Jan Dandridge is a born and bred Drouin girl. Her Mum still lives in Drouin. She started singing at a young age, at the Presbyterian Church in Drouin and the BP Revue in Warragul.
After a very long break from singing (when she was square dance calling) she has come back to singing, mainly Country, since 2004. She regularly performs at various venues and festivals as a solo artist, a duo, trio and with her band Little Miss Country and Band.
In this song Jan wanted to tell the story of the wonderful town where she grew up remembering the many people and groups who had a big impact on her life. Jan moved to Melbourne for work but loves to come back home to “her pretty Drouin town”.
The song “Country Girl From Gippsland” won a place on the “Australian Songwriters In Tamworth Album 2o1o” and her song “Follow Your Dreams” won a place on the City of Casey’s, “Casey Untitled 2” CD.
Jan was thrilled to be asked for her song to be used as the theme song for ‘The Stories of Drouin’.
Country Girl from Gippsland
Performed and Written by Jan Dandridge August 2004
Used with permission
Verse 1:
Well the farmers milked their dairy cows
And sent their milk each day
To the Drouin Butter Factory
When the tankers went their way
Drouin butter’s better butter
That’s what we used to sing
Then the factory closed, people lost their jobs
Some families were suffering
Verse2:
Well the guide and scouting movements
Provided lots of fun for kids
There was camping, cooking, knots and hikes
There was so much that we did.
If on the stage you wanted to be
These movements were for you
When we performed each year for crowds
In our BP revue
Chorus
I’m a country girl from Gippsland
I grew up in Drouin town
With farmers and great neighbours
Where friends don’t let you down
Where the kids rode bikes and horses
Felt the grass beneath their feet
Built cubby huts in tree tops
And kicked footies in the streets
Verse 3:
At the Pressie church lots of the kids
They spent their time like me
With Sunday School and Campus life
And then there was YFC
We’d all hang out together
It kept us off the street
With our Holdens and our Valiants
Our friendships were quite neat
Verse 4:
Our meat came from Ted the butcher
From Ian we bought veg and fruit
Then Geoff he was our chemist
And our vet Chris was beaut
We saw Max when we bought our clothes
And Tommy he fixed our shoes
The Hardware store had everything
And Dr Chris had all the cures
Chorus
I’m a country girl from Gippsland
I grew up in Drouin town
With farmers and great neighbours
Where friends don’t let you down
Where kids rode bikes and horses
Felt the grass beneath their feet
Built cubby huts in tree tops
And kicked footies in the streets
Verse 5:
Even a town like Drouin
It has its claim to fame
First there is our famous boxer
Lionel Rose is his name
Our footy boys made their name next
When joining the AFL
There’s Ayresy and the Abletts
Who played their footy well
Verse 6:
I was a country girl from Gippsland
But to the city went
Was transferred with work
Not once but twice
Cause that’s where I was sent
I’m now settled with my children
Hampton Park’s where I can be found
But that’s not bad cause that’s not far
From my pretty Drouin town.
Chorus
I’m a country girl from Gippsland
I grew up in Drouin town
With farmers and great neighbours
Where friends don’t let you down
Where kids rode bikes and horses
Felt the grass beneath their feet
Built cubby huts in tree tops
And kicked footies in the streets