Billy the Kid

By Jane Gardner

At the Ballan Autumn Festival in March this year, eight-year-old Ballan boy Billy Basten stood on the street with his family to watch the passing parade. Billy’s eyes lit up when he saw the Gordon Ukestra float go by, strumming and singing its way down Inglis Street.

Young Billy was captivated and from that point on, begged his parents to take him to visit the Ukestra at the Gordon Hotel, where they practice each Wednesday night. A few weeks ago, Billy got his wish and he and his family came to the hotel to have dinner and listen to the Ukestra play.

It didn’t take long for Billy and his brother Noah to approach the group that night, where they were invited to join in with a few percussion instruments. It was clear these boys had rhythm.

In the weeks that followed, Billy’s parents bought him his own ukulele so he could sit and strum along with the group. He learnt a few simple chords and was encouraged to play at his own pace.

When members of the Ukestra learnt that Billy was a proud Wurundjeri boy, the next week, someone produced a didgeridoo and kindly gifted it to Billy and his brother. Billy can now be found most Wednesday nights, sitting up with the Gordon Ukestra, playing both the ukulele and the didgeridoo – often at the same time.

When the night is getting late and Billy’s mum quietly says to him that he can stay for one more song, Billy doesn’t hold back; “What’s the longest song you know?” he asks.

The Gordon Ukestra’s oldest member is weeks away from turning 90. Now the group can boast that its youngest member is only 8 years old. But age doesn’t matter to anyone in the Gordon Ukestra, just as it doesn’t matter to Billy. He’s as happy as can be, sitting up with the adults, singing and strumming along like a pro.