Keith plays the banjo and keyboards that are a trademark of The Seekers songs ‘I’ll never find another you’, ‘Georgy Girl’ and ‘A World of our Own’, amongst others and his ability to arrange vocal harmonies for the group was evident from the start, when they formed in a Toorak coffee shop in 1962.

Blake Derrett and Warren Arts Council committee member Alison Ruskin Rowe.

Speaking between songs on Friday night, Keith relayed a personal and interesting history of The Seekers and his professional life after they disbanded, reminding the audience that December 2022 would have been the group's 60 year reunion.

“It really feels like yesterday, they were the days! The Escorts was actually a precursor to The Seekers, and we were originally four men playing folk and colonial songs, and the odd gospel tune. After Judith Durham joined the group, Dusty Springfield’s brother Tom wrote a lot of our music and our first single, ‘I’ll Never find Another You’ made it to Number One, and we went from there,” Keith said.

Enjoying a catchup after the show, Keith Potger with Peter Wise, Didi Simmons and Jeremy Weston.

The Seekers went on to have other Top 10 hits in the 1960s with ‘A World of Our Own’, ‘Morningtown Ride, ‘Someday One Day’, ‘Georgy Girl’ and ‘The Carnival is Over’.

They disbanded in 1968 and Keith was instrumental in founding The New Seekers the following year and since then he’s had a career in song writing, record production and solo performances.

The Seekers re-formed in 1992 for a reunion tour after which the group members each received an Order of Australia. Judith Durham, who Keith described as his beloved “sister”, died in 2022.

Jose Cosgrove, Warren Arts Council President Jenny Quigley, Helen Wise and Bernie Robson.

The large crowd at Nevertire Hall was treated to an upbeat, heart warming solo performance containing old favourites from The Seekers, a touch of Nashville, original ballads, covers of hits from the 1960s to the 1980s and amusing anecdotes from over 50 years in the international music scene.

Keith Potger’s showmanship, vocal quality and storytelling skills, along with his extraordinary ability on the 12 string guitar combined to deliver a highly entertaining evening.

Christine Tilley, Vicki Parker and Paul Quigley