Aging Brisbane rockers tie in ABC's Exhumed competition Kathy Ridgway from Diddly Squat. Photo: Heath Carney Rock 'n' roll was never just for the young, and four 50-something Brisbane women have proved it. Music group Diddly Squat was named joint winner of 612 ABC's band competition Exhumed on Saturday night. "We're in shock, basically," said 54-year-old guitarist and singer Kathy Ridgway. Patrick Gibbs from The Roseberys. "It was just a bit of a laugh, a fun thing to do," added 55-year-old drummer Merrilyn Bowers. The quartet had known each other for more than 20 years when they decided to get together to do a charity concert for a friend in 2009. Bowers had never played drums, 50-year-old Chris Hall had never picked up a bass, and 48-year-old Ann Leung had to re-learn the guitar basics she was taught as a child. "When we started we knew diddly squat," said Leung, explaining the band's name. "We only do about six gigs a year, because we're old, and we can only pack up and unpack so many times," joked Ridgway. Nevertheless, they entered the competition for "never were" bands, and made it through to Saturday's competition final at the Kedron-Wavell Services Club. Their eclectic set list included Hippy Hippy Shake, Ghost Riders in the Sky, and a touching rendition of Cold Chisel's When the War is Over. Ridgway won over the crowd when she yelled "Hello, Brisbane!," declaring that the band had always wanted to greet an audience like that. They shared the spotlight and the winner's trophy with The Roseberys, made up of four childhood friends who played together in their early 20s, before families and careers saw their lives diverge. Guitarist Patrick Gibbs, who described his age as "getting on," said he was happy they'd joined forces again almost three years ago - at the behest of their wives, no less. "They were part of a group that did various forms of art, and they were having an exhibition, and we played at it," he said. Gibbs' daughters admitted their Dad had rock cred. "Because of him, music is my life, The Beatles are my life," 23 year old Holly said. "He's taught me guitar for about ten years now," added Anna, 19. National Exhumed co-ordinator James Valentine said he couldn't separate the two groups. "In some ways the Diddly Squats most fulfilled what Exhumed is about, they're the most genuine amateur band of the night," he said. But The Roseberys played so well, and I think the crowd really loved them, so I wanted them to win as well. Valentine said ultimately six bands from around Australia would be chosen to feature in an Exhumed TV show, culminating in a grand final later in the year. "I've seen a lot of the finalists from around the country, and both of these bands have a really strong chance," he said.