The jazz singer travelled to the Border to kick off the Senior Celebrations month as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival.

It was the first time Corryong woman Mardi Yates had seen Knight since her daughter, Lisa Yates, started working as her tour manager.

“My daughter and her were friends and did gigs together,” she said.

“It was a long time ago – Grace was touring and Lisa was the tour manager.

“They were very friendly, Lisa used to call her ‘my Grace’.

“She’s always been a great performer and it was lovely to see her.”

Knight’s face was also familiar for Wodonga woman Bri Pfeiffer – but for a different reason.

“I loved what she sang on the show Come In Spinner and every now and then I heard her,” she said.

“I get carried away by her performance.”

Before the show, Knight spoke of the importance of music and the power it can have in retaining memories.

Ms Pfeiffer said music brought back memories of her father.

“What moved me was what she said about her family,” she said.

“My dad died exactly 60 years ago when I was 15 and we sang all the time.”

Knight’s performance was one of more than 150 events in the Senior Celebrations program, including live reenactments of the TV comedy Fawlty Towers, comedy and dances.

Wodonga council planning and infrastructure director Leon Schultz launched the festival and said Knight’s visit was one of the highlights.

“What will be occurring over the next month is a number of shows, nature walks, a race day and a pretty full program,” he said.

“The concert with Grace Knight might well be a highlight for many.”

Mr Schultz said the festival was an important way to recognise the elderly in the community.

“I think we’re fortunate in that council looks after its residents and events like this are evidence of this,” he said.

“We certainly recognise the contribution they have made to the city and this is a small way of thanking them for that.”

The full program can be found at www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/community-services/seniors/images/SC-program-2016-web.pdf.