HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-10-19 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

O'DEA, MR D.

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:32): One of the most gifted music teachers and musicians it has been my pleasure to know died suddenly recently, and the schools in the north-eastern suburbs and beyond are greatly saddened by his loss. Denis O'Dea began teaching back in 1975 but dedicated his teaching career to music in the late 1980s. He studied music at Salisbury College of Advanced Education where he met his wife, Anne. They sang together in the Salisbury Jazz Singers, now known as The Adelaide Connection. They were married in 1988 and, in that year, they began their association with Ardtornish Primary School where Anne was appointed music teacher.

Together, Anne and Denis have made a significant contribution to the musical lives of thousands of students in the north-eastern suburbs—schools such as Ardtornish, Golden Grove and Modbury West Primaries, Modbury and Golden Grove High Schools, and even helping with performances at the Modbury Special School—and so the gift of music they have nurtured will remain with their legion of former and current students forever.

The performing arts, and music in particular, have the power to transform—something recognised by our former colleague the late premier Don Dunstan and now championed by Premier Mike Rann and minister assisting in the arts, John Hill, and soon to be premier Jay Weatherill.

Denis O'Dea led a full life apart from his music and, as is so often the case, the full depth of his commitment to his family and community was not apparent to me as we only met at school or music functions. Most recently, Anne and Denis attended the centenary commemoration performance of Why Muriel Matters as, unbeknown to me, Anne's sister Carol Young (another remarkably talented artist) plays Violet Tillard, Muriel's friend in the highly acclaimed play written by Sheila Duncan, commissioned by the Muriel Matters Society.

Denis was involved in the North Adelaide Basketball Club, too, where he coached the under 10 girls for more than 25 years, as well as serving as a general committee member and statistician. He was awarded life membership for his dedication to the club. Denis is survived by his wonderfully musical wife, Anne, and their sons, Kieran and Ryan, with whom he has left a remarkable legacy. Kieran is in his third year at university studying a Bachelor of Music Education and he is a member of The Adelaide Connection, the same choir his parents were in back in 1982. Ryan is in year 11 at Charles Campbell Secondary School, majoring in many performing arts subjects.

Most recently Denis has been a great supporter of the Festival Statesmen Youth Chorus of which Kieran and Ryan are founding members. Kieran is also a member of The Fishbowl Boys. The national convention and Pan Pacific regional competitions were held in Brisbane at the end of September. The event happens once every three years, with competitors hailing from all over Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii. The field of competitors totalled 46 in semi-finalist quartets and 26 in the choruses.

The Festival Statesmen Youth Chorus, under the direction of Jonathan Bligh, won gold in both the youth chorus barbershop and a cappella sections. The chorus was also awarded bronze in the open Australian chorus competition and bronze in the overall Pan-Pacific region competition. With just 24 singers, ranging in age from 15 to 30, the chorus was able to successfully compete against larger and more experienced groups.

Within the chorus, there are three quartets who also represented South Australia in competition. The Fishbowl Boys won gold in the barbershop youth quartet competition, gold in the youth a cappella and an amazing fifth in the open quartet contest—again, competing against quartets who are much older, with many more years experience than the 20-year-olds in the Fishbowl Boys. They were also voted the audience's favourite quartet.

Ryan's quartet, Now in Stereo!, representing the Charles Campbell Secondary School, was placed first in the Australian schools quartet competition and 15th in open—not bad for lads in years 10, 11 and 12. You Tune.com was placed 13th in the open quartet competition. I would like to say that both Kieran and Ryan are playing a major part in the great revival of male choirs here in South Australia.

In closing, I would like to mention the passing of David Bishop, who died on 26 July this year. The obituary in The Advertiser mentioned that David was, 'a fine cellist, an inspiring teacher and a strong advocate of music education.' David's vision was that every child should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

He attended his first national music camp aged 19, in 1948, when it was under the direction of his father who had become the Elder professor at Adelaide University the same year. Involved in the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for many years, David joined the newly established South Australian education department music branch in 1963, eventually becoming involved in setting up the special music centres at Marryatville, Brighton, Woodville and Fremont. The music branch continues this fine tradition today, thanks to the dedication of current music teachers.

David directed the State Music Camp for the first of many times in 1970 and the first South Australian Youth Orchestra season in 1978. David is survived by Josie, children Anthony and Rosemary and four grandchildren.

Although they never met, David and Denis apparently both shared a love of authoritatively debating a wide range of subjects and each seemed to like a glass of red. They leave the world a much better place for their work in music, for music has a way of transcending all. It has the power to cheer and unite. I know Denis had a favourite saying from Frank Zappa, who said: 'There are more love songs [in the world] than anything else. If songs can make you do something, we'd all love one another.'

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT