Worth their weight in gold: Country Capital Music Association's Dot and Peg Gilchrist help young musicians enter the industry

HELPING talented youngsters break into the country music scene has been the top priority of the Gilchrist family for decades.

From the very first festival 50 years ago, Dot Gilchrist has played a part in the careers of many of today's big country music names.

As a founding member of Tamworth's Capital Country Music Association in 1972, Dot, alongside her late husband Ken, has been involved with countless workshops, talent quests and jamborees held at the Tamworth Town Hall.

All in the name of giving young people a go.

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"The professional artists don't need us," Dot said.

"We were primarily to promote amateur talent and give them a go."

While they might have been amateurs at the time, artists such as Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Sally-Anne Whitten, and Felicity Urquhart all went through the CCMA talent quests.

Dot said CCMA has also run workshops over the years to help young singers navigate the industry and encourage them to also pick up and learn an instrument.

"Because where would all these wonderful singers be if they didn't have good instrumentalists behind them," she said.

"Without an instrumentalist a singer doesn't sound much."

While Dot's been a part of the Tamworth Country Music Festival since its very beginning, it's become a family affair over time.

Her daughter Peg now joins her on the board of the CCMA, while her sons Robbie and Bill, who sadly passed away in December last year were both musically gifted.

Peg said if it wasn't for her mum the festival wouldn't be what it is today.

"If it wasn't for mum being such a prolific raffle ticket seller, I know it sounds ridiculous, but in the day that's what kept the club going and it was the backbone of the festival," Peg said.

Peg has also made quite the name for herself over the years as a talented organist, including beating Keith Urban in the 1978 talent quest with her prize presented by Smoky Dawson.

"He was flustered that day and they couldn't not give it to me," she said.

In fact, her win over Keith Urban is one of Dot's proudest moments over the past five decades.

But Peg said some of her fondest memories came from being a part of the cavalcade parades, an event that will be missed this year.

"I think I've been in 99 per cent of them," Peg said.

The mother-daughter duo are both life members of the CCMA, with Peg currently serving as President and Dot alongside her as vice-president.

Peg said she's incredibly thankful for the years her family has been spent in the country music scene.

"It's not just country music, but it's the whole town, and country music in the town," she said.

For Dot, the reason for her involvement all these years, is simple.

"I just love country music and everything that goes with it," she said.

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