ALISON ROAD

1969
Alison Road, Randwick


My relationship with young Jim came to an abrupt halt. 

Errol Wood, had secured an apartment on Alison Road, he had  an area in the lounge room for himself, my room overlooked Randwick Racecourse.

Inmates and outpatients included:
 Annie Kelso, Wally Mudd, Keri Phillips, Brian Dewhurst and Bobbi, Bob and Kathie McGowan, Dave Miller, Crazy Wayne Barnes, Neil Bramley, Gary Ross, Virgo Doug, Ian McIlvray, Ross Darmody, Paul Wyld, Charlie Watts, Steve James, Anna Henry.

Primed with a good dose of Becks 'Truth',  we headed off to Taylor Square. First stop, The Beauchamp to chat with Alan Johnson, Dave Cook, Sonya K, The Ox, Terry Blake and Bob Doubtfire/Dartfire (sp), from the Whisper. 

Around eight, Wally and the boys dropped by and we all trundled up to Whittys Oxford Tavern or further down Oxford Street, to French's Wine Bar.   French's featured The Foreday Riders, a predominately a blues roots band and the Battersea Heroes, headed by Mr Terry Darmody on kazoo and vocals, Peter Nehill tea-chest bass, Hewson, and Dennis 'Spiderman' Burke, washboard.

Around midnight, after a quick snack at the Chew and Spew, a gaggle of us zipped on out to the Greenwood Tree Hotel in Paddington to catch  the last hour of Jeff St John (and hopefully an eyeful of Peter Anson). One fateful evening,  Graham's friendship ring slipped off my finger and flew across the crowded room never to be seen again. I don't think I went back there after that incident.

I took over from Little Sue (Challis), waitress at the Yellow Cab Restaurant (off Darlinghurst Road).  Wally, dropped by for dinner on the house each night.  I made enough in tips each night to cover the cost of a packet of ciggies and a few ciders.  

I took off to Newcastle as a tracer for a tattooist. this endeavour went pear shaped,. I hitched a ride home with the Valentines.

Trolley Car Bar: A Ya(r)n

I'll never forget 'whatshisname'!

The year was 1968,  and I was off to a party in the suburbs, I doubted very much whether I would enjoy myself. Then I spotted Yan (Ian), he was wearing a grey sweatshirt and faded jeans,  a 'small faces' hairdo and very, very handsome.   “Some Enchanted Evening” came to mind as I caught his eye. He sauntered over and admired the Russian cross I was wearing. Yan was Russian! Further discussion revealed he was a  music teacher and had just introduced Donovan to his pupils. We chatted and strummed some Donovan numbers   .. He mentioned he was leaving for South Africa, or was it New Guinea ,and asked to see me when he returned. Well, that was bullshit I thought, I’ll never see him again.

Forever on, I raved about Yan, his grey sweat shirt, his faded blue jeans and his lovely, lovely face. I could not get his face out of my head. I will remember that face until the day I die!  Months later at the * Trolley Car Bar, I edged my way up front to get a glimpse of Terry Darmody and the Battersea Heroes. I felt a tap on the shoulder.


"Hello Lynne, I have been looking for you everywhere, you didn't leave a forwarding address." 

Who was this person? I must have squizzled up my face for he offered.


"It's me Yan, can I see you, where do you live?" I gave him my address and took off in shock.

At the time I was living at Errol Woods in Alison Road, Randwick.  Wally Mudd and I sang and played guitar,  night and day, day and night, with cracked voices  we croaked on, and on. The 'jam' usually came to a close (having exhausted our repetoire) with us painfully whining "Happy Birthday".  On numerous I heard Errol calling.

"Lynne, Yan's here to see you!"


"Be there in a minute.” I replied. Not daring to miss a beat. Never even looking up!


This happened repeatedly until I guess Yan gave up ..... WHERE ARE YOU YAN???

* The Trolley Car Bar: a music venue off Broadway, near Sydney University. A lovely little wine bar, uniquely decked out in the fashion of a 'tram' with  a narrow aisle and seats down either side. A small stage down the back featured The Original Battersea Heroes belting out jug band music.

TERRY DARMODY - Original Battersea Heroes

So much I have to say about this fabulous band, possibly one of the best jug bands of its time, I do intend to spend  more time on this post .. bravo Terry

'It's Real', Volume 1

Terry Darmody and Steve Messer (on harp) have joined forces to produce this wonderful easy listening, spiritually based CD. Years of musical knowledge and mutual love of Jesus have gone into this beautifully presented collection. Their friendship goes way back to a chance meeting at a gig in Prahan, (when Steve played with the Ordinarys ).

Terry Darmody ..."The Original Battersea Heroes had many members. It was founded round 1963 as a jug band by Martin James (banjo, 6 & 12 string guitars, lead vocal, harmonica & kazoo, & original songwriting) .... Peter Nehill played washboard at first, then tea chest bass and bass guitar. We had plenty of guitar players including Chuck Quinton, Roger Blake, Graham Bennett, Lindsay Hewson (John's brother), Neville Drury, Gavec Nicholson, Bob McGowan, Tony Burkys & Mick Diggles. Dennis Burke joined Martin & me on washboard & drums. When Martin left, I started singing lead. Ross Waters added some real musical class when he was with us on fiddle. Peter Miller joined on bass while Peter Nehill joined & left a few times. We moved more & more towards perfecting 'good-time' rock'n'roll (our heroes were the Loving Spoonful, Band, Dylan & 50s rockers & folk roots & jazz musicians). Rob Dames (Purple Hearts) joined on bass for a time, as did Peter Knox & Terry Wilson Slime Men, Wasted Daze, Magnetics) with Barry X drums. In the last gasp of the Heroes, 2 musos from Melbourne, Lee 'Fred' Cass - drums & Mick Diggles joined & we kept puttering along like a goodtime r&r version of Murph & the MagicTones 'til 1970. Have I forgotten anyone? An OBH LP was recorded by Bob, Tony, Peter N, Dennis & me. That was a tight band. We pretty well lived together & often played at the Arts Factory. In about 1971 Bob, Tony, Warwick K & John T formed Uncle Bob's Band, a really good unit that picked up where the best days of the Heroes left off. They asked me to join as singer & we had 5 or so very musical years that finished in Melbourne. Now? Musically, I'm a folkroots/country/blues - influenced gospel singer, guitar strummer & harp/kazoo player...Terry D"

Terry Stacey & The Woodworms

 "Louise Louise" mp3

featuring Terry Darmody on harp

Tune in to Skidrow Radio 8.00 am to 9.00 am  on Sundays for Terry's Gospel Music

Peter 'Izzyforeal' Knox

Peter 'IZZYFOREAL' Knox
( Zarsoff Bros, New Original Battersea Heroes, '69ers, Hillbilly Blues Bandits )

 Izzy has just opened a Facebook Group called

" Does anyone remember the Ball Pants?" 

 Izzy's notes on the Ball Pants

He was resident bass player there for some time. Izzy hopes it is OK to use the foto of Brougham Lane from your site for the group. Izzy is playing Bass on the Red Mckelvie video and its on Forealnfriends Utube if you don't have it. Feel free to grab it. Its a great site you've made. I was at Taylor Square as well, Frenchs, Flinders Street and Courthouse mainly but my memories are vague - can't think why. I have also linked your site to our blogs because it seems to me the internet needs a lot more memories of Sydney in those years. I guess WE are now the HISTORY. Thanks for all your work. Looking forward to the next thing to come. Yrs"

Third Union Band with Peter Knox (bass) and Red McKelvie (lead)

Peter Knox (now known by the performing name of Izzy Foreal). Izzy (as Peter Knox) entered the Taylor Square music scene in the late 60s, playing at the Oxford Hotel in the strange Dylanesque outfit Sylvester Quincy Barkers Music Box, which featured Waldo Hayes on guitar and Mike Turner on drums. That band also played regularly at the Trolley Car Bar in City Road, and the Wayside Chapel in The Cross. Also as Peter Knox, Izzy played with Daryl McKenzie and Red McKelvie in Quill, having replaced Terry Wilkins on bass when Terry joined Flying Circus.

Do you remember Peter Knox? For a time after his stint with Quill, Peter/Izzy played the wine bars around Taylor Square. In his typically skullduggerous fashion, he had a little outfit called Fluke (the name was a piss-take on Flake, who were hugely popular at the time). Fluke never got famous, so the piss-take on the name never got to offend anyone.



In 1970 Peter/Izzy joined The 69ERS, replacing Brian Bethell. The band at that stage featured Keith Longman on drums, who was soon to be replaced by Dave Ovenden. Peter/Izzy was in that band’s lineup when they played at the 1973 Sunbury Festival in Victoria, to much critical acclaim and general merriment.

In late 1970 or some time in 1971 (though these years may need to be verified by others who were there), that Peter/Izzy played bass with the Original Battersea Heroes, who by that time had moved away from their wine bar beginnings and were firmly entrenched in the rock music circuit. The Heroes at that stage featured Tony Burkys and Bob McGowan on guitars, Terry Darmody out front, and Dennis (whose surname will have to be verified elsewhere) on a hybrid drumkit/washboard concoction.

A bit later in the 1970s (again, someone else will have to verify dates), Peter/Izzy played bass with Red McKelvie, Graham Lister and Dave Ovenden in the Third Union Band (who started out as Johnny and The Ringworms, but that’s another story …). It’s Peter/Izzy playing bass in the GTK clip of the Third Union Band featured elsewhere on this site. Peter/Izzy was replaced in the Third Union Band by Harry Brus (but that’s also another story …)