DISTRICT people will probably never truly know the extent of the positive impact that song-writer Hugh McDonald had on local children and their families.
“He helped us to appreciate what we have and to strengthen connectiveness protective factors,” Northern District Community Health Service school-focused service co-ordinator, Jim Hirst said.
“Through his song-writing, he allowed the kids to tell their stories, to have a sense of pride.”
Mr McDonald, 62, who spent much of his childhood at Kerang, died last Friday night after a bout of cancer.
Mr Hirst said that we don’t fully know the impact of his work here during the long drought and then the floods, but he touched the lives of many people during resilience workshops in schools across the district and with family groups.
“Hugh had a soothing and calming approach and allowed the kids to tell their stories and they developed a lot of pride through the process,” he said.
Hugh McDonald was best known as a violinist, guitarist and vocalist with folk-rock group Redgum, but he performed and recorded with a number of groups during a career spanning four decades and continued to be a song-writer and music teacher.
“I Was Only 19” and “The Diamantina Drover” are two of his most notable songs.
Kerang Primary School teacher, Peter Adams said that Mr McDonald had the ability to include all children in his classroom sessions and to invoke pride.
“I got them excited, gave them ownership and made them feel special,” he said.
Such was the impact of his initial post-drought resilience work with students at St Joseph’s, Lalbert and Quambatook, the singer returned to work with other schools at Kerang, Lake Charm, Murrabit, Pyramid Hill, Boort, Nullawil and Wycheproof.
He also worked with family groups at Benjeroop, Lake Charm and Boort after the 2011 floods.
Lake Charm farmer, John Baulch and his family were displaced when the floods inundated their entire farm and house.
His family was involved in learning to write songs and then performing publicly at Benjeroop and Boort.
“It was a resilience, well-being thing, a great experience,” he said.
“It was a real eye-opener. He helped us when there was a lot of stress and anxiety and you felt like you had known him all your life.”
Hugh McDonald is mourned by his wife, Rebecca, seven children and two step children and his mother, Janet, widow of former Kerang general practitioner, Dr Hugh McDonald.
A memorial service will be held at Eltham College today at 11am.
