Willi_Mueller

Willi Mueller was born in West Germany and began playing the accordion when he was 3 or 4 years old. His playing only lasted for a short time. The Russians invaded Eisenach in East Germany, where the family was living. Every house in his town was raided and Willi's accordion was taken away.

By the time Willi was 16 his father had decided to leave Germany and emigrate to Australia. The family arrived in Australia in 1953 and were shipped by train to Bonegilla and from there were sent on to the Maribyrnong hostel

While there he met an accordion player from Lithuania and his family encouraged him to go and listen while he practised. The musician played for the Melbourne radio station 3XY. When he was lucky enough to obtain a better job he offered Willi his old accordion.

So it was that Willi began his career in the old laundry at the Maribynong hostel practising hard every day playing the same tune over and over. After some time it got to be so bad that many people came to bang on the door and shout 'Can't you play anything else!'

Willi did go on to learn new songs and to become a very competent musician. At 19 years of age he enlisted for national service but was still able to keep up his music practice.

On returning home he joined the family band which included his father, Wilhelm, who played violin and accordion, his younger brother, Ernie, who played guitar and his two elder brothers, Fred on drums and Ludwig also on guitar. Their first job was in 1964 at Hunters Lodge in Croydon where they played for several years. When they were offered another venue at the newly established Eltham Barrel, Willi decided to try something different and started up a band of his own 'The Bavarian Echoes'.

Willi shifted to Adelaide to launch his new career. The band members were all of German descent and were taken for 'new arrivals'. Much to their delight they played up to their reputation and had the management tricked. It was all in good fun. They gave themselves away eventually speaking English far too well. The band played at this venue in Adelaide for two and a half years later moving to Sydney to play and then on to Melbourne.

Back in Melbourne he accepted a spot at Hunters Lodge but found it difficult to keep musicians. It was here he met up with drummer Dieter Bayzek and guitarist Bill Tomosini and they were approached by a record company to cut a record at no cost. This was a very proud moment in Willi's career. It was the only record that the band ever made. Willi went on to play with his brother Ernie and also introduced his son Peter to the group

Throughout most of this time Willi and his family and friends would visit Eagle Point, staying in the caravan park over the summer holidays. He was unaware of Raymond Island until his brother sparked his interest when he bought a block of land on the Island. Willie and family followed suit buying their own land in 1983 and building a holiday home which the family used for many years.

On the Island he played in the Community Hall at weekends and at Easter or whenever the family was visiting. By now Willi was playing on his own. With the addition of a keyboard he had become a one man band. The banner he had printed read WHIZ WILLI, 'wizard' being too long a word to fit in the space available!

He claims he is still playing 'just to keep his brain working' but most of his friends and family know just how much he has always enjoyed his music. Willi and Inge moved permanently to the Island in 1996. Willi still keeps his hand in playing in venues at Geelong and Lilydale three to four times a year. He also performs at the Bairnsdale RSL and the Probus Club.

'article compiled from an interview with Willie Mueller conducted by the Raymond Island History subcommittee, 2011