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with thanks for the use of the story and picture.
country and western singer husband Reg Lindsay ... together on the road,
at concerts, rodeos, TV shows, overseas trips or the rare quite moments at their
Cessnock property.. Ros told Francis O'Shea she was drawing strength from those
memories-to see her through the vigil at her husband's bedside and his surgery next Tuesday.
| It has been a lonely vigil for Ros Lindsay. Her hus- band, Reg, is lapsing in and out of sleep, barely able to speak and unaware of the well wishers that are pouring in from across Australia. His three daughters, Dian- ne, Sandra and Joanne, have also been at his side, willing their father to recover. "I'm lucky to still have him - I know that," Ros said. "He could have died the in- stant he suffered the haemorrhage or in the days that followed. "It's only the last couple of days that his condition has stablised and plans have been made to operate. "That is good news because at least the surgery will cor- rect his problem. "But it's very delicate and we'll have some big hurdles to to overcome when it's over." On January 25, during Tam- worth's annual country music festival, 63-year-old Reg had a brain haemorrhage and was found collapsed in the bath- room. He was rushed by air ambu- lance to Newcastle where his condition fluctuated between critical and serious for several weeks. The first positive signs came more than three weeks later when Reg's condition began to stabilise. Specialists have now sche- |
duled surgery for Tuesday, provided he maintains his progress. Ros in praying that the strength that has helped Reg survive this critical period will see him safely through the surgery. "He is a very strong person and up until this he was in great health," she said. "Things wre pretty hectic but that's the way it always is with Reg. "He was looking forward to singing at the Country Music Awards for the first time in 17 years and was halfway through his No Slowing Down tour." The tour was appropriately named for the man who once toured for six years straight, performing 320 concerts each year. Critics say his 66th album, released at the start of the tour last October, is his best ever. The new album features a duo with race caller John Tapp and tracks Reg recor- ded during a trip to Nashville four years ago. Such is his popularity that last Saturday a national radio station in the US broadcast prayers offered to Reg by per- formers at the Grand Ole Oprey in Nashville, the inter- national home of country music. He remains the only non- American to have his boot prints in the Walkway of |
Stars at Nashville and has co- starred with such notables as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Dyan Cannon. In 1984 he was elevated to the Australian Country Music Roll of Renown and has been awarded the order of Aus- tralia for services to music. Reg began his illustrious 43- year country and music ca- reer when he was 20. He was sidelined with a rodeo injury when he heard on the radio about the 2SM Tim McNamara talent con- test in Sydney. "Reg decide to give it a go and rode across to Sydney on his motorbike to perform," Ros said. "He won the first round and the the final with a yodel and that was the start of it all." Reg's popularity grew when his TV show , Reg Lindsay's Country and Western Hour, was shown Australia-wide. Twelve of national television followed, with Reg Lindsay's Country Home- stead superseding the origi- nal version and serving as a launching pad for many fu- ture stars. The show outrated many other programs and, together with the launch of Lindsay's greatest hit Armstrong, elevated him to a household name. Stints at the Grand Ole Oprey further enhanced his popularity. |
Rodeo once again played a major role in Lindsay's life in 1986 when he met Ros. "I was performing in the National Finals rodeo at Cootamundra and Reg was singing," she said. Ros is spending her few spare moments away from the hospital putting the final touches on Reg Lindsay and Friends' Country and West- ern Spectacular to be held at Cessnock Showground on March 18. "Last October we got the idea to hold a rodeo and Reg Lindsay reunion and then de- cided to combine them both. "We started work on it straight away and invited a lot of people from the Coun- try Homestead days. "The posters were printed before Reg got sick so I de- cided to go ahaead with it. "That's what he would have wanted and the response has been great. "People like Chad Morgan, Clint Beatty, Kevin King and Barry Forester are all turning up to perform. "Reg won't be there but hopefully he'll be well enough to know that it's going ahead. "We've got a tough time ahead of us, I know that. "I pray a lot and that helps but the surgery is a big hurdle. and I'll be glad when it's over. "Reg is a fighter so we'll get through this and as soon as is physically possible he'll be performing again. |
| Roland Storm |
