My Countrytown: Chris Williams – Melton

Regional towns are in our blood here at CountryTown! From Capricornia to Coles Bay, Palmerston to Ballarat, we love the pubs, the people and the places that make Australia tick. But most of all, we love the amazing country musicians our regional centres produce, like Chris Williams.

The singer-songwriter has been stirring up waves on the Australian country music scene since 2016 when he hit the Australian charts with his debut single, Shining On You. Since then, Chris has released numerous successful charting singles such as Speed Of Light, Live In The Moment, City Lights and Paradise. His latest self-penned single, Born To Fly is an uplifting country pop/rock song about strength and overcoming adversity in these challenging times.

To get to know Chris Williams a little better, we’ve asked what he loves about his hometown, Melton.

1. The best of both worlds

When I was a youngster, Melton was a much smaller place but over time it has experienced a huge amount of growth. It is located right on the border of what’s considered Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria. You could say it holds that small town country vibe but has all the amenities. It really has the best of both worlds.

2. The location

I love the location because it’s located right on the edge of Melbourne. It’s right next door to Bacchus Marsh, which is known for its fruit orchards and strawberry picking, but is still only a 40 minute drive to Melbourne. You really get that country/city access. You can also drive to Geelong and the surf coast in an hour or so which makes Melton right in the middle of things.

3. The family community

I like the fact that the community here has a lot of young families so there is definitely a close family vibe here. There are also a lot of activities and sports for the kids to do which keeps the community busy. Just a trip down to the local Coles and you will always see people you know and the local businesses are friendly and community oriented.

4. The Djerriwarrh Festival

Melton is home to the Djerriwarrh Festival, which takes place in November. It’s a great time of year here with the weather becoming warmer. There is a parade that happens in the morning, a carnival, live entertainment and fireworks in the evening. It really showcases the place and how the local businesses and community band together and get involved. It’s a great time of year.

5. What this place means to me

All my memories are here – from growing up as a kid, riding bikes, buying mixed lollies at the local milk bar and exploring the paddocks and fields. I've learned about life, attended the schools and made a lot of friends here. These experiences are the grounding for my life and will stay with me forever. Melton will always be a special place to me.

Follow Chris on his Facebook page here.

For more of our My CountryTown series, check out here.

Image: Supplied