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Eleanor Roosevelt is quoted as saying, “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.”
This is true, as far as it goes, but I think women demonstrate their many strengths daily. Some of the women of Greater Shepparton have contributed to our community in many varied and important ways.
Here are two of them.
Joyce Dawber
When I was seven, I attended my first dance class — in the Star Theatre. Though eager to learn, I was very shy. However, I was soon ‘adopted’ by a girl who had two years of dance under her belt. Her name was Joyce but over the years she became ‘Joybelle’ to me — don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. On that first day, she told me what to do and where to go. “No! Not your left foot!”
Over the years, Joybelle and I danced whenever and wherever anyone asked us. We were part of a troupe of entertainers who put on fund-raising concerts in small towns. We travelled all over, from Finley to Seymour and many places in between, raising funds for a children’s playground or repairs to the hall or whatever. And we competed against one another in dance competitions — we were very competitive; which of us had more medals? Apex Antics was always the highlight.
Joyce joined the Light Music Company for its first performance of Salad Days — as choreographer — and when that company merged with the drama group, she became a part of Shepaprton Theatre Arts Group. My husband had done a couple of shows with Turaton, but Joybelle stole him for STAG, saying, “We need you more”. He was doing his second production and having a good time when I suddenly felt extremely left out. I rang Joyce — the show was cast, and I should have auditioned. She asked if I just wanted to dance, and I said that was all I could do (though I was extremely out of practice). I became a part of Guys and Dolls, for which Joyce won a Georgy Award for the leading role of ‘Adelaide’.
Joyce was an active member of the Light Music Company/STAG for 50 years. She was on the committee for decades and directed and choreographed musicals. Neither of us can figure out exactly how many productions she participated in.
She is, of course, a life member of the group.
Joybelle was also busy elsewhere. She trained St Mary’s debutantes for 13 years and, following that, taught tap dancing to mature ladies who had “always wanted to dance”. Over 12 years, the ‘Tantalising Tappers’ made several public performances, became great friends, and still meet for dinner occasionally.
When I asked how many years she had choreographed shows for ‘Initial Stages’, she said, ‘Oh! I don’t know, 15, perhaps 20.’
She has extensive memorabilia — and lots of photos she has carefully preserved. One is a studio shot, including about 15 dancers, all in long white tutus. Joyce and I were juniors at that time, surrounded by the senior troupe. I have no memory of the photo or the performance; however, given that I’ve encountered so many ladies who were, at some stage, a part of the dance school, I’ll work on a way to show it to you all. Perhaps a short history of Mrs Thomas’ School of Dance — and a lot of pics?
Joyce received an OAM for her contribution to the arts in 2019.
I’m guessing that Joybelle has long forgotten the ‘private lessons’ I had — in the alleyway beside the Star Theatre. I never will!
Pat Moran
This was a friendship waiting to happen. Pat originally contacted me around three years ago — and I responded. Then, there were more emails and phone calls. We talked about having a cuppa but didn’t get around to it.
In January, I got in the car, drove about half a kilometre, turned four or five corners, and we finally met. She felt, to me, like an old friend I had known forever but not seen for some time. We talked for hours. Because I hadn’t put the dots together, I had failed to realise that, largely due to music, our children had formed various friendships.
Eventually, over our cuppa, we decided it was time to tell the international village/botanic gardens story, in which Pat was a proud participant. Pat had participated in that battle in every way possible, and there were very fat files!
Pat and Bernie Moran moved to Shepparton in 1964 with two small sons. By 1976, there were five children. However, as her children grew, motherhood didn’t prevent her from taking on and completing an associate diploma in social sciences/community development (1989); it included sociology and political modules. She also completed several bachelor of arts modules, including women’s studies and six modules of journalism.
Pat is a life member of South Shepparton Community House, having been involved since its inception in 1986.
And during the Federal Election of 1996, when Bernie stood for Labor, Pat’s differing politics didn’t prevent her from doing some of his secretarial work. She says they were rarely at odds with their social principles. There was just one time when she said, “I’m not typing that!” Bernie was also voluntary secretary of local Labor and held that position until he passed away in 2009 — when, Pat says, she lost her best friend and supporter.
In 1998, Pat was voted on to the board of GV Health. She remained there for 10 years and then worked on the consumer advisory committees for another decade. She says she has been a long-time user of GV Health’s services, and it was time to “give back”.
In 1999, Pat became involved in setting up the Shepparton branch of the National Council of Women. For 14 years, she worked alongside Jeanette Powell and others to keep the branch active. They aimed to increase women’s participation in politics at all levels — and on boards and committees.
I am not forgetting her work with the Friends of Parkside Gardens committee from 2000 to 2006.
In 2011, the Women’s Charter Alliance was formed. This was an advisory group to Greater Shepparton City Council, and, of course, Pat was there for the next seven years. She is also a supporter of the Reconciliation Group and was given a council volunteer award this same year.
Pat is now celebrating 60 years of living in Shepparton and observing the wonderful sense of community, in good times and bad. In her words: “Volunteerism is vital, valued and valuable in all service areas. I thank the network of friends of all cultures I have met on my journey.”
Pat is a warm, intelligent, kind and gentle woman, deceptively strong and persistent. She loves a chat and a hug.
A bored child is a creative child
Recently, my eldest son and I were discussing the fact that today’s children are rarely bored; there is usually a device around and a game to play. He says that it was when he and his brothers were bored that they became inventive; creative, if you like.
My thought: they must have been extremely bored the day they created a way to use the sun’s rays to burn a neat hole in a new trampoline. It is likely they were shocked by their success — but they never got another tramp!
That’s it for this week
I thank Pat and Joybelle for their tolerance of my interference. There will be more of the ‘Women of Greater Shepparton’ next time. Have a good week, and enjoy International Women’s Day if you want to. Take care, stay well and laugh a lot.
May it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)
Town Talk