Local bands, Rockhouse and The Shedows, will perform music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s to entice visitors onto the dance floor.

These decades brought great changes to dancing, with one dance craze following another.

Dances during the 50’s were mainly swing based - Rock ‘n Roll, the Jitterbug, the Stroll, and the Twist.

And even if you couldn’t make it to the dance floor there was the Hand Jive, a series of hand and arm movements done in a pattern – seen in the Bandstand dance scene in the film “Grease”.

At the start of the 60’s, The Twist took hold although it had first begun in the 50’s. It was one of the first dances where couples did not have to touch each other while dancing.

Other fads were Mashed Potato, the Monster Mash, and the Watusi.

Many 60’s dances imitated actions such as swimming, surfing, and locomotives.

The 70’s was the beginning of disco music. The Hustle, seen in Saturday Night Fever, was popular. And today there probably isn’t a wedding without The Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Show.

So get your dancing shoes on and hit the dance floor!

During the Vietnam War many Australian entertainers performed for the troops.

Little Pattie and Col Joye performed at Nui Dat on the day of the Battle of Long Tan.

Lorrae Desmond was a stalwart, travelling to Vietnam five times.

Other famous names include Denise Drysdale, Johnny O’Keefe, Ian Turpie, and Maria Venuti.

Normie Rowe, the 1968 King of Pop, was conscripted and served in Vietnam as a soldier but did not perform there.

Nui Dat café will be open for snacks plus wine, beer and soft drinks will be available.

Entry is by normal entry fee.

While at the museum take time to wander around the exhibits from this controversial war. There is a comprehensive display of air and land craft, weapons, and photographs. Don’t miss the holographic Light and Sound Show set up in a field tent. It covers the politics behind the war, conscription, and the Battle of Long Tan.

Food and Wine

The Trumpet Bar on The Esplanade, Cowes, is a dedicated music venue offering music, cocktails and food.

Artists can be locals, young up and comers or established acts on the Australian circuit.

Arriving as walk-ins on a Friday post school holidays we have no problem getting a table.

We decide to reserve our table inside but have a cocktail on the stools outside under the verandah.

From here there is a great view over Cowes beach to the mainland with the squawking of seagulls filling the air.

With our cocktails we have local Kite Haven olives.

Music starts at 7.30pm so we move inside to our table.

This night the artist is local Dan Lunn, a singer guitarist who plays acoustic covers from the 70’s onwards.

The menu consists mainly of sliders, steak sandwiches, fish and chips and pizza.

There are no gluten free main courses but the chef makes the gluten free entrée of garlic prawns into a main dish and it comes with rice and salad.

A fun place for a music fix, but make a reservation during the holiday season.

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History of Motorsport

The Fox family, owners of Phillip Island Circuit, has purchased 24 grand prix motorcycles from private collectors to add to the History of Motorsport Display at the circuit on Phillip Island.

The motorcycles, from the famous Italian marques of Aprilia and Cavigas, have a close connection with motorcycling on Phillip Island, having raced here between 1987 and 2003.

The bikes starred in world championships and Grand Prix in 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.

Riders included famous names such as Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Eddie Lawson and John Kocinski.

The History of Motorsport Display is located at the circuit’s Visitor Centre and has a comprehensive display of cars and motorcycles detailing the history of motorsport on Phillip Island from the first Australian Grand Prix in 1928 to the early days of hill climbing to today’s Australian Motorcycling Grand Prix.

History of Motorsport

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What's On In March

March 5 – Phillip Island Nature Parks Community Open Day

March 11 – Island Craft Market

March 11 – Cowes Night Market (Jetty Triangle)

March 13 – Rock Away on Labour Day - National Vietnam Veterans Museum

March 17/19 - Phillip Island Classic Car Festival of Speed

March 25 – Churchill Island Farmers Market

March 25 – Market on Chapel

Phillip Island Events

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See you next month!

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