Felicity Urquhart remembers her roots in country music

When Felicity Urquhart goes back home to country New South Wales, she knows it’s always a family affair.

The face of country music in Australia and host of Saturday Night Country, recently returned to her hometown of Tamworth where her career began.

“I love coming back home. So many people have helped me in my career,” Urquhart said.

Urquhart first began busking on Peel Street in ‘Australia’s country music capital’, along the main drag of the town with her cousins Anthony Walmsley and Belinda Walmsley when she was 11-years-old.

But as Urquhart recalled, her father Rex was cautious to begin with.

“He probably didn’t want us to embarrass ourselves in our home town.”

From that first gig on the street — where her thumbs bled without a guitar pick — they earnt about $80 in just half an hour’s work, much to her father Rex’s surprise.

“He said, ‘Bloody hell, you’d better go again’,” she recalled.

“You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, that feeling of joy of playing.”

Music brings people together

Invited home to a special fundraising event, Urquhart returned to sing carols late last year, taking her back to her roots.

“This is where it all started, the very first place I ever sang publicly, was here at Timbumburi Public School,” she said.

“The primary school had a huge impact on my life with that encouragement they gave me.

“It’s pretty special. I might get a bit emotional.”

The profits from the annual event go back to provide the students with computers and equipment for school.

Mr Walmsley, now a music teacher, said the small country school relied heavily on the parents and citizens committee to help the children.

“Over the past couple of years we’ve donated something like 20 Mac laptops, 30 iPads and spend thousands on books each year,” Mr Walmsley said.

“It’s events like this and guys like you (Felicity) that can come back and help make it great and allow us to do it.”

The feeling is mutual for Urquhart.

“I’m very proud of him. It’s so nice to be back together like the old days,” she said.

The next big things in country music

Urquhart was not only back at her old school, but able to perform on stage for the first time with her daughters Tia and Ellie and her niece Poppy, something she encouraged them to have a go at.

“I used to just love seeing other kids playing music, and going to get autographs from anyone that was on stage,” she said.

“So the encouragement and opportunity for them to play and try new things is important.”

She said she was thrilled to be able to award an up-and-coming local star Elisha Turner an award in her name.

The Felicity Urquhart Award encourages students to chase their dreams in the arts, something that has been going on for a number of years.

“I was blown away when the school made the award and said they wanted to name it after me.”

The Tamworth pecking order

Urquhart said there were symbols of Tamworth that Australians could easily identify with, even as the city has gotten bigger since she grew up there.

“Even though it’s now a big city, Tamworth is still a country town to me.”

“The mighty golden guitar — it’s the sign of Tamworth.

“It’s gold, it’s got strings and it’s something that everybody would like to have on their mantlepiece when it comes to country music.”

And while she can boast a connection to country music, the country lifestyle has always been evident for Urquhart, even with skills like hypnotising a chicken and going fishing with her parents.

She said the chooks are sometimes unsure about rubbing the chest, but would eventually fall asleep.

“When I was a kid I used to do all the chooks in the yard,” she said.

“I used to sing to them when I was a kid.

“It’s completely safe, never harmed them … I just love them.”