Main photo Ant Ritz
Mt Duneed Estate Waurn Ponds
As we posted last weeks news Rod had just played a superb re- schedualed show at Mt Duneed Estate Waurn Ponds He apologised for having to postpone the concert earlier this month after being diagnosed with strep throat. Thrive Recreation Access and Support got some great shots of Rod on the green.
Jacquie Galea shared some wonderful pictures with us and commented
‘Amazing to have this event rescheduled and was as amazing as expected.
“I even got a picture while he was looking straight at me – so it seems.
The whole crowd did not stop dancing & singing. Great atmosphere with a beautiful backdrop“.
We also told you last week that a young lady had dueted with Rod on ‘Stay With Me’ the young lady in question was singer songwriter Aimee Francis
Talking about the amazing duet Aimee told SMILER this week “I’ve been a massive fan of Rods for most of my life. I started playing guitar when I was 10 and the Stones ‘Satisfaction’ was one of the first riffs I learnt. I then read up on Ronnie Wood which then put me onto the Faces and Rod Stewart.
I would watch the Royal Albert Hall DVD on repeat in awe and would make my grandparents take me “Rod Stewart jacket shopping” to get a canary yellow one like his 😂
I decided I’d try my luck and wrote up a sign before the show.
The stage was further away than expected and I wasn’t even sure he would see my sign so for the first couple of songs I didn’t put it up.
Then he hilariously stuffed up his lyrics during a song because he was reading the “Dumplings” sign on one of the food trucks which was ages away.. so I did it!
Once he read my sign he asked if I was sure and I said yes please! 😂
His sound man then came down and introduced himself and said to meet him at a certain point after a song and he would take me back.
The rest is history. And I still have no words ♥️
Absolute dream come true.
As I was driving home I realised he had changed the setlist to include stay with me for me which just shows you how much of an absolute gem he is.
When the sound guy was showing me the setlist for when to meet him he said we have now swapped Hot Legs for Stay with Me.
Pretty special stuff “
Roche Estate, Pokolbin, New South Wales
Saturday saw the tour land in New South Wales and Sarah Jobson was at the Roche Estate to get these great photos on the night
Frank Brus also shared some fabulous phots from the show
Centennial Vineyards Bowral
On Sunday Rod ,Cyndi Lauper and special guests Jon Stevens and DACY played the last date of the Australian tour at A DAY ON THE GREEN at Centennial Vineyards Bowral.
Ant Ritz took some superb photos including our main photo
To see more shots from the show by Ant Ritz go to
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091058007019 and don’t forget to leave a like.
The morning after the show on Monday Rod enjoyed a ferry ride to Manly, a beach-side suburb in northern Sydney .
Rod also called in Balgowlah Bunnings Warehouse and had a photo taken with some of the girls.. Photos thanks to our friends at Manly Observer
He also met Nut Nutley who got this fab photo ..
and told SMILER this week “I had seen Rod in concert the night before, then he Penny and their son caught the ferry to Manly Beach the next day He asked “Did you enjoy the concert ?” Lovely and cheeky man.”
The SMILER logo statue update
Our statue project by artist Tim Jeffs really came on this week, the sculpting phase is now complete and looking fantastic, Tim says he can now cure and start the mould making, the mic stand will be added separately, and most importantly Yve has passed the hair!
Forsyth Barr Stadium Dunedin, New Zealand
On Wednesday the tour reached New Zealand and Rod was spotted at Auckland’s Takapuna Beach after arriving in the country, Rod enjoyed a coffee at Takapuna Beach Cafe and had a kick about in the sand.
Takapuna Beach Cafe staff member, Tahlia Leighton, got a great shot with Rod.
Marilyn Kennedy was at the show and got some superb front row photos
To read Hamish McNeilly’s Stuff Entertainment review go to
This Weeks Rod Art
Staying in Australia this week we feature a brilliant Rod caricature by artist Garry Husdell from Adelaide, South Australia
Talking to SMILER this week about the inspiration for the caricature Garry said “What I look for in a subject to draw is something unique in the character of that person I can highlight, With Rod Stewart it was his hair, extrovert clothing style and his popularity..All things that identify Rod to ensure a likeness. Especially the hair. Also he ‘s touring Australia now and at the sunset of his career but still hugely popular here and over the world”.
To see more work from Garry go to https://www.instagram.com/caricatures_gazza/
Well worth a look, you will see some gems here!
Last Weeks Rod Art Update
Last week we featured Emily Ingham and her amazing sleevless jacket, In our big cliffhanger we left Emily and her mum at the Brisbane concert hoping to gift the jacket to Rod.
Well the good news is Emily did get the jacket to Rod, but the bad news is judging from this photo of Penny backstage, Rod will be lucky to get it back!
I must admit he wouldn’t get it back off me if I were Penny.
Big additions to the Jeff Beck tribute gig
Two big names have been added to the Jeff Beck tribute concerts on May 25 and 26, Joining the array of music legends including Rod who will gather at the Royal Albert Hall in London to honor Jeff is Joe Perry and Ronnie Wood. Both shows are sold out, with proceeds from ticket sales set to be donated to the Folly Wildlife Rescue based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Action Man Rod
Neil Westergren a Wigan based custom action figures maker has made this super action figure of a young Rod
Neil said I made the figure for a massive Rod Fan, who contacted me about making her an action figure of the young Rod from back when he was in the Faces 🎸 I went down the caricature cartoony route on this one for a bit of fun.
Back when we were in lockdown Neil made the news when he made a Captain Tom figure and auctioned it off to raise funds for the NHS
To see more of Neil’s figures go to https://www.instagram.com/muddys_customs/
Everything Stops For Tea
Rod and Penny donated their favourite teapot to SmileTrainUK’s celebri-TEA auction https://www.instagram.com/SmileTrainUK/
To help fund lifesaving treatment for cleft-affected children in need around the world.
The auction launched this week to mark the start of Smile Train’s annual fundraiser, the #BigSmileTeaParty – which encourages people to donate the cost of a cuppa and host a tea party with friends and family, raising vital funds that will change a child’s life forever.
And Finally ..
Rock Celler Magazine gave SMILER a plug this week
Go to Rockcellarmagazine.com and check out the PHOTOS WITH ROCK STARS section
And anyone going to Mission Estate Winery, Napier, New Zealand tomorrow or Spark Arena Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday have a blast and please send in any photos, reviews or thoughts for next weeks news and gossip
See you next week