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MANNING WINTER FESTIVAL CELEBRATES OUTSTANDING LOCAL TALENT More than a hundred people attended the Official Opening of the 2016 Manning Winter Festival and presentation of the biennial Manning Visual and Performing Arts Awards at the Manning Regional Art Gallery last Friday evening. With Master of Ceremonies Jeremy Miller skilfully leading the way, the night was alive with goodwill and packed with surprises. A moving Welcome to Country and didgeridoo performance was presented by Pastor Russell Saunders OAM, followed by a warm welcome from committee president, Mrs Mave Richardson AM PSM. Well-known singer, actor, gardening guru, and 2015 Citizen of the Year Mr George Hoad, performed the official opening and congratulated the festival committee on the diversity of this year`s festival program. Taree Arts Council patron and former Deputy Mayor of the former Greater Taree City Council, Mr Alan Tickle, addressed the gathering on behalf of the wider community. Both speakers emphasised the wealth of creative talent that abounds in our region. They joined president Mave in making presentations to outgoing 2014 – 2016 Manning Winter Festival Ambassador, writer Ms Tanya Saad and incoming 2016 – 2018 Festival Ambassador, musician and composer Mr Jonathan Billingham. Dr David Gillespie, Member for Lyne and Mr Stephen Bromhead, Member for Myall Lakes, assisted president Mave with the Award presentations. A Highly Commended Performing Arts Award went to Kerrie Bates, with the winner of this section being Gayle Cameron. Joint winners of the Visual Arts Award were Julie Slavin and Mark Braithwaite. The Special Arts Award winner was Sue Mitchell. A surprise presentation was also made to Mave Richardson in recognition of her many years of ongoing support of the Arts communities in the Manning Valley and beyond. Representing Mid Coast Council Administrator Mr John Turner, Mrs Anne Turner was among many in the audience who were delighted to hear the musical composition “From Hidden Valleys to the Open Sea.” This was a world premiere of an especially commissioned composition by Jonathan Billingham, beautifully performed by the Sinfonia Chamber Ensemble before a very appreciative audience. The concert featured exceptional local talent, including the Manning Valley Concert Band, the Valley Voices Choir, Kantabile, and exceptional performances by Mary Camphuis and Ronan King-Rose, Don Secomb and Bruce Wiseman, and the first public performance of the finale to Ariana Shneider`s new musical, “Crystal Dreaming.” A standing ovation was given for an especially commissioned composition reflecting the beauty of the Manning Valley, “From Hidden Valleys to the Open Sea,” by Jonathan Billingham. "What a wonderful night" said Tanya Saad (our outgoing Festival Ambassador), who made a very special presentation in aid of Ovarian Cancer Research - mother and daughter pictured below.
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