1997, History and other events

In 1997 DVS adapted The Pirates who became The Pirate Bankers. There was much concern in the community about nurses' strikes and the closing of the Queen Victoria Hospital; Jeff Kennett was launching many major events; Christopher Skase had escaped to Spain and the police couldn't touch him. Following Gilbert we used the opportunity for social comment. DVS donated $6000 to charity, $55,400 so far.

Cheques were also presented to Open House ($3,500) and World Vision ($2,500), more to Open House as tickets for open night were given to World Vision to sell.

The New Year started with a series of Dance, Drama and Singing workshops. However, there were a couple of extra sessions, with Musicianship and some extra rehearsals of Messiah choruses to prepare people for another Sing-it-Yourself Messiah in March. Jeanette Donahue took the Dance, Nina Rossini the Drama and Graham Ford the Singing. There were between twenty and thirty attendees. Unfortunately the few who applied for the musicianship didn't turn up, so that didn't happen, and on the first night the dance class was cancelled due to the extreme February heat.

During this time there was also a barbecue at Diane Morgan's beautiful property in Cottlesbridge, which was well attended. These social occasions are always a delightful opening to the year, with old friends meeting again and some new members to get to know.

Next, auditions were held for soloists for the Sing-it-Yourself Messiah and twelve soloists were chosen, Lesley Walton getting her first solo. Nancy Cornwallis prepared the choir over two rehearsals and Ian Lowe conducted with Ken Peard on the organ. Over sixty attended the performance and it went very well, with many in the audience commenting on the beauty of the sound of both soloists and choir. Some even got Goosebumps.

The AGM in October 1997 saw the awarding of four life memberships to Dianne Richter, Nancy Cornwallis, Roger Peck and Ruth Richter. Dianne was a soloist in our first Messiah and many other early oratorios before joining permanently in 1987 to assist with production, and had efficiently and admirably produced every stage show since. She was the first Secretary on the Committee before going to the backbench for a year or so and then taking over the position of President, which she still held at the time.

Nancy was also a soloist in our first Messiah and our first treasurer. She had continued as a leading oratorio soloist and lead soprano in stage productions, as well as helping to train the chorus and being stage manager for one production. Having a year off, she continued to run Serendipity, a smaller group of singers not involved in the stage shows.

Roger was already singing with Diamond Valley Singers before being approached to play for rehearsals. He had continued to sing in the oratorios, once the orchestra chipped in, and had also been a tower of strength directing traffic in the car-park and helping with Front of House for the stage productions.

Ruth directed many of our most successful stage productions and was great fun to work with. She had many innovative ideas, and greatly added to the quality and humour in our shows. She gave hundreds of hours to those productions and was very patient with all the rank amateurs (Well mostly!). The work of these people has been very much appreciated.