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Life stories from the Oral History and Folklore collection of The National Library of Australia
BUNNIES AND BALLROOMS
Reg and Suzanne Hodge of Corryong Victoria.
by Rob Willis
When I rang fire spotter Reg Hodge and asked if I could have a yarn he suggested his tower on top of Mt Mittamatite just outside Corryong. I readily agreed. Heights don't usually worry me; closed spaces are a different matter. When I was working on the folklore of miners in Lithgow and they wanted me to go underground – no bloody way.
Visions in my mind were of some of the towers that I had climbed on the North Coast of NSW, reasonably high with a zigzag staircase, no problem. However as John Harpley and I wended our way up the track that led to Reg's domain and I spotted the VERY high tower with the vertical ladder I had a change of heart. Reg came down.
My reason for having a yarn with Reg was that I had heard of his amazing collection of rabbit and other traps and his knowledge of the history and folklore of trapping.
Reg is a quiet unassuming bushman who spends his summers in a lofty perch looking out for fires around the NSW Victoria border area. He is the link between several of these towers and between them they can coordinate the direction of any fires that may start. I asked Reg if he didn't get bored sitting up there for lengthy periods and the answer was a definite no. Reg is a keen observer of both nature and animals and has a storehouse of knowledge on the native plants of the area. Between observing these things writing poetry and keeping tabs on the wedge tail eagles that keep him company it is a serene way to pass the day. Overlooking Mt Kosciusko and Mt Bogong Reg believes that he has the best view from his office of anyone in the world.
It was raining the next day and Reg did not have to go to work so we were invited to his house in Corryong to have a look at his collection of traps and other things. Reg is a true bower bird (I am one myself) and collects old tobacco tins (over 300), parts of the harness from old horse drawn vehicles, water tanks, and whatever else takes his fancy. All of Reg's treasures are well displayed and in good condition.
I am a bush boy and saw some of the damage that rabbits did in the era before myxomatosis and therefore realise that the now banned rabbit trap was an essential part of our country's history. The stories and songs of the rabbit trappers and poisoners are also a very important part of our folklore.
My realisation did not run to the number of these bunny snappers that were on the market and Reg's display creates an awareness of this. Various traps dating from 1889 are immaculately displayed on the walls of Reg's shed. He reckons that all the traps have a story. “I pick them up at clearing sales and there is also a club that caters for the collectors” states Reg.
However the story of the Hodge family did not stop with Reg. While we were talking with him we asked about the music in the area and mentioned the well-known Nariel Creek band. “You should talk to my wife,” said Reg; she played the button accordion and piano in a local band.
 Suzanne Hodge (nee Byatt) had a love of music from an early age, some of her family were well known musicians in the area. Even though she was growing up in the rock n Roll era of the late 1950's and 1960's her passion was for the old time music and dance that was still played in the area and at the age of 10 she started to vamp on the piano for the Corryong Accordion Band. Suzanne who was a generation younger than the rest of the band quickly learnt the old time tunes and dances, she also learnt the button accordion during this time. When I questioned her about the Corryong Accordion Band another interesting story emerged. In the early 1960's number of musicians in the Corryong area formed a club and band with the intention preserving the old time dance traditions of the Upper Murray. As often occurs in such circumstances there was a ruction between the players in 1967 and the group split into two. One became the Nariel Creek Band under the direction of Con Klippell and the other was the Corryong Accordion Band. Nariel Creek went on to become involved with the festivals and the folk collectors whilst the Accordion Band continued for many years to play for dances both locally and in a larger area. Both bands were important in there own way.
As a result of meeting the Hodge family Olya and I returned in April 2002 to interview more people involved with the Corryong Accordion Band. The daughters of several of the players reminisced about the part their fathers played in the group and their own memories of the dances. We were also lucky enough to talk with Doug Neill the drummer of the band who like Suzanne Hodge was younger than the others.
Suzanne Hodge also played us some of the old tunes she remembered and gave us copies of tapes made many years ago of the original band. There were sometimes up to 10 Button Accordions playing in unison.
Reg and Suzanne have become personal friends and I am looking forward to returning to Corryong where Reg has promised us a trip around his beloved mountains.
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