 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
| |
TOSA (ACT Division) IncorporatedANNUAL REPORT
Year ending 30th June 2010
This Annual Report will cover all aspects of the Committee’s activities, with the exception of that of the Treasurer; and as President I present this document on the Committee’s behalf
It always gives great pleasure in highlighting successful outcomes that have occurred as part of the Society’s activities in the year just ended. The crowning achievement and milestone activity, needless to say, was the re-launch of the Society’s Compton theatre pipe organ in the public arena as part of the Albert Hall 82nd birthday celebrations in March 2010. Despite the enforced shut down of vendor access into the hall from September 2009 onwards - and with limited access for only a few hours prior to the event - the Compton resounded magnificently. From a somewhat slanted introductory quip of the organ being the phantom of the Albert Hall, it was soon evident that the splendid sounds from the Compton organ immediately became the highlight of the evening. Comments from officials, Friends of the Albert Hall association and public alike, continued into the following week – each expressing their delight, enjoyment and satisfaction of the organ’s capabilities, musical talents of TOSA’s performers on the night, and the console integrating so well into the Albert Hall for all to enjoy
Full credit for the success of the occasion must go to Stuart Warner, Geoff Fiddian and Steve Lanham for their individual styles and performances, all without any real opportunity for prior preparation, except on the day
Maintenance
Given the severe constraints of hall closure to public access over the whole of twelve month period for major building restoration and maintenance tasks, it was a credit to our maintenance crew they achieved the successful results they were able to for the March 2010 birthday celebration. Special thanks to Steve Lanham and Geoff Fiddian as handyman assistant in this regard.
Whilst recognizing the major completion of the console upgrade, there are other maintenance priorities within the pipe chambers that need remedial attention. Committee has preemptively sought financial assistance through the Heritage Grant Project 2010-2011 to assist in this regard. Should funding become available, it is planned for these one-off tasks to be expedited with external professional assistance over a two week period during the New Year period to ensure the organ will be fully operational in time for the March 2011 activities,.
Socials
TOSA (ACT) members and friends once again enjoyed a most pleasurable autumnal afternoon at the residence of Leigh and Roger Tuck listening with delight to the sounds of Roger’s Allen LLS digital theatre organ and the opportunity to play it. The musical contributions, conviviality and hospitality were keenly appreciated and enjoyed by the large group of members and players present - and we express our sincere thanks to Leigh and Roger for this repeated opportunity.
The yearly Christmas function was combined with members Open Console access on the Compton in the Albert Hall, with a choice of Turkish Pide adding to the festive fare. Thanks are due to Jenny and Bill Fraser in providing the necessary chattels and wares for the occasion.
Newsletter and the Web Site
Committee expresses its gratitude and thanks to our co-editors Noel McCormack and Dave Kerr for their continued support in managing the Newsletter and in transferring our Web page from Noel’s private ISP account to a gratis global web-site with specialized interests for theatre organ enthusiasts and associated organizations. I happily acknowledge TOSA ACT’s gratitude and thanks to Jerry Kaust (USA) for his generosity and web-site services and the support he provides. As a reminder, our web site url is now http://theatreorgans.com/canberra//.
I have received most pleasing feedback from TOSA ACT members and other interstate TOSA members on ACT’s approach in keeping everyone informed of Interstate events and other local articles through the on-forwarding of Interstate newsletters (with due acknowledgement). Notwithstanding that the distribution has been spasmodic, members see it as a positive bonus from receiving TOSA ACTION via email circulation and have eagerly appreciated the first hand news and articles on the national theatre organ scene – so much so, that a number of our members have registered for the TOSA VIC 50th anniversary celebrations being held over next weekend.
Other Special Achievements
Without pre-empting our Treasurer in his report, I would just like to make mention of an increasing take-up of TOSA members using the electronic funds transfer facility for membership renewals.
A most significant and worthy undertaking achieved during the year has been the transfer of old TOSA ACT Videos and recordings from VCR VHS format to high quality archival CD / DVD discs. This project was specifically a preservation task in transferring raw unedited data from magnetic tape to a more stable digital medium for archival and posterity purposes. Conversion of the raw data to edited CD / DVD track formats will be a separate longer term project at a later time as resources permit. I would like to express the Society’s gratitude to former TOSA ACT member, Wayne Whitford, now residing at Wollongong, for volunteering his time and professional expertise in undertaking this conversion task and with the care, diligence and enthusiasm with which it was carried out.
During the year, committee completed the final report to ACT Heritage Unit on final outlays and achievements of the console upgrade project as part of the 2006 Heritage Grant Program. The funds were fully acquitted as per the original Grant application.
The Future Ahead
My personal view is that an annual report should report not just the activities and successes from the year just ended, but also to make comment on the more difficult issues behind us and where-to from here, forward. Firstly, let me say, there would be no disagreement that progress has not moved as quickly as everyone would otherwise have liked. However, we can be comfortably re-assured that the restoration and maintenance upgrade tasks to the hall itself are nearing completion and normalcy will return in 2011. The Society was successful with Heritage grant assistance for major upgrade projects to the Compton organ in 2001 and 2006 and despite inconveniences all round, both projects have ‘revitalized’ and expanded the capabilities and usefulness of the organ beyond all proportions.
Following the success of the re-launch in March 2010, the Society has had enquiries from the Friends of Albert Hall for the Compton organ to be featured prominently in the 2011 Anniversary program. There has also been positive interest in exploring the feasibility of featuring the Compton as part of the CIMF program in May 2011. It is tremendous that other organisations and musical entities are recognizing and appreciating the community asset that the Compton offers as an integral part of the Albert Hall.
In the year 2012, we as TOSA (ACT) members will have significant anniversary celebrations of our own: 2012 being the 40th anniversary since the Society was founded in 1972; and, as so happens, 2012 is also the 80th anniversary year of the Compton pipe organ’s manufacture in 1932. Then, in March 2013, the Albert Hall will be the central focus of the ACT’s and Canberra’s centenary celebrations being staged throughout of the year. The expectation is that the Compton organ will need to feature prominently as part of all these events. There is still much work to be done between now and then. Daunting as it all may seem, I take this opportunity to ask members now, to seriously consider how they might be able to assist and help the Society during these celebrations of Canberra’s and the Society’s history.
Acknowledgements
The Society is appreciative of the supportive working relation it has with the ACT Government and Property Group management, and particularly in allowing limited access for TOSA activities during the hall’s shut down period from 1 July 2010 for the remainder of the year.
I would also like to acknowledge with gratitude and appreciation the honorary services provided by Warwick Bray, as the Society’s auditor, in auditing the Society’s annual accounts and other statutory requirements since 2006.
Finally, I thank the outgoing committee for their enthusiasm, individual ideas and sharing the same vision along the way. As one committee member rather adeptly put it – “The cup is half full and filling up!” I think we can all drink to that!
Kingsley Herbert
President, TOSA (ACT Division) Inc.
5 September, 2010
Click here to go to the top of the page
|
|
|
|