The People and Passing it Forward

Opera in the Vineyard is about giving of yourself…
by just attending you are touching so many other people's lives who may not receive the care and treatment if the funds raised through this event were not made available.

It may be a friend, a family member, or an acquaintance - research and assistance medically all assist in the progress of ensuring a better future for every new generation.

BOOK ONLINE NOW

Please wait patiently - this site is being built and uploaded by yet another volunteer… more to come this week.
If you have any feed back or photos or stuff you'd like to share
please contact Tania on… design@icpcraftpress.com.au.

People of the Opera

Our Music Makers.
The Opera organisers were very fortunate to be introduced to two musical friends of the Pugh’s early in their planning for the first Opera, Eric Hauff and Mike Evans. They gladly took on the role of Musical Directors. Mike assisted us for two? Years and Eric is now Directing his tenth Opera. Every year he finds talented and willing artists, coordinates their performances and organises their scores.

Eric’s artists have been privileged to have had the accompaniment of international pianist Kevin Power OAM since 1994, the first Opera score being performed by Michael Fulcher. Kevin’s only other absence was when a landslide prevented his attending! Kevin is a distinguished performer having performed throughout Australia and internationally. Popular choir master for the Qld State and Municipal Choir Kevin is also on the teaching staff of the Queensland Conservatorium of music ??

Compere Howard Ainsworth completes this dynamic musical team. Howard is the well loved former announcer of ABC radio station Classic 4MBS.

Due to overseas commitments our long serving compere Howard Ainsworth is unavailable. However he is to be ably replaced by Ms Kerry Vann. Known to many patrons, Kerry has attended almost all previous Opera’s as the world’s most qualified music page-turner! Kerry has ten degrees and diplomas in music, including a PhD and is a fellow of London’s Trinity College. A full time music teacher and examiner she has her own private studio where she instructs in piano, singing and percussion. She also performs at a high level, including for ten years with Opera Queensland. Kerry is a keen golfer and also has a collection of over 400 teddy bears. We welcome Kerry to the front of the stage this year.

5th Generations Winemakers.
The property now known as Ballandean Estate was cleared and planted by Angelo’s maternal grandfather Salvatore Cardillo in 1928, with Angelo’s parents Alfio and Josephine Puglisi continuing the business in 1937. In 1968 Angelo and Mary Puglisi took over and have progressively evolved the table grape and bulk wine production of the their forebears into the high quality winery it is today. Angelo and Mary’s two daughters and their husbands all work in the business and if you look around today you are sure to see their young children Liam, Steven, Hayden and Anna lending a hand and learning the ropes of a ‘wine-tourism’ business as it is now known.

Ballandean Estate on 4 continents
Did you know that you can now buy Ballandean Estate wines on 4 continents? Queensland’s premier winery recently added Taiwan and Canada to their list of export countries. Ballandean Estate wines have been exported to the USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and some small shipments to Singapore.

Export is a rapidly expanding part of the Ballandean Estate wines business and the growth in exports, and Australian sales prompted our recent expansion program. All around you today is an ever modernising, 500 tonne winery with the absolute latest technology in presses, bottling facilities, and barrel and bottled wine storage. All of this expansion is a result of the ever increasing discovery by wine drinkers all over of the world, of just how good Queensland wine can be.

Howard’s Way.
Our ever popular compare Howard Ainsworth return to the Opera in 2004, after missing his duties in 2003. Howard was hard at work leading a music lovers tour of Europe, visiting such places as Vienna and Prague for operas and concerts. Howard is a busy traveller, often leading tours to the Adelaide festival and organising tours to Prague, Salzburg, Berlin and Dresden. Being the Broadcast Manager for Radio 4MBS Classic FM Howard is eminently qualified for such ‘onerous tasks’. Howard has been with 4MBS for 15 of their 25 years. On a personal note, Howard is a practising civil celebrant (“I do births and deaths but mainly marriages”) and is a well sought after compare. His hobbies include anything to do with cricket, ships, milkshakes. If you are interested in ever joining Howard on a music tour give 4MBS a call on 3847 1717 for information.

Eric on Song.
Ever wondered who is the maestro behind the Opera ensemble each year? The Opera Times can reveal it is Eric Hauff, the Opera in the Vineyard’s Artistic Programme Director. Eric has a strong Queensland background in business and the arts and although not a Rotarian, the Stanthorpe Club count him as a friend, generous with his time and skills. Born into one of Queensland’s pioneering families at Blackall, he was educated in Brisbane, then employed as a wool valuer and auctioneer. As a young man in post-war Brisbane, Eric was an active swimmer, tennis player, pianist and ballroom dancer, until he commenced vocal training with Ruby Dent, famous for her Queensland Musical and Theatre Guild. This cemented his interest in the performing arts and his involvement as an actor, singer, dancer, director or administrator has spanned 50 decades. A notable recent involvement was as director of the Queensland Musical Theatre’s Iolanthe in 2003.

To bring the Opera in the Vineyard program together Eric seek artists from throughout Australia, liaises with their agents, seeks contractual releases from their companies, coordinates the selection of works, arranges rehearsals, researches and proofs the printed program, and even organises the mundane necessities of transport and accommodation. At an age when many of us would be retired Eric is still active in the long-standing family butchery business at Sunnybank.

If the enthusiastic applause heard as the sun goes down at Ballandean Estate on the first Sunday in May each year is any indication, Eric is the maestro with the most-est, and we hope he keeps Ballandean in his wide circle of interests for many years to come.

Happy Birthday Rotary.

On 23 February 2005 Rotary International celebrated its 100th birthday. Rotary started as a group of 4 professional men meeting in the law offices of its founder Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905. It is now the largest and most successful service organization in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotarians (men and women) in 32,000 Clubs in 200 counties.
Rotary’s premier project is PolioPlus, a partnership that began in 1984. Polio Plus is on track to see the world declared polio free. Millions of children have been spared a life ruined by this crippling disease due to the financial and practical help of ordinary Rotarians just like those that you will meet running Opera in the Vineyard.
On a local level the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe has marked the Centenary with the completion of its project, the Jean Harslett Library at the Stanthorpe Museum. This building houses the many thousand of pictures and reports that local historian Jean Harslett has compiled over 60 years and is a wonderful local resource.
The Rotary District 9640 Centennial Project was the production of a history book documenting the history and activities of the 54 Clubs in Rotary District 9640. Commissioned by District Governor Margaret Hayes and compiled and edited by Stanthorpe Rotarian Past District Governor David Lee. With 184 pages and 942 pictures the book is a very descriptive legacy of the activities of the District’s 1,524 Rotarians.

Profitable primary industries is this ambassador’s focus

Stanthorpe Shire now has a new ambassador with a keen commitment to profitable primary industries for the region.

Ballandean Estate’s Leeanne Gangemi has accepted appointment as a Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries honorary ambassador, recognising her leadership role and commitment to primary industries.

In announcing the appointment, Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said ambassador positions are imperative for building DPI&F relationships and representing the department in the business of creating wealth for primary industries. Previously appointed ambassadors include Richmond and Barcoo mayors John Wharton and Bruce Scott, and Wendy Erhart, who is a principal of Withcott Seedlings, Mr Mulherin said.

Applethorpe-based DPI&F science leader Shane Dullahide said Leanne, who is the daughter of Angelo and Mary Puglisi, has played a major role in developing the Ballandean Estates wine business to be one of the largest and most respected in the state.

“She is a board member of the Southern Downs Tourist Association, associated with the Queensland College of Wine Tourism project, and a founder of the Stanthorpe In-Season Farmers’ Markets,” he said. “Leanne has helped develop and promote the Queensland wine industry, particularly as an organiser of the Australasian Small Winemakers’ Show held annually in Stanthorpe. “She has worked with the DPI&F in developing a local signature dish competition, and participated in the acclaimed Building Rural Leaders program,” Mr Dullahide said.