The last time Ron and Neville Smythe saw each other was at their mother’s funeral in New Zealand in the 1990s. 

The brothers had barely talked since then, with Ron citing clashing personalities as well as the geographical challenges of Neville residing in Waitakaruru in New Zealand. 

 “We had totally different personalities. There wasn’t anything more to it, we just clashed,” Ron explained.

“It’s just the way life went. He lived his life and I lived mine.” 

According to the pair, health issues, as well as the increased maturity that comes with age, had led to the brothers reaching out to each other earlier this year.

“You don’t realise how much family means until you’re staring down the barrel of a time slot,” said Ron, who has battled bone cancer since 2001, while Neville was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2014.

Despite the two decade long separation, the brothers found that their lives had followed eerily similar patterns.

Both Ron and Neville have shared a lifelong love of country music and attend monthly country music club meetings in their respective hometowns.

Both are restoring trucks in their backyards, and the pair have even released their own country music albums.

Ron's desire to give Neville “something he could take home with him” saw the pair take to the stage on Thursday at the Slim Dusty Music Memories Festival, supported by a backing band led by Ron’s son-in-law.

Ahead of the performance, both brothers said they looked forward to appearing on stage together.

Given their vast performance experience, neither brother was nervous about jumping on stage together just two days after reuniting.

“It’ll be interesting to see how it goes,” Neville said. 

According to Ron, it’s an opportunity the brothers never thought they’d have, with their health issues a further reminder of this. 

“Even though you’re crook, there’s a bright side – you see the world for what a beautiful place it is,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity we probably didn’t think we’d ever get."