Jeff Huddlestone
Coral Lynch’s love of music has shaped key aspects of her life.
Born in Melbourne to a farming family on December 3, 1946, Ms Lynch is the eldest of eight siblings.
The now 77-year-old great-grandmother clearly remembers playing the fife in primary school, old 78 rpm records, and listening to music on the radio at the family farm.
Other forms of music progressed her to playing tenor drum in pipe bands, square dancing and hosting country music programs on community radio station 5GTR FM in Mount Gambier/ Berrin.
The farmer’s daughter reflected on raising milking cattle at Koroit and Port Fairy in Victoria.
After serving in World War Two, Ms Lynch’s father was allocated a soldier settler block in Casterton, on which the cattle farming continued.
When the family moved to Mount Gambier/ Berrin, Ms Lynch attended Compton Primary School
and the then technical college, now Grant High School.
Ms Lynch joined the Blue Lake Ladies Pipe Band and played tenor drum .
She was also the drum major with the Caledonian Ladies’ Pipe Caledonian Ladies pipe Band and played with Blue Lake RSL and the Penola Pipe Bands.
Her square dancing involvement began at a convention in Adelaide, at which then local television personality Colin Huddleston was in attendance.
“My life was done after that,” she said.
“It was a highlight to dance under him.”
Ms Lynch has been square dancing for many years and has just entered her sixth year
as the Pine City Twirlers president.
But it was through a Kalangadoo friend that Ms Lynch began her association with
community radio 5GTR about five years ago, first as a general volunteer, and then as a presenter.
In her latest musical milestone, Ms Lynch broadcasts country music programs on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and co-hosts the breakfast show with Llewellyn Jones on Wednesdays and Fridays.
She said she enjoyed the volunteer work and was thankful to other volunteers and station supporters.
“It’s good to meet country singers and interview them on the radio,” she said.
“Volunteering is a great thing to do and there are a lot of places in Mount Gambier at which to help.”
