Beverley McShanag
Born: April 11, 1936
Died: May 17, 2022
In 1941, Beverley McShanag's family relocated to Maldon, where she began her education. At that time, she was known for being the only child in Maldon with a bicycle, which she rode to school daily while singing and yodelling along the way.
By 1946, her neighbours brought to her mother’s attention Beverley’s singing talent, as she had never performed at home. In response, her mother purchased a lap steel guitar and arranged for lessons with a local instructor. After only a few lessons, Beverley surpassed her teacher's skills, marking the beginning of her musical journey.
In 1947, at the age of 11, she made her mark by winning Dick Fair’s Australia’s Amateur Hour on 3DB with her rendition of "My Pinto Pony and I," achieving the highest number of votes ever recorded on the show. This victory led to various opportunities, including a month-long residency at the Theatre Royal in Hobart with Graeme Bell’s Jazz Band and Willie Fennell, where she was celebrated as Australia’s youngest female yodelling star. Her talent was further recognized through numerous victories in talent competitions across Victoria, resulting in a collection of trophies.
In 1950, Beverley moved to Melbourne to stay with an aunt, who introduced her to various performances. She appeared on Channel 7 as a support act for the Dave Clark Five and became a regular on Dick Cranbourne’s Hillbilly Show, which aired every Sunday morning. Annually, she performed at the Victorian Banjo Club's Hillbilly Ball at the Melbourne Town Hall.
At 18, in 1954, she relocated to Sydney, where she participated in shows such as the McKean Sisters’ Harmony Trail and the Reg Lindsay Show, while also touring with a travelling rodeo show in Victoria. The following year, she reached the finals of Swallows Parade, a talent quest on 3KZ that included both amateur and professional performers, where she was a runner-up. During this time, she performed at various functions, particularly in the Bendigo area, and recorded several 78 rpm records, including "Fool Such As I," while still a teenager.
From 1958 to the 1960s, Beverley married Alf Roberts, a friend of Buddy Williams. They toured Australia with Williams' show in a small caravan. During a crossing of the Nullarbor, Beverley discovered she was pregnant, prompting the couple to return to Maldon, where they established a poultry farm. They welcomed their daughter Lynette, followed by a son, Kelvin, and another daughter, Barbara. Tragically, Alf developed throat cancer and passed away when the children were young. To support her family, Beverley moved to Bendigo and worked with the police department.
In the 1970s, she met Graeme McShanag, who was employed by Power & Water. After he secured a job in Darwin, they relocated and began a new chapter together. They were married in 1973 in Darwin, where they had another son, Mark.
Beverley resumed her singing career in 1983 with an appearance on a local program, 1330, hosted by Mike Foley on Darwin’s NTD8. Their friendship endured, with Foley continuing to play bass in her active trio. She appeared on various shows and guest spots with artists such as Buddy Williams and Barry Thornton. Beverley also traveled to the Tamworth Country Music Festival and performed at venues like Southgate Shopping Centre and Oxley Bowling Club alongside Desree-Ilona Crawford and Olive. She was a popular guest at the Buttercup Open House concerts.
In March 1985, she signed a recording contract with R&H Studios in Geelong, Victoria, to record for the Morning Mist label, featuring harmony yodelling with Olive Bice in "Yodelling in Harmony." Simultaneously, she recorded her first solo album, "Yodelling Country Girl." The Harmony Yodelling release ranked among the year’s top 10 bestsellers. Beverley also contributed a track titled "Daddy Was a Yodelling Cowboy" to the compilation CD "Yodellers From Down Under," and "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You" appeared on "Hot Top Country" in the NT. Additionally, she recorded "I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could," featuring her daughters Lyn and Barbara, as well as her grandson Billy.
In 1991, Beverley was inducted into Rocky Page’s Hall of Fame and Avenue of Honour in Barmera, South Australia. Two years later, in 1993, she received induction into the Hands of Fame in Tamworth.
In 2002, she was recognized as The NT’s Senior On The Go. Between 2017 and 2019, Mike Foley chronicled her life story in "Presenting Beverley McShanag." Even in 2021, she continued to perform locally in Darwin at special events, accompanied by her long-time bass player, Mike Foley.
