A sell-out crowd gathered at The Vine Hotel in North Wangaratta on 29 May to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mic Conway and The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band's song Wangaratta Wahine reaching the top of the Aussie music charts.
The evening's entertainment began with a performance by an amazing band called the Wanga Rats, who embraced the Hawaiian theme as they performed four songs about Wangaratta.
The band included local musicians Neil Foster, Rod Davis, Andy Kimber, Graeme Cripps, John Bell and Chris Mangan, who did a great job of warming up the crowd, before vaudevillian entertainer extraordinaire, Mic Conway, came on to present his unique mixture of magic, music, fire eating and old (but good) jokes, to the delight of everyone.
A rousing rendition of the hit song was also a feature of the night.
The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, led by Mic Conway, performed Wangaratta Wahine on the first colour episode of ABC music show Countdown on 1 March, 1975.
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Back in 1975 Mic was presented with cardboard key to the city from the mayor of Wangaratta - for helping put the region on the map - and when he returned for the 40th anniversary in 2015, Mayor Irene Grant paid tribute to the gesture, presenting him with a symbolic potted palm.
For the 50th anniversary, councillor Dave Fuller - acting on behalf of Cr Grant who was unfortunately unavailable - presented Mic with a golden framed drawing of a Hawaiian gentleman playing a ukulele, with a copy of Wangaratta Wahine on his knee.
The event was a fitting way to celebrate an eccentric musical phenomenon of 1970s Australia.
