On the road again

Strumming his guitar, Gembrook’s JJ Cuthbert, 78, continues to travel the countryside despite having to retire from his regular community radio spot on 3MDR last year because of health reasons.
Known around town as JJ the Gembrook Gentleman, he has a passion for country music, entertaining and poetry.
But for many years JJ’s love of country music took a back seat while he worked as a mechanic at his family business, JJ Automotive Services in Balwyn.
JJ first started playing guitar at the age of 16 and it was not long before he started busking.
But his music always took a back seat to his family and his business as a motor mechanic.
“I have always had a love for country music. It started at a young age in the hillbilly era,” he said.
A selfconfessed workaholic, JJ said when he retired he wanted to find a nice quiet spot where he could play his music and write poetry.
So he sold his house in Balwyn and headed for the hills where he found the perfect little spot in Gembrook.
It didn’t take locals long to meet JJ as he travelled around the countryside, busking at various festivals including the Cockatoo Rodeo.
“I just enjoyed wandering around playing my country music,” he said.
JJ soon got the chance to share his passion and knowledge for country music with the local district when he was offered a fulltime gig as a music presenter at Emerald’s 3MDR radio station in 1996.
He said he had just moved up to the hills and was touring around the area, settling in and getting to know the locals when he was discovered at the Emerald Winterfest.
“I had set up to do a bit of busking near the radio station and it was then that I was asked about doing my own radio show,” he said.
JJ said he jumped at the opportunity to be able to share his passion and knowledge for country music with local listeners.
Starting off presenting the graveyard shift from 10pm to midnight, JJ was eventually given the 810pm time slot.
He said radio presenting was like ‘flying by the seat of your pants’ as he never knew what was going to happen from one moment to the next.
Walking into the radio presenting gig with no real experience and having never worked with the equipment before, he said at the time it was difficult for him to imagine why he was given the job.
“I was just busking on a corner when I was asked to take on the radio job,” he said.
This is when people started to know JJ as the Gembrook Gentleman because when his son Phillip found out about the radio show, he told JJ that he needed to have a business card.
He said when Phillip showed him the cards with JJ the Gembrook Gentleman printed on them, he was really surprised.
“I really like the name it was just perfect. I don’t know what it is about the name but it just rolls off the tongue,” he said.
However, JJ had to give his shortlived radio career away in September last year as his health was declining.
But nothing could stop JJ from presenting his music and busking.
And as his radio career was winding down, JJ was looking at starting a new venture with his Gembrook Bush Band.
The band plays in retirement villages in the hills and also at some church functions.
He still travels around the countryside attending country music festivals across Victoria and even interstate.
JJ is also a regular act at the Gembrook Market where he strums his guitar and entertains visitors with his own unique style of country music.
“I am continuing to entertain any way I can,” he said.
Since retiring from the radio station, JJ said he has received numerous letters and well wishes from his listeners which have kept his spirits high.
JJ said attending music festivals around the state is one way to keep his guitar in tune and it is an enjoyable way of keeping active and keeping the brain alive.
He is also part of the Henry Lawson Society in Melbourne where he enjoys reciting and singing along to some of the famous poet’s work.
JJ is now thinking of packing a bag and hitting the road to Beechworth where the Kelly Country Pick festival beckons.
“It is just the most enjoyable way to spend a weekend, singing a few songs and playing the guitar,” he said.