sleep
Dance goes on for mentor teacher Heads up: Ballet teacher Sandra McKay received an OAM for services to performing arts in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Picture: Gary Sissons
Dream team: Frankston Hospital associate professor David Langton and chief scientist Kim Gooey at the hospital’s sleep laboratory. Picture: Gary Sissons
and while there’s usually enough money to support the status quo if you want to build or develop things you’ve got to find pots of new money to go to the next step and that’s difficult. “That’s been a potential barrier but because of good administration in the hospital we’ve been able to achieve those th ings.” Neil Walker
PASSING on ballet skills to the next generations of dancers has earned Sandra McKay an Order of Australia for services to the performing arts, especially ballet, in this month’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The 74-year-old Frankston South resident, who teaches at several dance schools in Frankston and across the Mornington Peninsula, said she “had no idea” she had been nominated for an OAM and said it is an honour to be recognised for her work. Ms McKay teaches youngsters ballet and also
mentors ten teachers who give ballet lessons. “I consider myself very lucky that I’m still wanted by people,” she said. Ms McKay’s ballet journey began when she was just six years old when she was encouraged to learn ballet “by my mother who always wanted to dance but never got the chance”. She enrolled in a dance school in Brighton and was also trained by renowned ballet dancer and teacher Madame Lucie Saronova. A foot injury led Ms McKay to establish the Rosebud Ballet School, now known as the
Peninsula School of Dance, in 1961 when she was just 18. “It was a small school but we produced some amazing dancers including some who went into companies as artistic directors and in musical theatre,” she said. One of her star pupils at the school was dancer, actor and choreographer Jason Coleman. “I’ve been so lucky. I still teach there two days a week and teach at three other schools on the peninsula,” Ms McKay said. Neil Walker
We’ve come a long way...
At Nepean Hearing, we offer the latest in discreet digital hearing aid technology. • University 7rained $udiRlogists • We work with Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists • Members of Independent Audiologists Australia Call today for a no obligation hearing aid trial that is absolutely FREE. What have you got to lose?
Ph: 9783 7520 www.nepeanhearing.com.au
13 Hastings Rd, FRANKSTON Hastings Community Health,185 High St, HASTINGS
NEPEAN H ARING “Hear to help” Frankston Times 26 June 2017
PAGE 5