PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY CANBERRA
The Philharmonic Society was formed in the mid 1920s in Canberra. On Saturday 17th July, 1926 the Canberra Philharmonic Society starting at 7.30 pm performed for the first radio broadcast from the Federal Capital. It was broadcast by 2FC on a wavelength of 1100M and was broadcast throughout Australia. The performance took place in the Causeway Hall.
Reports of each concert found their way into the Canberra Community News and other papers It has a photograph of the Philharmonic society, a list of office bearers, the programme, members of the chorus and orchestra. Australian Archives CP698/9 Bundle6/48) The main transfer of Departments to Canberra commenced in early 1927. The majority of people in the Philharmonic Society in 1926 were construction workers and their family members.
OFFICE BEARERS
Patron: His Excellency the Governor General
President: JH Butters Esq CMG, MBE (First Commissioner - 1925-1929)
Vice Presidents: Sir John Harrison KBE, CH Gorman Esquire (Mr Gorman died in 1927 and at this time Hotel Ainslie was renamed Gorman House after him. The new hotel in the area was then name Hotel Ainslie.)
Committee: Miss L Sutor, Mrs Caffyn, Miss Paul, Mr L Edwards, Mr J Stuart, Mr H Woodlands, Mr E Katsch, Mr D Worrall, Mr J Rhienberger, Mr W House, Mr J Howick
Hon. Secretary: Ernest A Mowle
Hon Treasurer: Mr B Kelly
Auditors: J Honeysett, WH Dee
Stage Manger: W Farrow
Conductor: Ernest A Mowle
Photographs: J Mildenhall
PROGRAMME
Pm
7.30 - Fanfare of Trumpets
7.35 - "God Save the King."
7.40 - The Story of Canberra - a. To-day b. The Future
8.0 - Fanfare of Trumpets
8.5 - Overture - "Poet and Peasant"….Suppe
The Orchestra
8.15 - Soprano Solo and Chorus - "Inflammatus"(Stabat Mater) Rossini
Miss MABEL BATCHELOR, THE CAMBERRA PHILHARMONIC CHOIR and ORCHESTRA
8.25 - Aira - "Your Tiny Hand is Frozen" ("La Boheme") Puccini
MR ERNEST ARCHER (Tenor)
8.34 - Cornet Sol - "Air"…D'Hardelot
MR E EDWARDS
8.42 - Aria - "Infelice"(Ernani)…… Verdi
MR WILFRED THOMAS (Baritone)
8.50 - Scena (Aira & Duet) - "Miserer"("Il Trovatore")….Verdi
Miss MABEL BATCHELOR (Soprano), MR ERNEST ARCHER (Tenor) and the SOCIETY
9.00 - Song and Chorus "Toreador" ("Carmen") …Bizet
Mr E BUTTERWORTH
9.10 - Interval
9.15 - Song - "Give a Man a Horse He Can Ride" …..O'Hara
Mr WILFRED THOMAS (Baritone)
9.24 - Soprano Solo - "The Pipes of Pan"….. Monckton
Miss MABEL BATCHELOR
9.32 - Violin Solo - "The Volga Boat Song" …. Kriesler
Miss RUBY MOWLE
9.40 - Tenor Solo - "Siciliana" ("Cavalleria Rusticana") … Mascagni
Mr ERNEST ARCHER
9.48 - Coronet Sole - "Romance"……….Thomas
Mr L EDWARDS
9.56 - Sextette - "Lucia di Lammermoore"…Donizetti
Miss MABEL BATCHELOR, Mrs WL HEARD, Mr ERNEST ARCHER, Mr CC FITZPATRICK, Mr WILFRED THOMAS, Mr E BUTTERWORTH
10.05 - "God Save the King."
10.10 - Cross back to Farmer's Broadcasting Studios, Sydney, where dance music will be broadcast till 11.15 pm; supplied by the 2FC Dance Band. Conductor Mr Eric Pearse.
11.15 - 2FC closes down.
MEMBERS OF THE CHORUS
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Miss Banham Miss M Briton Mrs U Caffyn Mr S Dee Mrs JM Dunn Mrs Eggleston Miss K Field Mrs A Edwards Miss Eddy Mrs C Fitzpatrick Miss E Gerrard Mrs Gordon Mrs A Hickling Mrs A Nelson (sic Helson) Mrs J Honeysett Miss M Hall Mrs B Kelly Miss Keating |
Miss Kilpatrick Mrs E G Kelly Mrs Jackson Mrs J Lea Miss W Murray Mrs A Parr Mrs AW Paul Miss GA Paul Miss DM Robbins Mrs WE Sheen Miss L Sutor Miss Stewart Miss Thwaite Mrs Traynor Miss Turnbull Mrs S Donnelly Mrs L Leslie |
Mr Bertwisle Mr Bowditch Mr JM Dunn Mr DV Gordon Mr CD Denton Mr FG Heming Mr J Honeysett Mr CC Fitzpatrick Mr H Jennings Mr W Lea Mr E Katsch Mr B Kelly Mr EW Maxwell Mr A Macdonald Mr JC Marshall Mr R Nelson Mr A Neigardt Mr W O'Neill |
Mr J Traynor Mr J Henri Mr A Parr Mr W Porter Mr K Pomerants Mr J Stuart Mr A Rushton Mr P Donnelly Mr J Roberts Mr J Horwick |
MEMBERS OF THE ORCHESTRA
Violins: Miss A Avery, RC Allen, Mr WH Dee, Mr FC Canham, Mr E Matthews, Mr S Stevenson, Mr G Shead, Mr G Thomthwaite, Mr D Gropper, Mr E Russell, Mr L Thomas, Mr R Moule, Mr Charlton.
Bass: Mr W House
Flute: Mr A Glassey, Mr G Waine
Clarionets: Mrs JF Moffatt, Mr JW Naveau
Basoon: Mr F Landsdowne
Viola: Professor Haydon
Cello: Dr RG Woods, Mrs HWY Deane
Coronets: Mr L Edwards, Mr TW White
Trumpets: Mr Edwards, Mr Houghton, Mr Atkinson
Horns: Mr A Laker, Mr A Pappa
Trombones: Mr DG Stevens, Mr McGuinness
Tuba: Mr Pearl
Timpani: Mr AL Bruce
Percussion: Mr A Hickling, Mr J Lyons
Pianist: Mr CS Daley
In March 1928 the Hon Secretary of the society was Arthur J Paynting. He was also Hon Sec in 1927. Arthur Paynting wrote the following letter to the Social Service Senior Officer 21st March, 1928. The Social Service Association only lasted another year. (Australian Archives CP698/9 Bundle 6/55/2)
CANBERRA PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
Canberra
March 21st 1928
To the Social Service Officer
Federal Capital Commission
Dear Sir,
At the final meeting of the above Society I was instructed to send a letter of appreciation to your Deparment. It is with much pleasure therefore that I desire to express, on behalf of the members of my Society, the genuine gratitude which they feel for the assistance which your Dept has given from time to time to the officers of the Philharmonic Society, and to assure you of their sincere appreciation of the value of the services rendered by your Dept for the welfare of the Society as a body.
As Secretary, I must also express my personal gratitude for the courtesy I have always received from yourself and your staff.
Trusting that the Social Service will still prosper in Canberra, I am Sir,
Yours Faithfully,
Arthur J Paynting
Hon. Sec.