The Life and Times of Peter Green
updated 4 February 2026
 What a brilliant send off for Bob “Bongo” Starkie at Archie’s Creek! |
February 2ndI put up the flyer for Split Enz Under 18s Melbourne concert in 1980 on some of the ENZ social media pages. June 29th 1980. $2.50 to see Split Enz! This ones a bit special for me as well. The first Split Enz live show since starting work in the ENZ office at Sth Melbourne. Our Skyhooks band broke up after their last appearance in Countdown (June 15th 1980). Nathan, the Enz manager grabbed me a week later and I started in the Split Enz office on June 23rd. I'd forgotten how quick it all was. Anyway I digress- the Split Enz show at Festival Hall was wild. "I Got You" had lit the fuse with an entire new generation of Enz fans. "True Colours" was still in there Top 10 by the time this concert was on. Mushroom/Split Enz ran a full page advert in JUKE magazine for the Frenz of the Enz club and we gave out 2000 flyers at the show, the audience that day adored Split Enz and never looked back. Frenz for life. Great days.Wilbur Wilde gives me a call which was really nice. He's looking after the music for Bongos celebration this sunday at Archies Creek Hotel. A nice long chat. I never really knew Wilbur but he seems like a nice bloke. We'll catch up at Archies on the day. 42 years ago Labor created Medicare. We are so fortunate enough to have it in this country. America would kill to have a healthcare system like this. Thank you Labor. I pop one of Kevin Hilliers pod casts up on the Hooks Facebook page. All 5 are Skyhooks related. Ego is not a dirty word anyone? The #5 podcast that I'm on with Ross Wilson has the most "likes". Is that you Mum liking it many times? HA. Good effort from Kevin Hillier doing these too. I'm loving my banana smoothie with organic ice cream and chia seeds. So refreshing. A nice start to the day. I check our numbers and another 1000 people have watched our IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT mini documentary-so cool, thanks everyone. February 3rdThe rebuilding of the new Book Cave at charity commences. The main shelving for one side of the room is complete so I get my partners in crime Deb and Joan to help me load the books in. It's looking good and we are all absolutely worn out by the end of the day. But when finished it should look great. We have a new girl at the charity, Danielle and she is TALL , we are all short arses so this is both a novelty and great. She's a hard worker, which we appreciate . Welcome to the team.I spend most of the evening working on a few things for the Bongo Celebration at Archies Creek. I just want it to be a brilliant send off for Bob. February 4thI enjoy the morning at the Food Bank. Nice to see my friend Dan the musician and LOVE that he has the gorgeous Glady's the greyhound with him. She is such a lovely dog and she just seems so besotted with me. We cuddle on the floor (Gladys and me not Dan and me) and catch up afterwards for a run around the oval next door.I head straight to Olinda and grab a coffee and tick a few things off my list. I'm getting a hair cut and dye job at Hair for the Hills. I am a bit early but the girls always sneak me in...can't wait for the excellent scalp massage. It's a good cut. Very happy with it. For Markys Youtube Wednesday I'll put the link up here for Tim Finn LIVE. Two songs and Tims voice really sounds great in these. You will enjoy them , I promise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4tyZB6-x7o February 5thMark finishes the tag piece for the golden "Bongo TV" microphone. On my office desk waiting for me when I get home. Our little perverse humour moment, an MTV pisstake for the upcoming celebration. It looks really cool and really it's just a prop for when we film people talking about Bob.February 6th"We Bury The Dead" looks great. Set in Tasmania , filmed in Western Australia (the budget ended up defining that bit). The USA destroys Tassie and hey presto Zombies. I keep thinking this movie may well do good things in Australia if it is given a chance.Mark spoils me with a Bluray of Startrek Academy. The online reviews are terrible but we both love it. Probably the only 2 people who do, but I care little about reviews, I make up my own mind. Good to see it has been signed up for a second season. Thank you Marky, the Sci iFi Geek in me is happy. I get an email from Nick (Seymour) asking about a stage costume. So I happily reply. Always nice to hear from Nicholas. Sam Groth quits the Victorian Liberal party. I'm not convinced about Jess Wilson, there is something really fake about her. Kind of quite put my finger on it. She seems to talk way too much, I hate that in a politician. I feel like you can't trust her. February 7thA hot day so I give Midnight a bath and use her natural shampoo. She was rather LOUD today when getting bathed, usually (like Banshee) she doesn't mind it. I dried her off a bit and she ended up on the decking drying in the sun. She certainly smells good. Other animals will admire her fragrance.I remember to put Laura and Kevins belated Christmas presents in the car. We keep getting sidetracked with things and not catching up. I guilt that I have my friend Wendys present in the office, I need to get to the post office. February 8thNot much sleep last night so up early and drive to Olinda to get 2 coffees for the road trip to Archie's Creek today. The girls give me some freebee coffees so that is really nice. They know it's going to be a full on day.We depart at 9.00. It's about 1 hr 40 minute drive. The Black Beauty ready for another little adventure. Quite a decent drive, my MAPS takes all these side roads and it saves about 20 minutes. There is meant to be lots of rain today, around 85% chance at Archie's Creek which is a concern. I do my one legged Wicca "no rain" dance, surely that will help hold it at bay. Maybe I should have been naked and cover myself in earthy mud. ? No, too much? We arrive at Archies, really it's the hotel and a few houses. We get a park out the front. Perfect. As we arrive, Bongo's daughter Indiana turns up with the kids. We all have a group cuddle. Bobs gone way too soon, I can't imagine what this is like for his kids. I decide I will not cry today, it is a celebration. Some of the band are on the stage rehearsing, Bob Spencer of Skyhooks/Angels fame has flown down to be part of it and Fred (Imants) is with Becci. She gives us the most joyous welcome. I go up and introduce myself to Wilbur Wilde, who I strangely enough haven't met before. Archie's Creek is great, I love the feel of the venue. We meet Victor and Tash from Adelaide. Victor did some stuff for Bongo when he took his Skyhooks show to Adelaide. Tash is great. They are the first 2 people we take aside for the "Bongo TV" filming. I find two seventies caravans out back and we film in front of them. I expect background noise, but Marky, always the professional hates it. I hear the sounds of "Living in the seventies and it's Frankie J Holden from Ol' 55 (and yeah "A place to call home") on lead vocals. He does a really good version. We are bit impressed. I chat to him while we grab a drink, I ask him about his film career and he tells me he recently was in an upcoming movie "The Fox". What a nice guy, we have some laughs and back to soundcheck. No show from Ross Wilson or Joe Camilleri yet , they will arrive later. I see Ian B, he's known Bongo a long time, not as long as us but quite awhile. He also worked at Bongo's record store Hipper Records at Sth Melbourne. A young me (aged 17!!!) bought the rare Sports indie EP from the shop in the late seventies and Ian would of sold it to me. So the band, Bass is Kim May ,Pip Joyce on guitar, John Grant keyboards. Wilbur and Joe on sax (Wilbur's also MCing this). The 2 singers from Bongos Skyhooks show- Sasha and Laura D are doing some vocal work and maybe a song together. The wonderful Ross Wilson who produced the first 3 Skyhooks albums, Bobs girlfriend Chrissy on "Balwyn Calling". The coolest moment in soundcheck was Bongo's granddaughter Lucia singing Stevie Wonders "Sir Duke". She's 12 and so cool-we all love her. The audience will melt. Our friend JT has driven up from Canberra so I grab her and bring her inside ,so she doesn't have to line up. I get a text from Carol and her 2 sisters they arrive from Bondi so get them in a bit early. A thrill to see Ian and Sue again . The wonderful Woolvens. When we were teenagers we'd come to Melbourne as much as we could to hang out with the band. The lovely Woollen family would let us pitch a tent in their backyard and we'd stay in it, sometimes for a week. Their Mum would take us on these cool car trips to famous Skyhook places. We had the best time, great to see them again.They show Mark loads of photos taken from those visits and there he is, Mark Goulding POSING for photos many of them, not just a few. It did his head in but I love it. I could go on forever around this great day. The Bongo shrine in front of the stage, the 100 t-shirts and caps we gave away to fans for free... Bellas wonderful montage of Images of her dad showing in the inside bar , a lot of images us which was nice, seeing some of our old Skyhooks road crew- Gilbert the first Hooks roadie, the beloved Puckoon and lovely Lloydy who went onto be a Crowded House crew member and drove Gudinski in his car for years. The venue filled up, just the perfect number of people , the band played about 20 songs, so many guests on lead vocal and every one received a reaction. Indiana and Bella on stage , great speech and Bobs sister telling some great stories. Ian Blands brilliant poem but it was the music that got into my heart. It was joyous -I never once cried just loads of happy thoughts. At one stage dancing with Toni, Mandy and Bobs granddaughter Lucia. So many people coming up to say hello or grab a photo, and I found out that Skyhook fans and friends of Bobs love the Skyhooks Facebook page. Mark continually filmed "Bongo TV' while I seemed to get sidetracked, I am so sorry Matky so much was lobbed onto you-my hero. . Two rather hot ladies attempted to get me into bed (or whatever was nearby) and much as they were stunners and my ego (which is NOT a dirty word I hear) was flattered beyond belief. I love my husband and politely declined. Shirleys 2 sisters at the bar spotted the entire thing and it made for bit of a chuckle. Soon after Bobs sister came up and gave me some bulbs from Bobs garden (this is the only seed I am going to plant today I wickedly thought to myself). Ross Wilson and band singing EAGLE ROCK finished the day. The crowd itself saving the crowning moment at the very end where everyone changed the lyrics to BONGO ROCK and sang it rather LOUDLY much to the delight of all of us on stage. I know Bob was watching this today, we had an 85% chance of major rain all day. But not a drop fell. As I walked the band off stage to the band room... the first few drops fell. Talk about perfect timing. We said our goodbyes to everyone, which took another hour. We waved goodbye to Archie's Creek- such a magnificent send off. For those reading this who attended, thank you. We were half way home and the heavens really opened up. Both of us running on adrenaline, we spent the entire time talking about the memorial. I stupidly had a second coffee, so between that and the adrenaline , no sleep tonight. What a wonderful send off , Bob would have loved it. We miss you Bobby boy, gone way too soon. February 9thI think I nodded off for 30 minutes, the sun is rising but the mountain is covered in this thick layer of fog. It takes forever to go to the bakery for my morning coffee. I watch the fog swirling around like desert dust devils. Quite beautiful really. The messages roll in, sounds like people really loved yesterday's celebration. I send some mates photos , the few I took.By mid afternoon I decide to surrender and let my body have a nana nap. My head touches the pillow and the phone rings, it is Paul C from Noise 11 page. I call him back and he's writing a piece on the celebration. So I drag my body out of bed and walk to the office where Mark has already commenced editing. I run through some things with Paul and he will put up his article tomorrow. February 10thI listen to the early morning news and Liberal front benchers are planning a mass resignation to make way for a leadership challenge. The good old Liberals even more unstable. It really is an old boys club. Make no mistake Ley will go, I wouldn't be at all surprised if she quits the Liberal Party. Probably sick of the white anting and all the bullshit. Adding to their woes, One Nation banging the final nail into their coffin. Demented old Liberals waddling with their walking frames to One Nation. The Labour vote staying exceptionally strong, pretty much the same as it was last election. If an election was called today Labor would win a further 4 seats (98).The work men are back in my Book Cave, so I am rushing packing stuff up so it is out of their way. I do note one has very nice legs so it's not all bad news. Ha! Oh god I've finally become and old perve. At 6.00 Indiana calls and we have a fun chat. Bob would have been so proud of his 2 girls. We have a laugh and will catch up soon. February 11thTell me all the things you would changeI don't pretend to know what you want When you come around and spin my top Time and again, time and again No fire where I lit my spark I am not afraid of the dark Where your words devour my heart And put me to shame, put me to shame..... Today's Markys Youtube Wednesday video. The fan favourite , "Distant Sun" . It was such a hit in Canada, #4 Nationally; when Crowdies play Canada even now, it's always requested by the audience. "This one I filmed at the Concert Hall in Brisbane on February 20th 1994. We (well CH) played 2 shows at the Concert Hall after a wild night at Seagulls Leagues Club. Brisbane the last show on the Aussie Together Alone tour -all of us flying home to Melbourne next day on Ansett Flight AN133. We were a bit worn out. I sat next to Sharon and Neil and fell asleep on Fangs shoulder (Neil) hope I didn't dribble! Four days later we were in NZ at Wellington Town Hall as part of the Amnesty benefit and a short NZ tour before heading onto the USA and of course Paul (Hessie) departed on April 14th in the States." I think this is the last live version of "Distant Sun" we have, so check it out and enjoy it. xxPG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-lbZ0K9ckU February 12thI scored some fresh Baby Bun Choy at the Food Bank. It has the coolest little yellow flowers which I have never seen before (apparently you can eat them too). So I present it to Mark instead of a bouquet. We both laugh and shout "romance is not dead".I get a message from a friend that my buddy Dans lost his greyhound Gladys, she ran away. In fact it happened last night . So after a long day at work I decide to go looking for the dog. Thankfully I call Dan first and he has found her. So a happy ending, he loves his dog and so do I. Good news. Mark has been putting in some long hours around the editing of footage from the Bongo celebration. He worked till 2.30 am last night. It's a big effort. I found out today that 81% of Australians can access a bulk billing DR within 20 kms of their home. That's pretty good. I like it when Labor keep election promises. They need to do more things like this. February 13thThe Liberal leadership challenge happened at 9.00 am this morning. Another one bites the dust, the old boys club wins and Ley is gone after only 9 months, the first female Federal Liberal leader. Taylor is in. He will probably end up being worse. No change of fortunes for the Liberals. They kind of stink.We pay our rates, $4000+ later but all done for the year. I'll have to get some more paying work soon, now I owe Mark a few $$$. I hate that. He just shrugs it off , I am so lucky. I love my best friend. He allows my freedom to do what crazy things I want. By 3.00 Mark has the first 3 live songs from the Archies Creek celebration. We are putting up a few things at once. So this will be the first one. In order as they were played. Lead vocals -Frankie J Holden and Ross Wilson. I am in awe of Marks work. He rescued the sound , our dat player died so he worked his magic on the camera sound. It must of taken him ages. I just love it so much. You can enjoy the clips here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93EZSyTj1D0 I launch the 3 live clips (Part 1) tonight and I watched as the counter ticks over. 100, 200, 300 views and climbing ... if it keeps up we'll have the first 1000 views by midnight. Bob is smiling down on us. Exactly at midnight it clicks over with the 1000th view. The fans are behind this one. We are happy, worth all the effort Mark put into it. I work in the office till late, I head on up after midnight and watch some episodes of Number 96 on Brollie streaming. We both head to bed late. February 14thHappy Valentines Day everyone.I was hoping the Olinda bakery would have some romantic tarts (no the cake variety with hearts) but nothing this year. That's a bit sad. So I bought Marky a box of maltesers as he loves them and ok they were 40% off, so bargain. I did find this brilliant card, well it was a Happy Birthday card so I altered it. Bongos sister ,this lovely older lady gave me a bag of bulbs from his garden so I cleaned up one of the garden beds and put them in. So when they burst into colour we'll think of Bob. I disturbed an ants nest and 3 of them bit me. Some toxic alkaloid from the little shits. It didn't last too long, I spat on the bites and some soap and water. Well I did disturb their home so I get why they were angry. Hey I'm the one that just paid the rates on the land not you little blighters. I crashed in the afternoon. I was reading and just needed to have a Power Nap. Maybe I needed to catch up on sleep. The 3 live clips (Part 1) clicked over 2500 by the afternoon. We love that when people respond. February 15thI'm sleeping way better these days, not sure why I had a few restless nights, possibly just my brain ticking over with projects. I still keep my daily "To Do" list and manage to wipe out most things on it. I check our Archies Creek video numbers and we are already past 3100 views, so that is cool. People seem to be loving the footage.A perfect day here in the National Park, goldilocks weather -just right. I chat to Mark #3 & Bev while sipping my coffee at the bakery. Far less tourists than the Valentines Day people, up on the mountain for romance and a shag in the rainforest! (HA). Alls quiet at Olinda. Mark completes the Part 2 of the video footage from Archie's Creek and these 2 clips rock. The girls are on the vocals and they sing up a storm with "You just like me cos I'm good in Bed" and "Women In Uniform". Both very different lead singers but both are great in front of our cameras. Wow 1000 views within 15 minutes- people are enjoying this one. You can enjoy the clips here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjMfkYhC38M I am a bit shocked, I have the Famous for 16 Minutes diary ready on time. Big thank you to Deb as always for getting this up on the Internet for you all to enjoy. Love from Oz. PG |
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