David Shrubshall is a member of the Bacchus Marsh & Melton Ukulele & Singing Ensemble (BMUSE) and loves to play his music for the public all over the area, as well as share his songs online on his Youtube channel. He spoke to reporter Olivia Condous about his love of the ukulele and all the different ways he loves to share his music.
What’s your connection to Melton?
We’ve lived in Melton for around 20 years. I love how Melton has the characteristic of a country town and surrounding parklands, but most facilities you would find in an inner city suburb. A lot of my instrumental music videos are filmed around the Melton Shire historical/parklands, often filmed between COVID lockdowns, at locations such as Hannah Watts, Navan Park, The Willows Historical Park, Melton Reservoir and Melton Botanical Gardens. It allows my youtube subscribers here and overseas a view of the area we live in. I also play music at Melton businesses, trying to get them a little more foot traffic such as Jeff Jones Plants & Produce, Vinnies Op Shop at Bakery Square and the Eynesbury Mothers Day Classic. Come spring I will continue to approach cafes and retail businesses to try and help with attracting customers.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
I will often go to Navan Park and practice songs on the ukulele, on the wooden bridge, under the trees. I’ve had people wave as they walk by and one family sat down and had a picnic near me. I also like Hannah Watts Park and the Melton Botanical Gardens to practice in. In the warmer months, I will start to play around the business district.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you…
A long time ago, I spent around ten years in amateur theatre in Sunbury (Sunbury Theatrical Society). There I got the opportunity to write, act, direct, stage manage, and produce. It was a great time, shared by like minded people. (I was the first producer to come under budget in a musical!). They are known as Boilerhouse Theatre Company now.
How did you get involved with BMUSE?
I’ve been playing the ukulele for around 5 years, more consistently over the last two years with the creation of Ukulele Dave Down Under. Self taught, with help from many ukulele instructors on youtube. After starting to play around with the ukulele, I had heard of a local uke club. I checked out the Melton Council and found that there was a group called the Bacchus Marsh Melton Ukulele and Singing Ensemble. I contacted them, and as they say, the rest is history. They are lovely, helpful people who share a common passion and were very helpful. BMUSE welcome new members, and also do local community work with schools, nursing homes etc.
