Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Melbourne
Observer
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
Melbourne Extra
Bushwacked
by Ally Fonseca ■ Melbourne born and bred, I bid goodbye to my city slicker ways to embrace life as a country chick. And I'll never forget the first day I set foot in the beautiful town of Mildura five months ago. I left behind my family, friends and the life I had known for 25 years, loaded my car and headed north-west. Unchartered territory beckoned. I arrived during a sultry Sunday sunset in Sunraysia. It was the day after Derby Day and the day before I'd transform into a full-time reporter for the Sunraysia Daily. Even the journey to Mildura was amazing. Driving past places like Boort, TeddyWaddy West and Dooboobetic was a joy. To me, the Calder Highway is akin to The Wizard of Oz's Yellow Brick Road because it, indeed, led me to Somewhere Over The Rainbow. But, instead of a pot of gold at the end, there are just hearts of gold. Country folks are so generous, as I discover every day while writing stories, such one about a young boy whose bike was stolen, destroyed and dumped in a dam.Within hours of the news hitting shelves, three people had called up offering to donate a bike of their own. I've learnt it is the little things in life which can sometimes make profound difference to someone. Even if it's letting somebody know if crickets are perched on their back. Or, in my case, orange nectar on my teeth. As well as a country chick, I am also a crime scene girl, having been a police reporter in both Melbourne and Mildura. I see old and young people fighting battles here in Mildura. But it's heartening to make a difference, like when my story resulted in a whopper of donations for a young cystic fibrosis suffer's donor drive. And when I gave a voice to a young quadriplegic girl about how dire her need was for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Instantly smitten by the sparse surrounds of this country town, the laid-back approach of locals was a welcome relief from my hectic work life on Collins Street.While I miss treasures exclusive to Melbourne, such as the vintage glamour of W-Class city circle trams, there are gems of beauty I have found here in the country. I recently spotted a hot air balloon hovering over the sunrise in Mildura which reminded me of a quote in the film, American Beauty: "There's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst." The smell of fresh aromas wafting along Mildura's celebrated restaurant precinct brings me pure joy. It reminds me of local growers who I've met at farmers' markets whose passion for vegetables is almost palpable. If it were possible, I reckon they'd take a cabbage to the harness racing and show it a good time. Gaining an awareness of country life is amazing and something I believe everybody should experience. Unlike the red and yellow sticks being a gateway to Melbourne on the Tullamarine Freeway, the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ to Mildura is lined with pretty palm trees, akin to the St Kilda beach esplanade. But instead of attractive young bucks languishing along Port Phillip Bay, you have an army of Murray Cods awaiting you at the banks of the Murray River. And remember: keep the lid on your coffee, lest creepy crawlies take liberty in taking a dip.
OBITUARY:
HUNDREDS HONOUR GRAEME MOORE
■ Parkdale's Graeme ‘Gags’ Moore passed away suddenly on March 17 and theatre friends and family joined together last Thursday to celebrate his life at the Salvation Army Citadel in Essendon. A talented scenic artist, painter and life member of Mordialloc Theatre Company, Graeme's work was always in high demand by Bayside theatre companies and his magnificent murals have become legendary. In the moving service conducted by Graeme's cousin, Jenifer Hunt, Mordialloc Theatre Company actor/directors Martin Gibbs and Eric Heyes paid tribute to Graeme's work in local theatre. Martin spoke of his long-time friendship with Graeme, who became ‘Uncle Gags’ to his children Stephanie, Andrew and Adrian. Eric shared humorous anecdotes, including the incompatibility between show deadlines and Graeme's relaxed, creative artistry. Most importantly, Eric told of Graeme's personal
● Graeme "Gags" Moore is "painted in" on the stage of the Shirley Burke Theatre, Parkdale. Photo: Marie Skitt qualities, a kind, good-natured, dedicated man From The Outer whose friendship was unconditional. He never drove a car and either walked to theatres or used public transport. Graeme was part of a Melbourne special family at the Mordialloc Theatre Comkojak@ pany for almost 40years mmnet.com.au and will be particularly With John Pasquarelli dearly missed at their Sunday ‘Dad's Army’set■ What a mess we are in – Labor wiped out build sessions. in NSW but Juliar and Bob Brown set to conBill Rendall from Entinue driving this country toward the cliffs of core Theatre recalled afdisaster a la Thelma and Louise. ter the service that not only Our borders are now a sick joke and our did Graeme paint sets for Senate will be a real mess when the Greens their January pantomime take over in July – with the nutty Green Lee Aladdin, but also helped Rhiannon sure to hog the headlines with her out by appearing onstage particular brand of anti-Semitism. as a soldier, travelling by Australia is paying a huge price for those bus from Parkdale to of us who in a moment of weakness voted Clayton for each perforGreen for all the wrong reasons and unless mance. that bus comes rolling along we have to enPhotos of behind-thedure more than two years of the worst governscenes contributors are ment in Australia’s history. hard to find, so thanks to Those stupid Liberals who preferenced Martin Gibbs for kindly the Greens in the past will never be properly providing this rare photo punished. of ‘Gags’. The treachery, nastiness and sheer stuGraeme ‘Gags’ Moore pidity of Windsor and Oakeshott is beyond was a genuine, humble belief as they cling to the Labor/Green govman who could never ernment purely for their own self-preservahave imagined that one tion but even at this late stage they could set day so many people forth on the road to redemption by allowing would gather together to the Australian people to sort this mess out at celebrate his life. the ballot box. His beautiful artwork is In the meantime, the Coalition must keep a wonderful legacy, but so grinding away – getting out and about at every too is the memory of a opportunity. great bloke who never You can send an e-mail said a bad word about anyto John Pasquarelli: body. kojak@mmnet.com.au - Cheryl Threadgold
Observer
Whatever Happened To ... Dickie Valentine By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM
● Dickie Valentine ■ Several years ago I rediscovered an old song titled The Finger Of Suspicion by the English singer Dickie Valentine. I played it on 96.5FM and also in my radio segments on 3AW and 4BC. The song created a lot response from listeners. 4BC radio host, Ian Maurice, included it on his compilation CD, What is That Song? Ian said he fell in love with the song after we had aired it on his show. Does anyone remember The Finger Of Suspicion or the fabulous singer, Dickie Valentine? Richard Maxwell was born in Marylebone, London, in 1929. At the age of three he appeared in two films, Lord Babs and Jack's The Boy. When his mother remarried he was given the name of Richard Bryce. His birth father was a singer and entertainer and it soon became obvious that young Richard had a beautiful singing voice. He was 20and working as a page boy at His Majesty's Theatre, London in 1949 when actor Bill O'Connor was appearing there in the stage production of Brigadoon. Bill heard Richard sing and very kindly paid for singing lessons for him. He was signed to sing with the famous Ted Heath Band and changed his name to Dickie Valentine. Dickie sang with the band for many years and was a featured vocalist along with Lita Roza and Dennis Lotis. Dickie was also was very good at doing impersonations of the famous stars of the day. Dickie was with the Ted Heath Band for five years before going solo. He began making recordings and his first hit song in 1953 All The Time And Everywhere sold over 100,000 copies. In 1955 Dickie was England's most popular singer with two great hit songs The Finger Of Suspicion and Christmas Alphabet. He married Elizabeth Flynn, who was a professional ice skater, in the Caxton Hall Registry Office, and more than 4000 fans were there to get a glimpse of the newly weds. Dickie went straight from the wedding to perform in a Royal Command Performance at The London Palladium. In 1956 he had his own television program, The Dickie Valentine Show. In 1963 Dickie Valentine was playing the night clubs in Melbourne and appeared on the Delo And Daly television show. He did a very funny sketch with Jonathan Daly - Jonathan was at the grand piano accompanying Dickie and kept interrupting the song and continually moving Dickie around so that Jonathan wasn't being masked from the camera. The style of music changed with the arrival of The Beatles in 1964 and in later years Dickie worked the smaller clubs. Dickie Valentine was killed in a car crash in Wales on May 6, 1971, together with his pianist Sid Boatman and drummer Dave Pearson. Dickie was only 41 years old. If you get a chance to hear a song by Dickie Valentine I am sure you will appreciate the talent of this wonderful English singer from a bygone era. - Kevin Trask The Time Tunnel - with Bruce & Phil- Sundays at 8.30pm on 3AW That's Entertainment - 96.5FM Sundays at Noon. 96.5FM is now streaming on the internet. www.innerfm.org.au and follow the prompts, or listen on the Telstra T - Hub.