50 Years of Country Harmony: Celebrating a Golden Milestone at Halekulani Bowling Club

by LukeAdmin

The Central Coast Country Music Association Incorporated was formed in 1976 when 17 country music enthusiasts met at Terry Kings Long Jetty Sound Studios on a very wet Wednesday night with the intention to form a country music club right here on the Central Coast. They did!!!   In fact, three of those original members Vera, Vince and Lyn McKenzie remained active committee members till their deaths in 2008 2009 and 2012. Each of them having been made a life member of CCCMA Inc. We now have 5 Life Members ie members who have served 15 consecutive years as an active Club member of CCCMA. They are Clive McKenzie, Kay Matthews, Ted J Kale, Helen Potter & Cathy Hogan. Over the past 49 years the CCCMA Inc. have promoted country music and fostered new talent whilst raising monies for numerous charities, such as Riding for the Disabled, Spinabifida, Careflight, Cancer Council etc and many community groups and individuals in needy situations.

CCCMA Inc. are proud to have been a springboard for many successful acts including Rod & Jeff McCormack, Catherine Britt, Daryl Aberhart, Adam & Jenny Marie Lang (now successful blues acts), Angela Hayden, Dianne Lindsay and lots more.

Another highlight for CCCMA Inc. and their continual promotion of country music was to have had Ray, Tania and Lee Kernaghan, John Williamson, Eddie Lowe, Wayne Horsburgh, Anne Kirkpatrick, Chad Morgan, Jimmy Little, Reg Poole, Darcy LeYear , Bill Chambers and many many more Australian country music artists over the 50 years featured on CCCMA Festival Shows.  During this time CCCMA Inc. has also featured American and Canadian guests Dale Watson, George Hamilton V and Rick Tippe all appearing on CCCMA Festival Shows.  A real coup for CCCMA  Inc. Committee to achieve as a part of their Constitutional pledge.

Central Coast Country Music Association Incorporated ran the country music festival at The Entrance Memorial Park billed as “Concert by the Sea” for some 10 years before securing their grounds at Warnervale. 

This brings us to an exciting era for CCCMA Inc. as they established the Warnervale Country Music Park set on 11 acres of beautiful bushland with a natural ampitheatre slope to the block. The land was virgin bushland at the time which was cleared by volunteers of CCCMA members and their children, all eagerly ‘pitching’ in to eventually create the wonderful country music park facility that was known and appreciated Nationwide. The park boasted many features including a huge concrete stage erected after vandals burnt down the original timber stage, (known far and wide by artists and fans alike for its character), a modern toilet block, large outdoor kitchen and childrens playground were all a part of the facility.

The park, Warnervale Country Music Park, (since re-named Federation Park by Wyong Council), was the venue for three major shows each year run by the CCCMA Committee with around 5000 in attendance, consisting of interstate visitors, statewide travellers and local Central Coast residents.

Central Coast Country Music Association Incorporated (CCCMA Inc.) made improvements to and managed the community Park facility for some 14 years however, in the latter years became victim to lots of vandalism, council politics and insurance hikes, and held their last show at Warnervale Country Music Park in October 1997. 

The next biggest show held was the 30th Birthday CCCMA Inc. Reunion Concert – Past and Present Stars” as part of the Central Coast Country Music Associations milestone 30-year celebration.  The Concert was on 30 April 2006 and boasted some 20 past and present performing members on the programme.

The Central Coast Country Music Association was proud to be celebrating its 40th birthday which was held at The Central Coast Leagues Club on 5th March 2016. CCCMA again featured Past and Present Top Line Artists and current members along with some very special guests that have supported CCCMA over the years

CCCMA Inc also ran a “Last Post; Reunion concert at Toukley Golf Club on August 19th. This concert was organised by Tubby Dyer a long-time member of CCCMA and a 94.one country music presenter. Past members travelled from Coffs Harbour and as far south as Wollongong.

Another great attraction for Central Coast country music members was when CCCMA began line dancing on the Central Coast back in 1993, naming the group Coastal Bootscooters. Coastal Bootscooters have continued over the years still teaching and running socials. Today CCCMA are introducing a basic line dance teach with their new group Central Coast Line dancers right here at CCCMA home of Country music on the coast Halekulani Bowling Club

The CCCMA Inc hold a Country Showcase on 3rd Sunday of each month at Halekulani Bowling Club (part of the Mounties group)1pm.

CCCMA Inc. also hold the Round-up on 1st Sunday each month at Halekulani Bowling Club 12.30pm. Everyone is welcome to come and perform or just come to enjoy the music and meeting up with old and new friends while sharing the common interest of the love of country music.

If there is anyone wishing to perform on the Showcase or the Round-up or maybe wishing to join the CCCMA Inc. Please email president@cccma.com.au.

CCCMA are celebrating their 50th birthday at Halekulani Bowling Club on Sunday 17th May 2026 from12.30pm The Showcase will feature some very well-known acts that have been members of CCCMA over those 50years plus lots of giveaways, raffles etc

You may also like