Mr O’Toole says the group welcomes members of all musical abilities. “The main objective is to have a good time by bringing people together to strum and sing in the hope that they might develop their musical abilities.” Musical development aside, it’s pretty clear that enjoyment is top of the list for most WUG members, reinforcing the uke’s reputation as a fun instrument. “If you’re not smiling you shouldn’t be playing the ukulele,” says Mr O’Toole. Apart from a broad smile, mad hats and themed costumes or “something out there”, is the mandatory dress code for members at public performances. “If nothing else, we decided we’d make a splash of colour.” The group regularly entertains at community festivals like Port Fairy’s Moyneyana or Koroit’s Irish festival and fund-raisers such as Relay for Life and Movember, with audiences invariably joining in the fun. It was after a sabbatical in Hobart by Mr O’Toole and Ms Carmichael in 2012 that Ms Carmichael floated the idea of setting up a local ukulele group in Warrnambool. The foster care worker with a musical bent for conga drums had joined the Hobart Ukulele Group, enjoying the experience and the camaraderie so much that she convinced her husband and musician friend bassist Judith Sharrock to come on board and take on the role of teachers. Flyers were posted and eight would-be uke players turned up for the first session, 12 the second and 20 by the third night. The Warrnambool Ukulele Group was born. Some were novices, some like Victor Reid were accomplished players. Mr O’Toole said Mr Reid had been central to the development of the group, particularly in helping with musical arrangements. Similarly, as a founding member and bass player, Judith Sharrock has been the WUG linchpin. A professor of political science who also happens to be a handy guitar and ukulele player, Mr O’Toole says most people are attracted to the ukulele because it looks easy to play, it’s small and portable and relatively cheap.“Part of it is also social. They can have a bit of fun and relaxation. It’s a good way of chilling out.”But he cautions, as with learning any instrument, practice, a desire to play, and the quality of the instrument will determine just how well you do. “Like all instruments, it’s easy to play badly, but if you want to play well, you need to practise and get the technique right from the start. “People also think they can pick up a little toy instrument and think they’re going to play, but they can’t. If you want to learn to play properly, you need a ukulele that will stay in tune so the notes are properly calibrated. The better the instrument, the better the sound,” he says. “It’s a beaut little instrument that can create all sorts of music.” There’s much more to it than ukulele standards like Lovely Bunch of Coconuts or Tiny Tim’s Tiptoe Through the Tulips, according to Mr O’Toole. “There is some music you can’t play on it because it’s not built for it, like heavy metal, but you can play classical music, you can play jazz and blues.” There’s also no shortage of contemporary music featuring the ukulele thanks to current artists like Jason Mraz. For Warrnambool music store, Dale Cleves, ukulele sales have never been so good. “Sales are absolutely booming,” says sales consultant Corey Verhaegh. “Since the group started we’ve never sold so many.” From a previously small selection of ukuleles, the store now dedicates an entire wall to a display of about 30 instruments to cater for members’ needs. In three basic models – soprano, concert and tenor – adult instruments range in price from an entry level $69 up to $650, or, for a top-of- the-range model, as much as $1000. Ukuleles now count among the store’s best-selling lines, according to Mr Verhaegh. Until recently, community health clinician Julie McKenzie’s sole experience with a musical instrument was the recorder in primary school. She’d seen the uke players enjoying their weekly sessions at a local pub and thought it looked like a fun thing to do, but it wasn’t until New Year’s Eve at Port Fairy’s Moyneyana Festival three years ago that she decided to take it a step further. Standing in a queue for coffee, she overheard the couple in front of her speaking Spanish, and, in the spirit of the night, stepped up to wish them a happy New Year in Spanish. Rewarded with warm hugs from the couple, an inspired Ms McKenzie made it her New Year’s resolution to either learn Spanish or the ukulele. The ukulele won, a decision she’s thankful for every Monday night at the group’s weekly session. “It’s my sanity break on a Monday night after work to sing and play,” she says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing well or badly, you’re having fun and enjoying yourself.” John Sobey loves playing the ukulele so much he has five instruments and is a member of three ukulele groups: Port Fairy, Warrnambool and one in Noosa. The Port Fairy agribusiness operator started off playing in the Port Fairy group before joining Warrnambool, simply for the opportunity to play two nights a week. Now he’s teaching his wife Shirley to play and the pair have joined a group in Noosa where they spend most winters. Two of his ukes stay permanently on hand at their Noosa property. “It’s really good fun,” he says. “It’s probably one of the easiest instruments to learn. If you have any sort of rhythm and you can tap your foot, you can play".
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