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Dear Manning Valley Cultural Development Supporters,
RE: Invitation to theManning Winter Festival Inc. [MWF] Annual General Meeting [AGM] to be held at the Manning Regional Art Gallery Taree, on Wednesday,17October 2018 at 12.30pmand to give notice that we are seeking new MWF committee members. This is a circular letter to organizations and individuals with an open invitation to attend the MWF AGM to be held on 17/10/2018. We also need new committee members to ensure continuity of future Manning Winter Festivals. MWF Inc. is a community based not-for-profit incorporated Association. The Management Committee is a small group of volunteers who believe in the future of our Manning Valley. We also respect our local heritage, seek to promote and celebrate cultural development and creative industry in our Valley, showcase our rich and diverse local talent, and support our local economy by boosting tourism and employment. A highlight of every Festival is the presentation of the Visual and Performing Arts Awards. The Manning Winter Festivals are held every two years, with the next one scheduled to be held in June 2020. As with many community organizations, the MWF Committee definitely needs new members if the Festivals are to be sustainable. We are hoping Arts-related organizations will nominate a representative to join the incoming committee. Please give this some serious thought and let us know who will represent you on the MWF committee. Individual nominations would also be most welcome. Nominations close 10 October 2018. Planning, organizing and presenting each Festival is an inspiring andrewarding journey, with great fellowship along the way. You will not be disappointed. Monthly meetings are held at times to be determined by the incoming committee. The MWF committee usually only presents 2 or 3 events in each Festival program because the major goal is to coordinate, create and present a program of diverse events across the Manning Valley. For further information please visit the website: www.manningwinterfestival.weebly.com. Your support in helping to build our committee membership base would be very much appreciated. Yours Sincerely, Mave Richardson Mave Richardson AM PSM President, MWF Inc. Denise Greenaway Hon. Secretary, MWF Inc. Community News - The Manning Valley Historical Society Diggers Ball Event - not to be missed!8/6/2018 Sneak Peek of Manning Valley Community Event "THE DIGGERS BALL" Wingham Remembers! One hundred years after the end of WW1, the Manning Valley Historical Society is organising a special “Commemorative Diggers Ball” to be held at the Wingham Memorial Town Hall on Saturday 29thSeptember, 2018. Proudly supported by the Wingham RSL Sub Branch, the Ball will honour all Australia’s Defence and Peace-Keeping Service men and women up to the present times. The Town Hall was funded by the community and officially opened on April 2nd 1924. An annual Diggers Ball was held from then on until the late 1950s. The 2018 Diggers Ball will be the first Diggers Ball to be held since that time. A committee has been established to organise the event which will feature music, dancing and entertainment, reflecting a century of changing times. It will be a very special community event for adults of all ages. “Whether you dance or not, come along and enjoy watching the spectacle. You will not be disappointed,” said committee Chair, Mave Richardson. “This is all about our communities of Wingham and the Upper Manning coming together to pay tribute to those who have gone before, and those who are still out there, protecting democracy,” she added. Plans include involving local children, young people and community organisations. The committee would welcome volunteers who would like to help out. If you wish to volunteer, phone Mave on 6553 5412. Tickets are $40 per person with supper and entertainment provided, BYO drinks!!! Frock up in a ball gown or suit from any era, but dress to impress! Details for purchasing below. The Sydney launch of the "Mon's Mediterranean Kitchen" cookbook was held on Sunday 17th of June at the Aqua Luna Restaurant in Drummoyne, Sydney.
The glittering event was well attended and covered by SBS Television. Don't miss the Taree book launch at Club Taree on Saturday 23rd June at 2pm! Tickets are available at Club Taree on 6539 4000. Join us to experience a unique journey through the culinary delights of the Middle East and enjoy afternoon tea and entertainment. These images depict InSitu Yarnbombing, as done by Suzette Winten. Winten actually starts from the bottom of the tree trunk and works up, crocheting as she goes.
The exhibition continues throughout July. Beautiful "Pop Up" performance by the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance at Taree shopping centre!6/19/2018 “Right from the start, it grabbed me in my chest and I was fighting to hold back the tears,” said an audience member from Newcastle upon hearing a massed choir sing Schubert’s Mass in G in Taree on Sunday, June 3.
The Music for a Winter Heart concert, held at St John’s Anglican Church, was a major event for the 2018 Manning Winter Festival and showcased local choirs and young musical talent of the Manning Valley. Kantabile Chamber Choir, the Manning Valley Choral Society and the U3A Silver Tones came together in a massed choir of more than 70 voices to perform Schubert’s Mass in G accompanied by Sinfonia orchestra’s string section, with soloists Tony Pike, Laura Griffin and Ronan King-Rose thrilling the audience with their superb voices. Listen to the first movement of the Schubert Mass in G – the Kyrie: The church was packed to capacity at around 370 people, with some having to stand to view the concert. It was the largest audience St John’s has ever held. “The concert was a resounding success,” said conductor and co-organiser, Heidi Lambert. “People were surprised that the group was able to perform so well as a collective unit. It was a wonderful achievement for the Manning Winter Festival and the Manning Valley as a whole.” It was an event that was a long time in the making. “The whole thing was the brainchild of a group of four people - Deidre Sutherland, Pam Archer, myself and Elizabeth Berry,” Heidi said. “It was 12 months in the planning to collaborate with three choirs and a string ensemble to perform music that is not routinely performed but is appealing to an audience and the choral singers.” Related content: Choirs and orchestra combine for festival concert Having three local choirs come together to perform the work was no mean feat, as many are not trained singers, and the work is in Latin. Heidi had to rewrite the soprano and tenor parts, as they were originally too high for most choir members singing those parts. And it worked. The church was filled with sound, and the audience, who came from not just the Manning but from as far as the Central Coast and Port Macquarie, overwhelmingly “loved” it. “It’s been asked if we can redo it,” Heidi said. “I got asked by about half a dozen people at the end of the concert could we redo it, people who are fairly heavily involved in the arts.” Heidi, along with Deidre Sutherland, also organised the other acts in the concert, comprising young vocalists and instrumentalists who astounded the audience with their professionalism and talent. Related content: Festival concert will be something special Manning Winter Festival president Mave Richardson AM commented on the fantastic acoustics of the church. "It was lovely, the sound was wonderful,” Mave said. "Bringing three choirs together, the sound was brilliant. Having the young soloists involved was wonderful as we wanted to put emphasis on youth this year. “Hats off to Deirdre Sutherland, Heidi Lambert and Pam Archer.” Mave was so impressed she is thinking they could look at something similar in the future. The names of five people have been added to the Manning Winter Festival Visual and Performing Arts Awards honour boards, with winners announced at the festival opening on Friday, June 1. Alison Haigh received the Visual Arts Award, while Don Secomb and Tanya Brown were joint winners of the Performing Arts Award, and Tim Stack and Ashley Cleaver were joint winners of the Special Arts Award. “The standard was so high,” said festival president Mave Richardson. “For some we made joint presentations as they were just too outstanding.” A number of highly commendeds were also presented to nominees. “We are absolutely delighted to recognise some of our beautifully talented people in Manning who represent the hundreds or thousands who are doing their own creative work. “The task of judging was very difficult,” she said. “We’re very proud of the people in the Manning. Some have been doing amazing things for a long, long time.” Mave said the special arts award recipients do not necessarily have to be an artist but can also be presented people who have made a contribution to cultural development. And the winners are: Visual Arts Award 2018 Visual Arts winner Alison Haigh. Photo: Julie Slavin. Alison Haigh Alison (known as Ali) has been actively involved in the local art sector for more than 20 years. A teacher at TAFE, in the Vocational Education Training [VET] sector and in local schools, she has also been an active and valuable contributing volunteer member of the Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery Committee for more than 15 years, serving one term as president. She has been a highly valued casual employee at the Manning Regional Art Gallery for the past 10 years. In these roles, her contributions have been outstanding, many times going above and beyond her duties to ensure that visitors and exhibitors alike, have a positive cultural experience at the Gallery. Her work in the wider community includes mentoring and developing programs for disability clients, Aged Care programs and other outreach programs for marginalised people, as well as working with local Aboriginal designers. A respected practicing artist, Ali`s many contributions to the local art scene are testament to her talent, selfless dedication, and commitment to her community. Performing Art Award (joint winners) Joint winners: 2018 Special Arts Award recipients Tim Stack and Ashley Cleaver. Photo: Kylie Cleaver. Ashley Cleaver A former teacher, turned businessman, Ashley has been photographing major local arts events since the early 1990s. A member of the Rotary Club of Taree for the past 26 years, his range gradually extended to include Rotary activities and a host of other creative events, all to promote the arts in the Manning. In his unassuming way, Ashley has made consistently outstanding contributions to local cultural development for all of that time. He sends his photos to the Manning River Times, ensuring ongoing publicity and promotion. He also makes them available to all who seek prints and/or digital images. Much of his work is very time consuming. A highly skilled photographer, Ashley takes care and time to create professional images. Remarkably, he never seeks payment for his work. If payment is insisted, upon he donates it to Rotary worthy causes. Ashley`s generosity, skills, patience, professionalism and reliability, are practically legendary in the local arts community. Tim Stack Tim moved to Taree in 1976. By 1977 he was president of the Taree and District Eisteddfod. His passion for music and the performing arts has kept him in this role for the past 41 years. Tim grew up in a musical family and went on to become a lawyer, a drummer and a Conservatorium trained singer. His enthusiastic and diplomatic approach smoothed the way when eisteddfod challenges arose, particularly when there were competing sectors over the years. With his leadership and guidance, visiting adjudicators refrained from negativity and consistently encouraged young performers. About 10 years ago, Tim introduced the “Smile Scholarships” by obtaining “one off” donations of $250 from individuals, clubs and businesses for investment. The interest on the amount raised annually provides 10 performers with $750 towards their musical advancement. The success of the annual eisteddfod was a driving force behind the building of the Manning Entertainment Centre, opened in 1988. With the support of a dedicated, hard-working and forward thinking management team, Tim has led the way for the Taree Eisteddfod to now be acknowledged as the largest Eisteddfod in rural/regional Australia. Apart from individual personal and musical development, many performers have gone on to achieve great success in the performing arts. |
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