Like blood in her veins, music has always been a part of Joan Manning, it has been a passion that has played a massive part in her life. 

Many locals would know Mrs Manning as she has shared her love for the beat with people in Scone and the Upper Hunter for the past 63 years. 

It’s the piano that Mrs Manning loves and she has done so since she was about three-years-old. 

Since starting to play for her first ball at Wingen when she was just a nine-year-old girl Mrs Manning has played for numerous balls across the region throughout the years, including the St Luke’s Debutante Ball, which she played at recently. 

This year was Mrs Manning’s final ball in Scone as she believes it is time for someone else to take over the role. 

Throughout the past 51 years, Mrs Manning has witnessed more than 2000 debs make their debut in Scone, Murrurundi and Muswellbrook as she has supplied the music for dance training six to eight weeks prior to the deb, and for the formal presentation. 

Whether she is tapping her toes to the quick step or barn dance, or playing one of many favourites, ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, Mrs Manning can spend hours at once on her piano simply               playing music. 

Ever since she was a young child, Mrs Manning remembers using her piano practice to get her out of the washing up at night, and later in life her late husband Kevin used to joke that she could get out of the house work by playing music. 

A true local from the beginning, Mrs Manning was born at the Murrurundi Hospital as her family lived on a dairy farm at Scotts Creek, not far away.

The young girl was educated at Blandford Public School until the Sisters of Mercy opened the St Joseph’s Convent in Murrurundi when she transferred there at the age of eight. 

It was the sisters that taught little Joan how to play the piano and she continued up through the grades to grade seven achieving honours in every exam except one while she finished her schooling at Murrurundi Central School.

After leaving school, Mrs Manning returned to the convent regularly to teach piano and music to other youngsters on a voluntary basis, and many years later she also volunteered her skills at the St James Convent in Muswellbrook for a number of years. 

She also plays the accordion and mouth organ, but her true love is the piano.

Throughout the next few years she worked for people in the district   performing home duties and teaching children how to play the piano, this later turned into teaching students for about 18 years from her own home. 

Mrs Manning’s parents, the Chalkley’s from Wingen, were musical and her grandfather played for the dances at Wingen regularly which led to Mrs Manning being invited to play with the Ray Boys at the Back to Wingen Ball last year. 

In 1964, Mrs Manning married Kevin and he always supported her love for music, at one stage he used to call himself her ‘roadie’ travelling to balls and functions to help set up her speakers and other equipment.

After moving to Scone, Mrs Manning was quick to become involved in the local community by offering musical therapy to the elderly at Scott Memorial Hospital with Dr Barton, Ada Dellar and other women on a fortnightly basis for a number of years. 

For three years Mrs Manning spent time playing for students at Scone Public School for their Physical Culture practice, and she also provided music for dance classes at St Mary’s Primary School for six years.

When ballet was a prominent activity in Scone, Mrs Manning played the piano for classes at Scone Cultural Club with Mrs Robb for about 10 years. 

At the age of 23, Mrs Manning volunteered to entertain the Scone Senior Citizens and continued to play for them for many years.

She was honoured to accompany the then president Cliff Presland, secretary Betty Hayne and Scone Shire president John Greg to purchase the new piano for the new centre in Oxford Road.

As well as playing at dances and balls, Mrs Manning would play the organ at Sunday masses in Scone and Murrurundi.

Mrs Manning said this was a very busy time as dances and balls were very full on, so she would do a ball on Friday night, a dance somewhere in the Hunter Valley on Saturday night and then for four years she would play at a Sunday afternoon Old Time Dance in Aberdeen or Muswellbrook. 

Music has seen Mrs Manning travel the road of NSW, playing at balls, dances, weddings and other events in halls and clubs in Aberdeen, Bunnan, Borambil, Blandford, Casino, Cassilis, Dubbo, Denman, Forster, Gundy, Gunnedah, Gulgong, Glen Innes, Kempsey, Murrurundi, Merriwa, Mudgee, Maitland, McCully’s Gap, Moonan, Nundle, Narromine, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Quirindi, Rouchel, Singleton, Scone, Toronto, Timor, Tamworth, Uarbry, Wingen, Wallsend, Willow Tree, Windsor and more. 

She has played in pubs, woolsheds, barns, gardens, on the river bed, at race clubs, it didn’t matter where she was she would just sit down, no music necessary, and play.

Mrs Manning said she has met some lovely people and some great musicians throughout her travels, and she has been privileged to play with some great people having a three or four piece band for numerous years.

These days Mrs Manning usually plays on her own, or sometimes with her daughter Cath, who plays the drums.

Her musical talents have seen Mrs Manning volunteer for many local community groups playing at dinners and functions for the Lions Club, Rotary,  Apex, Probus, View Club and many others. 

She is also proud to have played at  numerous fundraising events for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, collecting more than $2000 for the worthy cause. 

Mrs Manning said she has also played at several funerals, which she said is an honour to do for the people and their families.

“It’s a very sad time, but it is an honour to be able to play for them,” she said. 

She has also played the piano at the Gundy Anzac Day service for 46 years, a role she wishes to continue into the future. 

Mrs Manning said she has never found playing the piano hard work, as it’s a gift she loves. 

“It’s a gift but I use it, it’s never been a job, I just love doing it. 

“I love meeting and being with people and I have met some great people volunteering my talents out there. 

“I would like to keep it up while I’m still living in Scone,” she said. 

Mrs Manning cherishes her time spent at Scone Grammar School accompanying the ‘Kindy Krooners’ Choir and preparing them for their annual Christmas gig at Strathearn.

Mrs Manning said she has been blessed with a great gift which has turned into a wonderful life, bringing pleasure to many people and most of all – herself and her family. 

“I can go out to my piano and sit and play for two or three hours of the day and not realise the time has gotten away on me,” she said. 

“It’s good for the mind.”