In Kangaroo Valley, NSW — Our Airbnb host in Kangaroo Valley was a really lovely local called Gudula. Her and some friends even came to our Saturday night show (the party show) to support us. The next morning she sent us a message asking if we wanted an accordion that belonged to her late husband William. We felt absolutely honored that she would offer us something so special.
Dave went back to the house and met with her and she told some stories about William. He was Jewish and his parents met in a camp in the war. They then moved to Sydney where he went to school. His parents gave him a little accordion as a child and he never stopped playing. He was a lawyer and very smart and could play almost anything on the accordion. He would get invited to high school parties to be like the human duke-box, he would bring his accordion and they would ask him to play anything from disco to folk and he would play. These kids would then stick up for him if he was getting bullied at school.
When William and Gudula met he was a lawyer and she was a drama major (very different) and so they spent time studying courses in each others fields to better understand and appreciate each other.
After sharing these stories, a couple of tears and a hug, Gudula brought out this absolutely beautiful accordion in perfect condition and gifted it to Dave for Bromham to have and said she was excited that it could bring musical delights to many more people. We are so overwhelmed and privileged to be the custodians of this story and this beautiful instrument. Thankyou Gudula ❤️
