Memories of June from Julie Dendle

This is my favourite photo of June and Don – they are happy and relaxed after performing a wonderful bracket at Katie Bestevaar’s House Concert in April 2003. But it also has bittersweet memories because not long after it was taken, June was diagnosed with cancer.

We all treasure many memories of June for a myriad of reasons – a great singer with that powerful voice; a wonderful musician playing a range of instruments – guitar, hammered dulcimer, Appalachian dulcimer, autoharp, English concertina; a composer of lovely tunes, especially the beautiful Silver Wattle Waltz; the instigator of Moreton Bay Morris and its offshoot The Champion Moreton Bay Band; a connoisseur of Bundaberg and Captain Morgan rums (her “throat medicine”); editor and stalwart of the Folk Rag; organiser of the Folkies Old and New concert series; Bahama Mama; but above all a dear friend.

One of my favourite memories of June happened one night at the Kookaburra Folk Club. Some people in the lower room were chatting loudly while June and Don were singing. Music at this Club is unamplified but, without missing a beat, June increased the volume and power of her voice until it was impossible for anyone to talk over it. They got the message.

June Verna Johnson was born in the Bahamas on 14 June 1947. She was introduced to the folk scene while at high school and formed a folk group with classmates to enter a school talent concert. Her Irish art master and his wife ran a monthly Ballads & Blues Society hosted by a different member each month. June met Don Nichols at one of these meetings and they began singing together and subsequently were married. They ran the Folk Club in Nassau until they left the Bahamas to emigrate to Australia.

Don and June arrived in Sydney shortly before Christmas 1971 and spent a few weeks touring New South Wales and Victoria, before arriving in Brisbane on the 18 January 1972. They had been told down south that there was no folk music in Queensland, only country & western. Shortly after their arrival, they spotted an ad for a folk concert at City Hall to assist the victims of Cyclone Wanda that had devastated Townsville. To their delight, they discovered that there was a thriving folk scene in Brisbane after all.

They regularly attended the Barley Mow on Thursday nights at the Hotel Cecil and the Folk Centre in Ann Street on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until it closed in 1977. During this time they performed together; involved themselves in the committee of the Queensland Folk Federation (QFF) and formed an a cappella singing group, Rumbylowe, with Martin Gallagher, Sue Edmunds and Alan Forshaw. Lid Thompson joined the group when Sue left and Rumbylowe produced an LP, Jolly Rumbylowe, which is still much sought-after.

Their daughter, Fiona, was born on 3 December 1976 and she attended folk clubs with her parents, often sleeping beside them in a basket. June did two stints as newsletter editor for the QFF but eventually gave it away so she could get back into singing, which she loved.

I first got to know June in 1979 when I joined the QFF. As my talents are practical rather than musical, I offered to assist her with the QFF Newsletter. I typed the items and June, who had been a printer by trade, did the layouts by doing a cut and paste job onto a special backing sheet. Last year, when Stan Arthur’s collection of books was being sold at one of the Folkies Old and New Concerts, I bought a random collection of small booklets and was amazed to find a few of those newsletters with June as editor and me as assistant.

In August 1979, June’s dream of starting a Morris group in Brisbane began to take shape. June and Don had attended the National Folk Festival in Melbourne over the 1979 Easter weekend when she discovered Morris dancing. She followed the dancers and their musicians all weekend and was determined to start a Morris side in Brisbane.

When Moreton Bay Morris was formed, June was one of the musos, playing English concertina alongside Ian Drynan on melodeon. Don danced with the men’s Cotswold side and I joined the ladies North West side. We all had a great time performing at fetes, festivals and fairs bedecked with flowers, ribbons and tinkling bells.

June, Don and Ian, together with a few other Morris folkies, formed The Moreton Bay Band to raise money for the Morris team to go to the National Folk Festival in Sydney in 1982. They were such a good band and so popular that they continued to play at bush dances and concerts (with various changes of personnel through the years but always with the core of Don and June) until now.

The band toured Japan in 1988 and was named Best Traditional Band at the Australian Bush Band Championships in 1989. The line-up at the time was June and Don, Ian Drynan, Terry Jacob, Phil Wilson and David and Carol Ogilvie. They changed their name to The Champion Moreton Bay Band and released their LP ‘always goes down well’.

I left the folk scene in the mid-80s for many years but June always maintained contact and in September 1996, told me about folk club at the Kookaburra Café in Paddington on Wednesday nights. A couple of months before, Fiona had decided that Brisbane folkies needed a newsletter to keep them informed of events – and that was the beginning of the Folk Rag in July-August 1996.

June taught Fiona how to set up the newsletter, do layouts and assisted with the production. Their philosophy was to fund the newsletter from the proceeds of regular Folkies Old and New concerts so that it could be issued free of charge. Although she loudly protested “Never again!”, June took on the role of editor in October 1997 and continued right up to the February 2006 issue.

For most of the first two years, the Folk Rag continued to be a Nichols family project with June and Fiona involved in editing and production and Don roped in to proofreading and mailout duties. As folk activities increased, the distribution list grew and, with Fiona moving to Perth, it became too big a job for the family each month.

June had an uncanny knack for getting people to do things. Roger Holmes and I were press-ganged into the Folk Rag team, proofreading, organising mailouts and assisting at the concerts. We had a lot of fun – and many chocolate biscuits - collating the newsletter and stuffing envelopes at Roger’s place each month.

Computers fascinated June and she enjoyed discovering their capabilities. We had many conversations over the past 10 years that, on her part, included words like “gigabyte” and “RAM” and, on my part, ended with eyes glazing over and head spinning. Producing the Folk Rag certainly allowed her to give full rein to this addiction.

In April 2003, June received the news that she had a tumour in her bowel and had the first of several operations culminating in an unrelated chain of events which resulted in the amputation of her right leg. After many months in hospital, she learnt to walk again and started to fight the cancer. I was humbled at that time by her courage, calmness and commonsense. (Another very fond memory is of the folk scene coming together in June 2003 for a wonderful benefit concert for June.)

June did not complain about the hand fate had dealt her in recent years. She continued to work on the Folk Rag, even though we feared it was to the detriment of her health. She told the team on several occasions that she was giving it up, but was so passionate about it that she found it impossible to relinquish her interest.

Her condition deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks and on Tuesday evening, 7 February 2006, she passed away.

Although we have lost a dear friend, our lives are richer for having known her. It is not just the Brisbane folk community who mourn June’s passing. She was a friend and mentor to folkies throughout Queensland and the rest of Australia as well as to many international performers.

June’s funeral and wake on 10 February 2006 were a fitting farewell to a great woman. The East Chapel at Mt Thompson Crematorium overflowed with her family and friends. People travelled from all over southeast Queensland to honour her memory. A lot more were unable to get to Brisbane on the day but held June, Don and Fiona in their hearts.

There were no dry eyes as the service commenced with a recording of June singing “Come me lads be bright and jolly, drive away all melancholy…” Fiona gave a moving tribute to her “Bahama Mama” which included a song June had taught her as a child. Ian Drynan gave a brief personal eulogy and played a very moving lament, Jamieson’s Farewell, on his melodeon. The service concluded with Helen Rowe, Lonnie Martin, Ann Bermingham and Alan Bannister leading the Shaker hymn Bright Morning Stars with everyone joining the choruses in perfect harmony.

Later, at the East Brisbane Bowls Club, the home of Folkies Old and New concerts, the Queensland folk community celebrated June’s life. There was a glorious singing session in the bar as well as a couple of smaller groups playing some very nice tunes and country-blues style music in the function room.

June’s cousin, Don Johnson, who lives in the Bahamas, recently sent details of the memorial service held in Nassau on February 13 to celebrate June’s life. It was held at the Trinity Methodist Church, Trinity Place and Frederick Street, Nassau in the Bahamas with the Reverend W. R. "Bill" Higgs officiating. This is the same church where June was baptised as well as all her family. June and Don were married in this same church. In a link with the Brisbane service, the same photograph was displayed on the altar – taken from the above photograph taken by Mary Brettell.

The first Folk Rag in July-August 1996 was four A5 pages listing very few regular folk activities. Over the past 10 years, those activities have expanded into a thriving folk scene and the Folk Rag often runs to 28 pages. There are clubs running weekly, fortnightly or monthly in Brisbane, Maleny, Warwick, Kilcoy, Redlands, Noosa Junction, Woodford, Gympie, and Toowoomba. Concerts, dances, sessions and workshops are held regularly all over Queensland. This increase in folk-related activities is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of June Nichols through the Folk Rag.

On behalf of the Folk Rag team and readers, I extend sincere condolences to Don and Fiona and June’s mother and brother in the Bahamas, Clarice and Al. I hope you feel the love and support of your folk family and draw strength from the knowledge than June was dearly loved by everyone who knew her.

Under the centre of dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, amid the opulence and grandeur, there is an epitaph of the great architect, Christopher Wren. In part it reads (in Latin) “…if you seek his monument, look around you”.

If you seek June Nichol’s legacy, look around you at the flourishing folk scene in southern Queensland.

She will remain in our hearts forever.

Julie Dendle

Memories of June by Juda Bacon

I first met June in 1982 when I first became involved in the Brisbane folk scene. Prior to that time I thought folk music was all Peter, Paul and Mary and dull colourless and boring. June was one of the first people that set me straight. Watching and listening to her sing and play showed me that being a folkie was a wonderful thing to be.

As I became more involved (read folk clubs; sessions, festivals, Mediaeval Fayres and parties ...lots of them) June always seemed to be there. Mostly I remember lots of laughter. One particular laughing moment stands out. I was running the Session Bar at Maleny. June and myself (and others ) had put the word out for a singing session to happen one night in the Bar. It was massive, circles and circles of people around a few tables. We only had one rule…no instruments...it was a singing session. Dave de Hugard came into the bar and attempted to take out his accordion. I asked him to put it away, this was a singing session. Dare I say, he was a bit miffed. When I shared that with June she laughed and laughed.

We organised other things as well …drinking song workshops in the Minstrel Bar with the Champion Moreton Bay Band, more singing sessions, folk clubs. Which brings me to the POD. I still remember that first meeting. June’s enthusiasm stands out. I became the President of the Pod, not a role that sat comfortably with me, probably the word “President”. I remember speaking with June saying I didn’t feel that this was right, that I didn’t sing (except in choruses) or play an instrument. June set me straight. She said being a folkie was an attitude and that I certainly had that. Her words helped me finally come to terms with where I fitted in the Folk Scene. Up until then I was an NRF (Not a real Folkie. Please see Tony Miles’ book – How to be an Instant Folkie in Australia).

There are lots more memories…..that singing session at Helidon with June passing out the instruments onto the footpath so more singers could fit into the Lounge bar of the pub, Folk Rag stuffing nights where we all bowed and scraped to the Gaffer (June), camping at Imbil listening to June and Don, Mark and Julie playing opposite my camp, June, Don and Shayne arriving in Canberra one Easter after a trip that involved many cups of tea and loo stops, the bush dances at Morningside …ah I could go on.

From this folkie to a very real Folkie, thank you.

Juda Bacon

Kookaburra Folk by Ian Clarke

Kookaburra folk are deeply saddened by the loss of a very special lady.

Before her illness, and even later during it, June was a regular at The Kookaburra, taking a senior position at The Committee Table - who said folkies are not class conscious! From time to time, June and Don performed together, both vocal and instrumental, always giving a fine performance, occasionally leavened with a minor "domestic". 

These performances were much enjoyed by the audience - and so was the music. June had a powerful voice, and the ability to harmonise with no apparent effort. All this on top of her sterling work (ably assisted by others) of keeping us informed via The Folk Rag. She will be sadly missed ... and never forgotten.

A Tribute to June Nichols

by Colin Nightingale of Folk Redlands

This Friday just gone was a sad day for me, as I attended the farewell service of June Nichols with many of June’s friends of the Folk movement. To be honest it looked at times as if the whole Folk movement had attended.

But the day was not all sad, as we reflected on the work that June and her immediate family Don and Fiona have done on behalf of us all over so many years it was a time to rejoice in all the achievements of June in particular.

Right up until the very last she worked on our behalf on the Folk Rag.

I have been privileged to count the Nichols’ family among my friends for 11 years now, but I know for some of you that figure is more than 40!

Without help from the likes of June I doubt that I would have been able to get Acoustic Harvest off the ground and more recently June gave her full support to Folk Redlands both personally and via the Folk Rag.

Thanks June, you are missed but most definitely not forgotten.

Colin Nightingale

Very sad to hear the news about June, a big loss to us all.

I don’t think I have any stories to contribute except to say June was a fantastic woman, very kind and welcoming and she lifted my spirits many times with her words. I’m very sad for her loss but very happy about her life and her ways and her influence.

Please pass on my condolences to Don.

Slán,

Adrian Jefferies

I keep remembering that bubbly, fresh-faced young woman when she and Don first arrived here and rolled up to the Folk Centre here in 1972.  So full of life.

Michael Bourne

So there I was - having walked away from my matrimonial nest with two guitars and one suitcase - standing before the Champion Moreton Bay Band, watching the woman on the right with long silver hair strumming her guitar like there was no tomorrow. Didn't know her name; come to think of it, I didn't know the name of the band either, but I liked the music they played.

I had seen a flyer on the noticeboard of a small hall at Newmarket advertising a Bush Dance (for a local school as I recall). I didn't have a partner due to the aforementioned departure, so I sat on a form near the stage and listened to the music. During the first break the woman with the long silver hair came down the stairs from the stage swinging a triangle. 'Reckon you could do something with this?'

I climbed the stairs after her and dinged along for the rest of the night. It wasn't imaginative playing, I only dinged on the first beat of each bar, but I couldn't remove the grin from my face.

Dale Jacobsen

June Nichols - lovely woman, great spirit!!

Margret RoadKnight

I first met June 24 years ago when we worked for the same firm. Contact was lost for many years until I retired and bought an instrument to try the “ folk thing”.

I was a frustrated beginner for a long while not able to keep up with the fast lane. I bumped into June at a session and she saved the day for me, showed me another side to folk. Walzes and dance tunes and I didn’t have to go flat out. She encouraged me so much I’ll always be grateful. Thank you dear June.

Shirley Morrel

Here is a funny memory I have of Don & June.

When they set up the PA system at the Imbil weekend, it was just as entertaining watching them as the show. Do you remember the 'sempophore' they had going to communicate from the stage? A system of hand messages Don would use to let June know which channel or which microphone etc needed attention. It used to get quite heated sometimes with Don gesticulating madly when she couldn't work out what he was trying to say. She made us laugh.

love Julie Witney

Thank you, June

For some it's the skirl of the pipes
Or the drone of the didgeridoo,
But what stirs my heart is the morris bells,
And for that, June, I have to thank you.

For you are the one who brought us this gift
Of the dance, filled with laughter and pleasure,
The merriment, frolics, the friendships that grew,
Special memories forever to treasure.

So whenever I take up the sticks and the bells,
Wherever in life I may be,
You'll be there in my heart, June, playing a tune,
And dancing alongside of me.

Thanks, June,

All our love,

Hilary and Keith Barrett

I didn't know June all that well but the little time I spent in her company was always joyous.

Naomi Hallam

I can’t let this moment go by without paying a short tribute to my dear friend, June – a wonderful friend to us all.

This is hard. The last few weeks have hit all of us as we watched helplessly, knowing her great fight and love for life was coming to an end.   It is a testament to June’s spirit that she kept going for so long under circumstances that would have seemed impossible to us lesser mortals.  Her spirit never failed her even during her final days.

I don’t think she ever realized how much she meant to all of us.   I don’t think she realized what a great musician and singer she was either.  Her influence and her music will live on and continue to inspire.

June encouraged people throughout her life. She always welcomed new comers to the folk scene. She worked tirelessly to inform every body of what was going on.  Even before The FolkRag and Folkies Old and New, she was always instrumental in passing on information about folk music activities.

I first met June and Don at the Red Brick Hotel in 1977, with baby Fiona less than 1 year old.  They had come to Aust a few years earlier – Don a native of Manchester, England and June from the Bahamas in the Caribbean.

We teamed up when Moreton Bay Morris was formed in 1979 and soon after that The Moreton Bay Band came into existence.

During the next 25 years we had many great “gigs” including a wonderful trip to Japan in 1988.     Over the years, June organized much of the music that we played and also wrote a number of tunes that will certainly live on, eg Silver Wattle Waltz.  She was the principal sound engineer for the band and I, being totally non-technical, was never allowed to even touch the sound system!!   Don was allowed to touch it ……..but often felt the barb of June’s tongue if he put a finger wrong!!

Don – you have been fantastic in the loving care that you have given to June especially during the trials and tribulations of the last 3 years.

Fiona – it was wonderful that your mum held on in time to say goodbye to you. You have so many of her good qualities. I’m sure you will make the most of them. 

June – I cannot believe you have left us! We love you, we lament your passing and will never forget you . . .

Ian Drynan
(Tribute from June’s funeral)