ON Friday, the Hamilton Eisteddfod was proud to celebrate a 60-year milestone in showcasing music, dance and (more recently) speech and drama performance.

Hamilton Eisteddfod president, Leeanne Barber began the celebration by thanking both the current and past volunteers and committee members.

“It’s an extraordinary achievement that this organisation has run a path of its 60th Eisteddfod,” she said.

She then invited the 2024 Hamilton Eisteddfod music adjudicator, Janette Cook to share a few words.

Ms Cook said, “I’m just amazed at the work that’s been put in (the Eisteddfod), not just in the last week but for years – it’s a huge undertaking.”

Ms Cook spoke of her musical influences growing up in Hamilton and attending the Gray Street Primary School.

“It has always been in my mind that it’s institutions such as the art gallery, the library and the Eisteddfod that brought to you (Hamilton) something that many towns don’t have.

“In those days, there was no such thing as internet - where did you get a concert?

“Where did you hear anybody else play anything?

“It was the one chance in the year you got to be involved,” she said.

Ms Cook recalled her first Eisteddfod when she played, ‘Betty’s Waltz,’ and being a small child, she required assistance to get onto the piano stool.

She also recalled another year when she had started an octave too high on the piano: “I turned around and said to the adjudicator, ‘this piano doesn’t have enough keys!’”

“He walked all the way up and said, ‘goodness me, neither it has – how about you start down here and work your way up?’” she said.

“So, we do progress don’t we,” she laughed.

Long-time Hamilton Eisteddfod associate, Carmel Schlaghecke spoke about how over the years many people have remarked on the event and reflected on how friendly it has been compared with so many others, “and it’s congratulations to all the volunteers.”

She also shared some amusing stories such as one time when there was no official (piano) accompanist and on the day, the entrants’ accompaniment was played by a volunteer.

Mrs Schlaghecke recalled when one of the accompanist volunteers, Gwenda, looked at the music and said, ‘I can’t play that!’

So, someone raced to the restaurant next door and brought back a staff member.

“In comes Ella, still in her apron and sits down - plays the piece and off she goes.”

A presentation was then given to Ms Cook, after which she made a significant announcement.

“I have decided to donate my services to help you financially on your way,” she said.

To close the celebration, a toast was made to the Hamilton Eisteddfod and all were invited to enjoy a slice of cake.

Teacher retires on a high note

THE Eisteddfod’s president, Leeanne Barber, who grew up in Hamilton and attended Gray Street Primary School and Hamilton High School will be retiring from her teaching career that has spanned for nearly 40 years.

Thursday was an emotional day for Mrs Barber as she conducted the Cavendish Primary School and Branxholme Wallacedale Community School singing classes and music bands for the final time at the Eisteddfod.

 “It was a difficult decision, but I’m ready to retire,” she said.

At the age of eight, she began piano lessons with Miss Dark, in Year 12 with Elaine Lewis and later on with Di Bresciani.

She competed in the Hamilton Eisteddfod for many years growing up.

During her VCE studies, Mrs Barber was awarded a Goethe Institut Scholarship that gave her the opportunity to visit Freiburg, Germany for two months.

She completed a postgraduate diploma in German Language Education and left for La Trobe University in Melbourne where she studied music with pianist and composer, Keith Humble.

Mrs Barber began working at the Yamaha Music School with Dorothy Causer, then with the Country Education Project, based in Casterton.

While raising her children, Mrs Barber was asked to take over a music and movement class for kids.

During that time, she joined both the Orff and Kodály association and began studying the different music education methods.

She began teaching German and Music at schools in Cavendish, Branxholme and Merino.

“I loved to bring the rural school children into Hamilton to perform.

“I always loved working with the tuned percussion instruments because there was always a part for everybody.

“There was the more complex parts for students with the stronger abilities and always something for everybody else to play,” she said.

A highlight for Mrs Barber was when she accompanied a group of students to Germany, Switzerland and Austria in 2005 and also accompanying students every second year to a marimba festival in Tasmania over a 15-year period.

In 2007, she was awarded a government teaching fellowship, which led her on a three-week study tour in Germany with 16 other German teachers from Australia.

She wished to express her gratitude to her teaching colleagues and the schools she has worked at, “the school community has really supported me in wanting to take groups of children to Hobart and Europe.”

Her retirement plans include continuing to travel with her husband, playing croquet, planning the next Eisteddfod and performing with both the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra and Hamilton Singers.