About 150 performers from Gunnedah, Boggabri, Tamworth, Carroll and Mullaley took to the stage on Friday and Saturday to perform in the long-awaited Remembrance Day production.
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The event, 100 Years Commemoration of ANZAC: The Music of War and Peace Time, saw schools, dance groups, singers, musicians, choirs and bands come together for a show which has been touted a success.
Remembered as the ‘singing captains’ of Gunnedah High School, former Gunnedah musicians, Anthony Snape and Cassie Carblis (nee Berry) performed in the show.
Mr Snape wrote an original song for the production titled Waking Up Without You, with local choreographer Crystal Faulkner dancing as he performed.
The show was part of the efforts of Gunnedah Shire Council's ANZAC Working Group to acknowledge the 100 Years of ANZAC, 2014-2018 and was funded through the Australian Government ANZAC Centenary Arts and Culture Fund. The production was produced and coordinated by Gunnedah Conservatorium.
Working Group president Owen Hasler said the production was “extremely professionally presented”.
“The talent that is obviously in our community is a fact that they’re getting some excellent tuition,” he said.
“Their mentors are helping that talent grow and obviously performances like this will enhance their self-esteem and their desire to do it again.”
Mr Hasler said he worked with Mr Snape and Mrs Carblis on the Australia Remembers production in 1995, and mid-2015, he proposed the idea of getting them involved in another production.
“I’m very touched by the fact that they were able to come back and perform,” he said.
“Certainly, the reaction of the audience to Anthony and Cassie performing back together was greeted really enthusiastically.
“To me the whole thing was a quite moving and wonderful experience of our remembrance of how war affected communities; not just those who went to war, but those at home.”
Gunnedah Conservatorium director, Rebecca Ryan, said the community’s reaction to the show had been “overwhelmingly positive” and many people had told her how moved they were.
“[People said], ‘It was wonderful, it was one of the best things we’ve ever seen’,” she said.
“It seemed to really resonate.”
Ms Ryan said the production showcased the experience of war and peace time through music and not all stories could be told.
“It was really about the singing and the music; that was at the heart of the show,” she said.
Ms Ryan said it was good to have such a “broad spectrum” of people involved.
“There was an excitement about being part of a big production,” she said.
“I think the kids felt like they were part of something bigger.”
