Catching up with old mates

Steve 'Chooka' Piec, Bill Kelly, Julie Pedler, John Spalding and Graeme 'Boonga' McLean will be getting back to their roots. 165729

By Justin Flynn

Sick and tired of running into old mates in unfortunate circumstances, such as funerals, a couple of Ocean Grovers have decided to do something about it while they still can.
At this stage of their lives Steve ‘Chooka’ Piec and Graeme ‘Boonga’ McLean were always lamenting that they would catch up with someone they hadn’t seen for a while at a funeral instead of a wedding or a birthday party.
With this in mind they created ‘Back to Your Roots’ for Baby Boomers from Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Point Lonsdale.
The night will feature Julie Pedler’s band The Coastal Escarpment and several hundred people are expected to attend.
“We were over having to catch up at funerals,” Graeme said.
“The night is mainly for Baby Boomers to come together and recall how fantastic we all were. Everyone keeps saying ‘we’ve gotta do it’ so we’re doing it.”
The event is not limited to Baby Boomers, however. Anyone can join in.
“Just not ministers or priests,” Graeme joked.
“They’re associated with funerals. It’s about memories and catching up,” Graeme said.
“It’ll take us back to the days when we had flour-bomb fights in the street,” Chooka said.
Back to Your Roots will be held on Easter Sunday, 16 April, at 7pm, at Shell Road Pavilion, Ray Menzies Oval in Ocean Grove. Cost is $25 (which will be donated to charity) and nibbles are provided with drinks at bar prices.
Tickets can be bought at Endless Summer Cafe, Strapper Surf or from Chooka or Boonga.