1990 School Magazine

In the ensuing years Miss Grimes graduated with a B. A from the Univei'sity of Queensland, and B. Mus. from the University of Adelaide. a iai'e achievement in tliose days As ait itinerant 111usic specialist. Louise Grimes conti. Ibuted a great deal to the development of music education ill Queensland schools. She later lectured at both KGlvin Grove and KGdron Park Training Colleges becoinino Dean of Women aitd Senior Lecturer in Music at Kedroii Park Louise Grimes studied piano with Ethel Martin. and organ with George Sampson whoiiT she succeeded as Organist and Master of the Choristers at St John's Anglican Cathedral in 1947. She remained 111 that position until 1959 The present Cathedral organist and Master of the Choristers. Mr Robert Boughen. praised the work done by Miss Grimes. "Her achievements at the Cathedral were virttially a labour of love. " he said. "She had a wonderful feeling for poetiy and the Liturgy, and thought the Cathedral was the In OSt beautiful place in the world Musical Iy she embraced the traditions of the English Church. Louise Grimes. literally dragged the Cathedral into the twentieth centtiry in repertoire with performances of contemporary works not long after they were composed. " The very popular Christmas Carol Service was her initiative. She also introduced visits to the Royal Brisbane Hospital by the choir boys After her retireiiTent in 1974. Louise Grimes embarked with Gritltusiasm o11a farming venture. She would often be seen driving a mini-tractor round the five acres she and her sister Lilian. cultivated at Jimboomba A memorial service was held at St John's Cathedral on September 231'd for her RHODA FELGATE Rhoda Felgate MB. E. . OA. M. . M. A . FTC. L. Founder/ Directorand Patron of Twelfth Niglit Theatre. nowtrading as TN Theatre Company. died on September 14 in the We SIey Hospital at the age of eighty-nine Born in London on July 31.1901. she arrived witli ITer family in Sydneyin 1903. nTovingwith them to Brisbanein 1910. Miss Felgate's early education was at the Normal School. before attending Bi'ishane Girls' Grammar School in 1914. as a Scholarship student. She returned to B. G. G. S in 1923 whei'e she remained until 1948 as Speech and Drama Elocution teacher In 1926 Rhoda Eelgate helped form the Repertory Society whose aim was to foster amateur acting talent. She was also involved with boilT the Dickens' Fellowship and the Shakes peare Society. In 1928 SITe was the first Brisbane person to ITave the honour of being made a Fellow of Trinity College. London for speech. In 1936 Rhoda Felgate was instrLimental in forming Twelfth Night Theatre. a performance platform for aspiring young actors who

played on the twelfth night of each month in a room in Empire Chambers at the corner of Queen and Wharf Streets. Twenty years later Gowne Hall at 39 Wickham Terrace. leased from the Bain family. became the home of Twelftl\ Night Theatre. That same year. 1958. Miss Felgate was awarded an MB. E. for her services to theatre Rhoda Felgate continLied as director of Twelth Night Theatre until 1960 when she retired but continued to teach at lier Kangaroo Point home until the 1980s. In 1973 the Speech and Drama Teachers' Association of which she was a life member paid tribute to Rhoda Eelgate's fifty years of teaching with the introduction of a Rhoda Felgate Lecture presented every second year by a prominent Australian poet or playwright. She was for many years an ABC Commissioner and also chiefexaminerin speech for the AME. B. Today Rhoda Felgate's influence is felt both in professional and amateur theatre and in every area of speech education Rhoda Eelgate's funeral service was held on September 18 at SI Andrew's Uniting Church, Ann Street

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