Worth Their Weight in Gold: Tamworth Country Music Festival legend Lorraine Pfitzner to thank for Pioneer Park, Tamworth Country Music Hall of Fame and more

LORRAINE Pfitzner grew up listening to her dad's 'hillbilly music' on the gramophone.

Her mother would get up and light the wood fire, and the first thing the family would do was switch it on and listen to their music as the sun came over the horizon in South Australia.

And, she's loved country ever since.

"I wanted to be a jillaroo, well that didn't happen, so I started collecting records because dad was a collector," she said.

"Then I started writing to the artists and that was the beginning of the friendships I still have today with a lot of the artists."

Ms Pfitzner is a known pillar of Tamworth's Country Music Festival, she's been a driving force behind the Pioneer Parade of bronze busts in Bicentennial Park, a familiar voice on radio and a long-serving volunteer and collector at the Tamworth Country Music Hall of Fame.

She's also been heavily involved with the Tamworth Songwriters' Association, the Australian Bush Balladeers Association and even sings a tune or two herself.

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Point to almost anything in the country music hall of fame and Ms Pfitzner can tell you where it came from. She started collecting back when it was still the heritage hall on Brisbane Street.

"We got all of these wonderful artefacts and memorabilia that way and I was able to do it because during my radio days and being a writer the artists knew me and that opened the door," she said.

"We need to have all of our goodies looked after forever and make sure they don't disappear, because it is really a great thing for Tamworth.

"I think it's very important otherwise you lose track of exactly how it's evolved."

Before she moved to Tamworth, Ms Pfitzner used to write for Spurs, Eric Scott's Country Express and Country Spotlight.

She said what keeps her going are the friendships.

"I just feel great that I could give Tamworth and Australia something that wouldn't have gotten done if I didn't do it," she said.

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