FOREVER YOUNG
BENDIGO’S CHOIR LIKE NO OTHER
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Tuesday 19th September 7.00pm · Ulumbarra Theatre
TH E STORY The choir has captured the hearts and minds of the people of Bendigo. It continues to perform unforgettable annual concerts, with members thriving on the opportunity to give something back to the community that has supported them.
If in a lifetime, if we are lucky enough to experience something in our heart materialising before our eyes, then we have lived a fortunate life indeed. Every Thursday morning when I face the Forever Young choir members for rehearsal, I am reminded what a joy it is to be a part of something that fulfils not only a personal dream, but something that is making a difference to so many lives and to the very fabric of Bendigo. I have always been charmed and intrigued by the concept of community choirs. Singing is one thing, but singing in a group is something else altogether. Better still, when that group is largely
unknown to one another yet shares a common bond, magic happens. Community choirs are popular in many parts of the world and growing in number in Australia. As our lives become disparate, more groups are coming together for the collective and therapeutic purpose of singing. I personally think that for many people, it is simply a relief to be a part of something positive. The Forever Young choir is in its seventh year. Many members have become the greatest of friends in that time and at full strength, we have about 80 members, ranging in age from 65 to 96.
DEREK GUILLE Derek Guille carved out a 28 year career as a broadcaster, including 25 years at the ABC. With his distinctively personable style and good humour, Derek presented the 774 and Local Radio Evening Program for nine years. While his programs had a focus on music and culture, Derek also created a sense of community via talkback. His audience became a regular part of the program, expressing positions and opinions through conversation in a trusted
and respectful environment and his outside broadcasts during the Black Saturday bushfires set a benchmark in emergency broadcasting. Since leaving the ABC Derek works as a Master of Ceremonies, Guest Speaker and Narrator.
An important part of the Forever Young story is Girton Grammar School. The School has a long-standing history of dedication to community service, which I have shamelessly used to the choir’s advantage. With use of the Junior School hall for rehearsals, a weekly morning tea organised by a volunteer ‘roadie’, Mrs Marg Keech, a String Orchestra made up of exceptionally talented Senior School string students, a School Rock Band and a Girton publicity team - voila, you have a Community choir like no other! I sincerely thank each and every person who is involved with this unstoppable group of Bendigo seniors and especially the Girton Grammar music students, for understanding the potential of people as they age and the unique contribution that they can make to society. I hope you have a wonderful evening with the choir, Mark Seymour and the talented Girton Grammar music students. Laura Dusseljee Director Forever Young Rock Choir
MARK SEYMOUR As the frontman for one of Australia’s most seminal bands, the mighty Hunters & Collectors, Mark Seymour is one of Australia’s most gifted and respected musicians. Across his 30+ year career he has delivered rock classics that immediately etched their way into our national consciousness, including ‘Holy Grail’, ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’, ‘When The River Runs Dry’, ‘Do You See What I See’, ‘Say Goodbye’, and many many more.
completely sold out and earned them a Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert.
Mark’s shows feature his powerful, anthemic rock songs that cut straight to the heart.
Mark’s 2015 album ‘Mayday’ was the Melbourne singer’s most personal album to date – a record that focuses on the concept of HOME, be it the rehearsal room to the detention centre to the pub. These are Australian stories, says Mark, and a deeply emotional listen.
“Playing in Bendigo will be fantastic. As a songwriter I am always wanting to immerse in stories and the Forever Young community rock choir has so many individual and collective stories to tell.
“I was born and bred in Regional Victoria so coming to Bendigo to perform will be a bit like coming home. Renowned for his powerful live performances across the decades,
As an ARIA Award-winning solo artist, Mark earned even further praise from fans and critics across eight albums, including King Without A Clue (1997), One Eyed Man (2001), Westgate (2007) and more. With a powerful new rock band behind him, he delivered Undertow (2011), followed up by a winning collection of covers by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Otis Redding and others on Seventh Heaven Club (2013). Thanks to their mammoth live reputation, H&C’s April 2014 tour
R ON MURRAY Ron Murray is a Wamba Wamba man (Swan Hill area) living at Yapeen, near Castlemaine, in central Victoria on Jaara country. Yapeen in the local Jaara language means ‘corroborree ground’. Ron is a cultural educator, storyteller, musician, didgeridoo maker and wood sculptor. He has made beautiful art pieces for Muhammad Ali, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), Sir Bob Geldof, American composer Philip Glass, Cathy Freeman and the Harlem Dance Company, to name a few.
Ron has an international reputation as a didgeridoo soloist, having performed widely in Australia, and also in New York, Jordon, Canada and New Zealand. He also performs as part of the Celtic-Indigenous fusion duo, Kinja with fiddler/ vocalist Sarah James. “He is one of Victoria’s most respected players”. (The Age, Larry Schwartz, October 2nd 2008, “Didgeridoo Dreaming”).
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of this special group and to sharing music with them.” Mark Seymour
TH E SONGS DUMB THINGS
WESTGATE
HIGHWAY TO HELL
THE LIGHT ON THE HILL
Words and Music by Paul Kelly Words and Music by Angus Young, Michael Young and Brian Johnson
PAINT IT BLACK
Words and Music by Mark Seymour Words and Music by Mark Seymour
BEI MIR BIST DU SHEIN
Words and Music by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Words by Jacob Jacobs, Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin and Music by Sholom Secunda
1000 KISSES DEEP
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
INTO MY ARMS
ALL BY MYSELF
HOWZAT
THIS OLD LOVE
GREAT SOUTHERN LAND
NEED YOU TONIGHT
MASTER OF SPIN
CHAINED TO THE WHEEL
BACK IN THE HOLE
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL
Words and Music by Leonard Cohen Words and Music by Nick Cave Words and Music by Garth Porter and Tony Mitchell Words and Music by Iva Davies
Words and Music by Mark Seymour Words by Mark Seymour, Music by Mark Seymour, John Archer, Geoff Crosby, Doug Falconer, John Howard, Robert Miles and Michael Waters
THROW YOUR ARMS
Words by Mark Seymour, Music by Mark Seymour, John Archer, Geoff Crosby, Doug Falconer, John Howard, Robert Miles and Michael Waters
INTERVAL
Words and Music by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Words and Music by Eric Carmen and Sergei Rachmaninoff Words and Music by Lior Attar Words and Music by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence Words and Music by Joe Camilleri and Nick Smith Words and Music by Roger Waters
HOLY GRAIL
Words by Mark Seymour, Music by Mark Seymour, Barry Palmer, John Archer, Geoff Crosby, Doug Falconer, John Howard, Robert Miles and Michael Waters
FOREVER YOUNG
Words & Music by Bob Dylan
STRING ORCHESTRA Director Mrs Trish Timmins Lily Begg (Year 11) Nelson Beks (Year 11) Serryn Eenjes (Year 8) Ruby Fletcher (Year 7) Tai Hindson (Year 8) Braeley Jones (Year 12) Chaelim Ko (Year 10) Noah Lawrence (Year 8) Nina Lenard (Year 8) Iona Marsden-Sweeney (Year 12) Alessia McCaig (Year 8)
Connor McCaig (Year 11) Alexandra McCann (Year 8) Jason Mekel (Year 12) Eliza O’Sullivan (Year 8) Benjamin Pignataro (Year 12) Victoria Savage (Year 12) Ruby Shirres (Year 12) Emma Sin (Year 8) Simone Stephens (Year 9) Ji Young Suh (Year 9)
STUDENTS Jay Thomas (Year 6) Darcy Bourke (Year 6) Claudia Stone (Year 5) Chloe Peter (Year 5) Amelie Woodward (Year 5) Lulu Stanley (Year 4) Tyla Noonan (Year 6) Sharoon Mirza (Year 6) Myra Muhammad (Year 6) Zain Muhammad (Year 5) Imogen Mason (Year 6) Lucy Hall (Year 5)
THE RIFFS Director Mr Josh McGuffie Nelson Beks (Year 11) Caleb Ellis (Year 12) David Russell (Year 11)
Zoe Cuthbertson (Year 6) Olivia Boef (Year 6) Rhys Pether (Year 6) Hunter Boswell (Year 5) Matthew Edwards (Year 6) Samuel Stewart (Year 6) Xavier Worme (Year 5) Matisse Fennessy (Year 6) Zoe MacGregor (Year 6) Greta Burns (Year 5) Ella Fisher (Year 10)
THE C HOI R Helen Addicoat
Moya Anderson
Cheryl Axell
Gloria Balcam
George Ball
Carolyn Bartlett
Marta Birrell
Pam Blake
Liz Blundell
Liz Cain
Robert Campbell
Lina Carmichael
Chris Carswell
Phyllis Cashmere
Carol Clymo
Heike Coia
Elaine Cornish
Jan Crowe
Lyn Curnow
Eril Daenke
Gail Daniels
Lois Davies
Marg Davis
Lorraine Day
Manfred Dobrow
Dennis Dole
Richard Dole
Helen Dredge
Michael Durant
Cliff Ellis
June Ellis
Julie Ford
Baz Fordham
JJ Fordham
Noela Foreman
Peter Gladman
Helen Gobbe
Pam Godwin
Jenny Gosling
Christine Haddrick
THE C HOI R Louise Heyden
Chris Hobson
David Humphreys
Pat Jones
Jacqui Kennedy
Patricia King
Marjorie Matthews
Helen Musk
Mabel Nicholls
Esma Pennington
Greg Penno
Peter Peterson
Geoff Phelps
Garth Phillips
Trish Potter
Laurie Preston
Ethne Ramage
Frank Roberts
Joy Roberts
Sandra Sampson
Liz Schroeder
Brian Sexton
Pam Sexton
Wendy Sheldon
Bev Smith
Liz Spencer
Carolyn Thomas
Pyrenne Tromans
Jeannie Turnbull
Wendy Turner
Merle U’Ren
Pamela Vine
Maree Wallace
Maurice Wild
Jenny Williams
Joy Wilson
David Wright
Annie Young
Marg Keech, Roadie
THANK YOU This concert could not happen without the generous support of many companies and individuals. Forever Young wish to thank: Marg Keech and Jo Haythorne for everything including making tea, fetching and carrying people and items and millions of other tasks big and small. Martin O’Rielly and the maintenance staff from Girton Grammar School who set up and breakdown before and after every rehearsal and performance.
The Girton Grammar Music Staff: Steve Vine, Jacqui Vine, Trish Timmins, Josh McGuffie, Rachel London, Anne Begg, Michael Lichnovsky and Ben Gibbons. Cally Bartlett for beautiful arrangements of the music. John MacMillan and his team; Jared Hodges, Jack Garnett, Amos Walz. Mark Beever, Kristen Beever and Alex Fisher for help with promoting the concert, engaging with sponsors, maintaining the website and a million other things. Rachelle and Ella Fisher for looking after students. Pam Sexton for her wonderful dress-making skills. Thank you all.
Graeme and Helen Campbell
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