ANZAC DAY IN ESK- SERVICE NOT FORGOTTEN

Flt Lt Howard Robinson (ret) taking the salute at the ANZAC Day march in Esk.

“At the going down of the sun, and in the morning.  We shall remember them”.  This the promise adhered to every year on April 25^th by those of us given the privilege of being part of this important anniversary when we commemorate the mateship, loyalty, courage and sacrifice of our forefathers and all those who have followed in their footsteps in the service of our Nation, whether in times of war or peace.  

This ANZAC spirit was evident again in 2017 when huge crowds lined Ipswich Street, Esk or gathered early at the Cenotaph at Esk’s Memorial Park where, having marched to the beat of the wonderful Brisbane Brass Band, the parade of veterans, their descendants, community groups and clubs congregated with members of the public and special guests for a moving tribute hosted by Esk RSL’s President, Charlie Elwell, to all who have served their country with distinction and honour.

Flt Lt Catherine Freind (RAAF)

Following Charlie’s welcome and the National Anthems of Australia and New Zealand sung proudly by our own Maree and Susie, a tribute to the ANZACS by Mayor Graeme Lehman and Father Hegarty’s prayer for the fallen, guest speaker, Flt Lt Catherine Freind (RAAF) spoke of those ‘great’ events in history not necessarily remembered for that which they are but for the qualities of the human spirit, the determination, mateship and sacrifice displayed and the values placed on the freedoms for which they were fought. Margaret Shepherd’s emotional delivery of her poem ‘The Cenotaph’ surely embraced the poignancy of the occasion for all.  Equally heart-felt, though perhaps on a somewhat different level, was the flyover by the RAAF’s F/A-18F Super Hornet which had all faces turned skyward for that brief thrill of supreme power and throughout the morning was the beautiful singing of hymns by the choir led by Alexis and accompanied by both Margaret and the Brisbane Brass Band, our own Janette Thomas’s son a significant part of this ensemble of talented musicians. 

Many came forward for the Laying of Wreaths as the Band played Waltzing Matilda/The Last Post and during the Choir’s rendition of “Soul of Australia” the Veterans gathered in respect of their fallen.  Following Matthew Lukritz’s always faultless playing of The Last Post and Reveille and the ceremonious departure of the Catafalque Party, people dispersed to savour the events of the morning and feel grateful.

Eighty- three nations around the world have war graves in which Australians have been laid to rest. In 1934 the President of Turkey wrote in a tribute to those who died at Gallipoli; “You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Your sons are now lying in our bosom in peace.  After losing their lives on this land they have become our sons as well”.  That these soldiers were able to suppress a determined enemy and by doing so, enrich the lives of the nations in which they served is honourable and a sacrifice unparalleled.  ANZAC Day is an opportunity for  all to reflect with gratitude all those who have served our nations, to think about those lost and appreciate those whose company we can now enjoy and treasure.

 

Karen Chin and Jan Jennings had the honour of laying the wreath.

The Choir ready to participate in the ceremony

The Thomas's

‘AND SO WE SING’ – A CONCERT TO HERALD A BRILLIANT MUSICAL YEAR

‘Music to lift you out of your life; To carry you into a world of delight’; this, the phenomenon that was at the Somerset Civic Centre on Sunday afternoon when the Esk Community Choir presented their Opening Concert for 2017 ‘And So We Sing’. 

The Choir’s opening bracket of songs made palpable the joy of singing whilst showcasing the talents of three wonderful singers from the Choir, Maree, Gail and Robert who in trio, prefaced the choir’s performance of the beautiful ‘Give Me Wings’.

A further leap into that ‘world of delight’ presented itself when Janet Brewer, Julie-Anne O’Reilly and Robert Truman who are ‘The Pacific Trio’ came to the stage.  Both their pre and post-interval performances were simply a masterclass of musicianship when, with Janet on piano, Julie-Ann, violin and Robert, cello, took the audience on a magical musical journey from the fabulous tango, ‘Jealousy’ through the powerfully energetic ‘Czardas’ featuring Julie-Anne on violin to places where barely would there have not been a foot flailing to Scott Joplin’s iconic ragtime masterpiece ‘Maple Leaf Rag’ with Janet at the piano. Then followed some Mendelssohn magic from the oratorio ‘Elijah’ and finally, the Saint-Saens emotive piece of charm and logic, ‘The Swan’, so perfect for cello.   

Following the Pacific Trio and wired for sound, Sue Walker and Eric von Nida, accompanied by Alexis, filled the auditorium with the beautiful sounds of the Schonberg, Boubil, Clark duet, ‘Live With Somebody You Love’.   While purists might argue that microphones might compromise the sounds of un-amplified voices and instruments, few could deny the magnificence of the sounds subtly enhanced throughout the Civic Centre through the Choir’s now 'own audio equipment'.

 

With many happy winners, raffle prizes in hand, it was on with the show when the chorus line of choir ladies in shades of the Black ‘n White Minstrels put smiles of faces with the Irving Berlin classic ‘I Love a Piano’ followed by a change of pace when the Choir men came together for a heart-stirring rendition of that  A.L.Webber favourite, ‘Love Changes Everything’.

The Cy Coleman ‘Rhythm of Life’ could not have been more trans-formative for audience and performers alike when the Pacific Trio alongside the Choir’s own flautist, Suzanne Clemence came together in a collaboration of pulsating rhythm and song and a perfect finale to a memorable afternoon of musical delight.

‘Completely wonderful!’…’fabulous afternoon!’ were just a taste of the comments passed around as the audience ‘chewed the fat’ over a delicious post performance afternoon tea.  To have enjoyed the brilliance of The Pacific Trio who have now managed to encourage so many more ‘first-timers’ to jump onto the Classical Music bandwagon; to have the encouragement of Concert goers and supporters who continue to enjoy the Choir’s shared love of singing; to have the exquisite talents of choir Accompanist, Margaret Philp and the indomitable, indefatigable genius of Choir Director, Alexis FitzGerald who has made all this possible, the Choir and a community are unflaggingly grateful.

by Sue Walker