In June 2009, local Whyalla drummer, Brian Krawczyk began posting items of interest from Whyalla’s Live Music past onto a group page on the Social Networking site, Face Book. Word about the new Face Book Group spread quickly and literally overnight there were hundreds of photographs posted and new group members. 

Early2010 an ex Whyalla Musician, using the contacts made via the Face Book group arranged a small reunion event in Adelaide. Feedback from some attendees suggested that although this was a great idea, any reunion event involving Whyalla Musicians, should be run in Whyalla back where it all started for many of them.

 Allan Webster and Ken Dowden, both ex Whyalla Musicians, had attended this event in Adelaide and subsequently contacted Ron Hay, to share their thoughts.

Ron a local Whyalla Musician and owner of Pro Co Stage Sound Whyalla discussed the possibility of having a reunion in Whyalla and with his knowledge of the contacts already collected, agreed to get involved and the catalyst for a reunion in Whyalla was made.

In July 2010 Ron, with Brian formed a 9 person committee to set about staging a reunion. The committee’s strengths were its unique mix of age, experience, diverse backgrounds and skills which provided the basis for this event to be run professionally. This proved to be a tremendous strength for the outcome that was about to be produced.

With a limited $1500 budget and nothing more than a “concept” of the event to sell the committee began the difficult task of reconnecting musicians that we had lost contact with, engaging supporters and sponsors and investigating local charities. 

Through the use of Social Media sites Face Book, You Tube and My Space the number of reconnected musicians and supporter’s snow balled. Both bands and individual musicians started committing to the reunion and the realization of this unique event started to take shape with 24 bands from 1964 to 2008 being re-formed with 50 to 75 per cent original member, indicating their wish to appearing at the Whyalla Musicians Reunion over Easter 2011. 

The committee wanted the reunion to be a unique event that would “remember and celebrate Whyalla's strong musical past” and through the benefits of the committee’s skills, it was an imperative that the event provided a professionally run, structured and rehearsed show, rather than a casual “walk up and play” style of event and with that, musicians living in various parts of Australia, got out the equipment and started rehearsing.

After 10 months of hard work by the committee and with support from the Whyalla City Council, Westlands Hotel, Pro Co Stage Sound Whyalla, Radio 5AU/Magic 105.9FM, Austereo Southern Cross TV, Whyalla News, approximately 45 volunteers consisting of committee member’s family and friends, Heart Kids SA and St John Volunteers and our 5 member support crew, what was dubbed a “A truly remarkable event” came to life.

The event attracted some 1400 patrons, kicking off on Good Friday with an informal “Meet and Greet” Session at the South Whyalla Football Club, with the real action heating up at the Westlands Hotel from Easter Saturday to the last band performance in early hours of Easter Monday.

 

The event was not only a success for Whyalla music but also the wider Whyalla community with $17000 raised from the event being distributed between Heart Kids SA Whyalla and St John Whyalla Volunteers, for much needed equipment.

Later in 2011 the Whyalla Musicians Reunion 2011 was a finalist in the Advantage SA - Elders Community Group Award for the Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula Region and on Australia Day 2012 the event won Whyalla’s Community Event of the Year.

After the reunion event the group remained together and began working with third parties on a number of Youth based initiatives. In particular, the group was engaged by Mission Australia to assist with music mentor-ship programs for Youth Week in 2012 and 2013. The group donated the gift of many hours of time and experience to Whyalla’s young and upcoming musicians.  

 

Based on the success of this group and support shown for the events it has been involved with, the “Whyalla Musicians Reunion Committee” changed its name in early 2013 to the “Whyalla Music Association Incorporated”.