Pianists/Music
When Bruce and Carmel Murdoch loaned their beautiful piano to the Museum, it was the start of a new era of museum presentation. Every day we endeavour to provide
a pianist for visitors enjoyment. Each has their own unique style and plays a wide variety of music adaptable to age needs. Visitors can enjoy tunes from WW1 right up
to present day hits or request their favourites.
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May Clarke began playing piano at age 4 and in Grade 7 taught others to play whilst a student teacher at Southsea, England. She completed her exams through Trinity
College and gained an Associate Degree.
May married Frederick Clarke in Portsmouth on 24th June 1939, with war breaking out only two months later. Her first piano owned as a married woman was blown to
bits three weeks before the birth of her first child. The Army replaced the piano, a black upright, with a grand piano when they repaired her home.
May and Fred became 'Ten Pound Poms' and left England in January 1948, landing in Sydney on 8th March. May started teaching children in Kingaroy, Qld as well as
performing in public.
From 1948 to 1984 May was the official accompanist at the Eisteddfods held in Kingaroy and was honoured in 1982 with a decoration from the Queen - an MBE for
services to music in the area.
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Bob Cowle learned classical piano from the age of seven, passing exams to progress through the grades. Wanting to play sport he gave piano away until one day, about
the age of 17, he heard a jazz band on the radio.
He knew immediately that this was his type of music and was the start of him playing with all sorts of bands.
Family commitments again put music on hold until a mate asked him to play the string bass. The friend needed a bass player for a lucrative New Years Eve party for a
Barrister living at Rose Bay in Sydney. This engagement was the start of 20 years playing the double bass. Bob played with the "Cootamundra Jazz Band" who made
EP recordings.
These days, as well as playing for the Museum, Bob plays for retirement and nursing homes and will make up a trio to play on Melbourne Cup Day this
year at the Brolga Theatre.
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Ed Francis
was born in Gympie but spent most of his childhood years at Owanyilla. Most of his family learned to play the piano. He
had lessons from Miss Turner while he was a student at Mungar State School. Miss Turner came from Gundiah by train and the lessons took place in the teachers
house on the school piano. As a fifteen year old Ed played with the Maryborough High School band. Ed's music was fostered and developed by the church but he also
learned to play old time dance music. During the 1960's he played for balls and dances in the local area.
In 1971 Ed Moved away to work in Gladstone, where he met and married Barbara. By the end of the 70's he was again playing for the church and balls and dances.
Ed played for his last dance in Gladstone in 1997 and returned to study at Central Queensland University. He completed a Batchelor of Education degree.
Employment opportunities took Ed to live in Longreach and eventually back to Maryborough in 2007. When he discovered a need for pianists at the Museum he
became a volunteer.
Ed believes that everyone has something to contribute to the local community. With his music, Ed feels that he is giving something back. He has enjoyed music all of
his life and is rewarded with the camaraderie and friendships that he draws by being a volunteer at the Museum. Be it only as a musician.
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Mary Oliver began learning piano at about 8 or 9 and has no formal qualifications - always playing for pleasure.
When her new husband Herb started work as Shire Clerk in Miriam Vale, Queensland, Mary was asked to play for the church and Sunday School.
Then again when he transferred to Gin Gin they became heavily involved in the social life of the area and Mary played for her church and local concerts.
She is still a church organist in Maryborough and although now having no piano at home, she plays voluntarily for organisations as well as our Museum.
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Carolyn Grevell started her musical career playing for St Columbus' church at Maryborough on a pedal organ and later playing contemporary music at night in church
during the 60's and 70's.
In the 60's Carolyn performed for Maryborough radio station 4MB in a 4 piece band called the 'Red Robins'.
Later husband Glen joined with his guitar - the band being called 'Touch of Brass'. They played for balls, weddings and the Hockey Association 250 clubs up to the
early 1980's.
Carolyn hadn't touched a piano for 9 years previous to the opening of the museum, when she was asked if she would play. She thoroughly enjoys playing her music and
meeting all the people who pass through the Museum.
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