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Friends of the Auburn Tower Newsletter

Volume 7, Issue 3 Winter, 2011

Friends of the Auburn Tower Inc

PO Box 583HAWTHORN BC 3122 execofficer@auburntowerfriends.org.au

The Committee of the Friends of the Auburn Tower Inc.

Patron: Prof the Hon Evan Walker

Executive Officer: Cheryl Pisterman Contact: 9819 1899

President: John Herniman

Vice Pres. Alan Chuck

Secretary: Pat Rogerson

Treasurer: Ken Scott

Daphne Arthur Elizabeth Bethune Noel Jackling Bruce McBrien

Inside this Newsletter:

New Member for

Kooyong visits Auburn 1

The Concert Season

at Auburn 2

Hear a Maestro on the

Fincham organ 2

A review of 2011’s

concerts 3

From the Exec Officer 3

Vale to two long-term

members of our

Friends Committee 4

New Member for Kooyong visits AuburnJosh Frydenberg MP, the new federal member for Kooyong, visited Auburn for the first concert in the Friends’ 2011 season on 27 March. Unfortunately, other commitments on that busy day meant that he did not hear most of the Andy Vance Trio’s music, but he was able to join us for afternoon tea

in the Hall. A photo of Josh with Friends is now on his website, www.joshfrydenberg.com.au. Also on his website is his maiden speech to the federal parliament, in which he mentions the importance of buildings such as the Auburn church buildings in the make-up of the Kooyong fabric:

Not far from the embankments of the Yarra, one can find bustling shopping strips, historic public buildings and churches — many dating back to the 1800s. Some of the architecture from the Victorian period reflects the gently faded glory of an ambitious past.

It was a pleasure to welcome Josh to Auburn, and the Friends look forward to a long

and productive relationship in years to come.

A very successful “Bling Fling” helps fund an ambulance in Afghanistan

The Tower was open on April 30 in conjunction with a giant jewellery sale which raised nearly $9,000 for the Mazar Development Fund Inc. established by Najaf Mazari in 2007, to help the people of the Mazar-e-Sharif area of Afghanistan. The provision of an ambulance has been achieved, helped by the proceeds from Najaf’s book “The Rug-maker of Mazar-e-Sharif “ - an amazing story of a refugee’s courage, hope and determination penned by Robert Hillman.

Najaf, Hakima and daughter Maria have returned to Afghanistan (until the middle of July) to facilitate the ambulance project and commence negotiations for better schooling. According to the Afghan constitution, education is free from primary school to university. However schooling often takes place in poor conditions.

The Bling Fling was most enjoyable, the Hall was decorated with Afghan rugs and Hakima and members of the Afghan community provided delicious Afghan savouries, tea and lunch in addition to the traditional home-made biscuits and hot scones.

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The Concert Season at Auburn

Sunday 24 July 2011

2.30 pm

Dominic Perissinotto

The magnificent Fincham Organ will be heard in all its glory with guest artist Michael Lichnovsky on saxophone.

Sunday 28 August 2011

2.30 pmGambit

A programme of Early English madrigals and consort music.

Sunday 11 September 2011

2:30pm

The Australian Boys Choir

All Creatures Great and Small - these beautiful voices will give a performance celebrating animals in music.

Dominic Perissinotto is one of Australia’s most exciting recitalists, widely sought after as a soloist and accompanist. He has a passion for promoting the pipe organ, not only as a church instrument, but also as a concert and ensemble instrument. A Master of Music graduate in 2004 of the University of Melbourne, Dominic was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to assist with further studies at the Royal College of Music in London. He moved to Perth in 1998 and is now Organist and Director of Music at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle. He is one of Australia’s most prolific performers, widely sought after as a soloist and accompanist. In promoting his passion for the pipe organ not only as a church instrument, but also as a concert and ensemble instrument, Dominic has worked with a number of musicians throughout Australia and Europe.

Dominic will be accompanied by saxophonist, Michael Lichnovsky. Michael holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Iowa (USA) and a Master of Music Performance from the Victorian College of the Arts. A single reed specialist, he has performed with the Melbourne Symphony and Orchestra Victoria as a saxophonist. Since 2007 Michael has lectured in saxophone performance, wind, brass and percussion pedagogy, conducting and orchestration at Monash University. He recently performed with the Stonnington Symphony Orchestra.

This is an invitation to all Friends and their friends to hear our magnificent Fincham Organ played by a passionate exponent of the craft and accompanied by a master of the saxophone on 24 July 2011.

Advance booking will again be available through TryBooking.com, just click on www.trybooking.com/RBN which gives a saving in time and cost over door purchases. We would encourage our friends and other music lovers to use this efficient method of booking our Concerts - you can beat the last minute rush at the door.

Hear a a Maestro on the Fincham organ

Book through: http://www.trybooking.com/RBN for the next concert.

Items from this Newsletter may be reproduced with due acknowledgement

From the executive oFFicer:Just a reminder that it may be time to renew your membership - your renewal letter is included with this edition oF the newsletter.

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2011’s Concerts

Call for Reviewers of our Concerts

We have been unable to find any volunteers to report on the Andy Vance Trio concert in March, or the

Melbournaires concert in May. We are grateful to Ted Huang for these photos of the May concert. A great

number of our Friends are regular attendees and enjoy the range of artists at each of our concerts. If any

member would like to receive a free ticket to the July or August concerts, in return for writing a 150 word

review, please contact the Executive Officer. on 9819 1899 or email execofficer@auburntowerfriends.org.au

Soloist Jade Leonard accompanied by Jeremy Woolhouse

Part of the good turn out for the Melbournaires concert

The Melbournaires in full voice

The chorus framed by the Fincham organ

Chorus in costume for the “Great Depression” set

The Six-Foot-Four Quartet

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Janice Edna McCluskey (22 March 1946 – 8 February 2011)

Jan worked in many positions in various localities within the Uniting Aged Care, Victoria and Tasmania. Throughout her working life Jan used her many talents but most of all her ability to care.

Jan was the youngest of five children and while at secondary school in Wangaratta, her parents sold the farm and moved to Melbourne after her brother was badly injured in a bicycle accident She suffered from migraines and food allergies and, while working in the textile business, studied occupational therapy. Glandular

fever interrupted her studies but Jan continued to display her creativity. Jan spent most of her life in Hawthorn. She joined the Denham Street Methodist Church in 1967: participating as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, elder and church secretary. Her wise, quiet, friendly, caring manner endeared her to everyone. She always had time for a cup of tea.

In 1989, after the closure of the Denham Street Church, Jan became an elder and member of the Church Council at Auburn Uniting Church. She contributed her artistic talents and organisational skills to most activities: decorating the church for weddings and cooking for such events as “The Brown Slouch Hat”. Jan also spent many hours on the viewing platform of the tower where, as a founding committee member of Friends of the Auburn Tower, she helped visitors on tower open days.

Jan’s proudest moment was Rachael’s graduation ceremony at the University of Melbourne, when she obtained a double degree with honours. Jan had strived to give her daughter Rachael every opportunity to live a full and happy life, introducing her to a wide variety of people and situations.

Jan’s health deteriorated in July 2010 and she was diagnosed with stomach cancer in September. Jan was looked after at home by Rachael and an army of friends. Her last week was spent at Caritas Christi Hospice in Kew, where the staff and facilities could not have been better. Jan accepted her illness without complaint and was her own self despite gradual physical decline. Jan is buried with her parents in Cheltenham Cemetery. Pat Rogerson

Bruce Arthur James Chinnery (9 July 1947 – 30 April 2011)

Bruce was born in Sydney and the family moved to Hawthorn when he was at Primary School. He studied Interior Design at RMIT. A varied career included working at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Mission to Seamen, Design 250, Leisure Living, Ball and Welch, Buckley and Nunn, and David Jones. As a retailer, buyer and interior designer he was exceptionally skilled, perceptive and creative, being highly regarded in that industry.

Fifteen years ago Bruce had a massive stroke. At the time he owned a homeware store, “Coming Home” in Richmond. Gradually recovering from the stroke he re-established himself as an interior decorator and designer with some personal clients. Several inner city churches and parts of the Auburn Church complex were refurbished by Bruce. A group of wonderful supportive loyal friends helped Bruce in these last difficult years when he was fighting cancer.

Bruce was a long-standing friend, supporter and worker for the Auburn Uniting Church and was involved with the coffee morning program, the Friends of the Auburn Tower Committee and was responsible for the decoration of the hall for the “Brown Slouch Hat” evening – the major fund raiser for last year.

Creative in thinking and action, he had a unique talent for making the world a more beautiful place. He gave of himself totally. His compassion, hospitality and generosity were without comparison. Bruce’s Christian faith was strong and meaningful. He loved the Anglican Church in Australia for its liturgy and tradition, which he guarded with care. A warm, wise person, he will be greatly missed. Daphne Arthur

Vale to two long-term members of our Friends committee