Thank You For The Welcome - 50th Anniversary Show


Upcoming Shows

Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky’s

Thank You For The Welcome

Sorrow, joy and mirth. Wisdom, war and peace

A half-century of music, storytelling, poetry and theatre in one heartfelt and at times hilarious show.

“This is historical and political truth at its best.”(Deans Marsh Festival, 2021)

FRIDAY 14 APRIL

MURRAH HALL., 7.00 FOR 7.30 pm

$30/25 conc.

mailto:jan@janwositzky.com.auBOOK: BOOK HERE


Sunday April 16

House concert at Raymond Island (by punt from Paynsville, Gippsland)

Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky’s

Thank You For The Welcome

A half-century of music, storytelling, poetry and theatre in one heartfelt, hilarious show.

Sorrow, joy and mirth. Wisdom, war and peace.
“This is historical and political truth at its best.”(Deans Marsh Festival, 2021)

House concert at Raymond Island (by punt from Paynsville, Gippsland)

Email Jan – jan@janwositzky.com.au – for details.


 Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky’s

Thank You For The Welcome

A half-century of music, storytelling, poetry and theatre in one heartfelt, hilarious show.

 Sorrow, joy and mirth. Wisdom, war and peace “This is historical and political truth at its best.”(Deans Marsh Festival, 2021)

THURSDAY 20 APRIL

BRIAGALONG HALL, 7.00 for 7.30

$25 BOOK: Gary 0439 454 428

or www.trybooking.com/CGGRX

Fifty years after innocently stumbling into a life in the performing arts, and having now received an Order of Australia for his contribution to music and storytelling, Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky is celebrating the milestone with Thank You For The Welcome, a concert packed with his favourite stuff – songs and stories Jan believes are worth remembering into our future.

“The show was intimate and moving … delivered with such ease and sensitivity, stories of love and tragedy, backed by Jack’s beautiful guitar playing.”  (Adele Duffy, Steiglitz, 2021)

Beginning in 1971 as a founder of the renowned Bushwackers Band, Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky went on to produce acclaimed theatre shows such as The Go-Between: William Murrungurk Buckley; best selling books with Wardaman elder Yidumduma Bill Harney and Phar Lap’s strapper, Tommy Woodcock; numerous history features for Radio National; award-winning television documentaries with Yanyuwa and Garrwa people of Borroloola; goldfields CDs and audio tours – and lots more.

“His creative soul shines clearly through … This is historical and political truth at its best.” (Dean’s Marsh Festival, 2021)

The title, Thank You for The Welcome, is Jan’s song to honour Australia’s Aboriginal people – a theme that returns throughout the show.

“Jan is a brilliant storyteller, obviously learnt from some of the best storytellers, the First Nations. He makes you laugh and cry all at once. The story of the taipans made me laugh SO much. I just wish it was true.”  (Megan Evans, Steiglitz, 2021)

There’s stories of the dancing Ngadiji women of Borroloola; a Bushwacker’s classic, Annie, translated into Yanyuwa; a lament for a mate who died of the grog; Turkish and Iranian music from Jack Norton, carrying the story of Gallipoli and the women from both sides, and of boat people incarcerated; weird happenings ‘up north’ with frozen kangaroo tails; a little bit of chainsaw music, and Dougie McLean’s secular hymn, The Singing Land – and Jan playing 5-string banjo, bodhran, rhythm bones, spoons and harmonica.It’s a journey.

“This is a true theatrical experience, taking the audience to other worlds, other times, through many cultures and many emotions.”  (Peter Sharp, Ste iglitz 2021)

“We felt privileged to be there.”  (Josiane Behmoiras, Steiglitz 2021) 

Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky | Beginning in 1971 as a founder of the renowned Bushwackers Band, Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky went on to produce acclaimed theatre shows such as The Go-Between: William Murrungurk Buckley; best selling books with Wardaman elder Yidumduma Bill Harney and Phar Lap’s strapper, Tommy Woodcock; numerous history features for Radio National; award-winning television documentaries with Yanyuwa and Garrwa people of Borroloola; goldfields CDs and audio tours – and lots more.