musical memory

Learning about the historical events of a community is expected at a local history seminar, but finding out more about personal history was a bonus recently. I was thrilled to hear about my hometown, and further questions revealed a shared memory of primary school.

A gypsy chorus girl, Tweed Heads Primary School, 1969

I always remembered this photograph of myself in a "gypsy" costume, because it was one of the first I have in colour. Looking closely, I recall my mother's pink shawl, the apron made in sewing class, the curtain ring 'earrings', and a love of beads. It is probably the only photo with all my adult teeth, some painfully extracted at a later age. I remember the make-up being applied with my mother in attendance, on the landing at the top of the stairs leading to the main Primary School Hall. 

The stairs leading to the School Hall in 2019

Until this year, I didn't remember the name of the musical or how it came to be. That's where the seminar provided an amazing connection - the teacher who had been tasked with organising the musical also attended. Yvonne, a Tweed Shire local, returned for a two-year teaching stint at Tweed Heads Primary School. She was asked to arrange a musical in both 1969 and 1970.

Her first choice was "The Gypsy Gay", the lead character "Romany Rof". Trove reveals that this musical was a stalwart of school productions for many years in many Australian states. 

Did participation also bestow a love of musicals and being part of them? Certainly I tried in high school, but never made it past the chorus line.