There really is such a thing as a hurdy gurdy
DID you know that there really is such a thing as a hurdy gurdy?
Most people use the term when pointing to an object, the name of which has escaped them.
But those attending the Lost Trades Fair at the Cobb and Co Museum at the weekend not only got to see a genuine hurdy gurdy but hear it too.
The instrument was born in the 11th century but perfected throughout the middle ages.
Woodwork specialist Pam McDiarmid of Gisborne in Victoria not only made her own hurdy gurdy but she taught herself to play it.
She demonstrated the music of the medieval instrument at the fair.
“It was quite a common instrument by the 15th century but it fell out of favour a little later on,” she said.
“In the 18th century, ladies of the night used to play the hurdy gurdy to drum-up business.”
Mrs McDiarmid and husband Graeme, who provided music via an old mechanical organ, travelled from Victoria for the fair in Toowoomba.
Crowds in their thousands filed through the grounds of Cobb and Co Museum to see about 50 artisans demonstrating an array of lost and traditional trades from wooden spoon making to blacksmithing to wood carving and leather work.
Olivia O’Connor travelled from Berrys Creek in South Gippsland to demonstrate her wooden rocking horses which she hand carves with precision.
Each horse takes about a month to complete, though she works on three at a time.
“It takes a week just to paint them,” she said.
“I do all the leather work myself and the manes and tails are real horse hair.”
Meanwhile, emerging from a large crowd watching George Smithwick hand carving a wooden bucket, was Rodney Smith of Plainland who had a hand carved wooden beer keg under his arm.
“I’m going to put soft-drink in it,” he chuckled.