Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 1999

ck, :I IC e e t The Great White

What is his secret? What does the future hold? Knowing more about Gratam Whito has perhaps given me some insight into his somet formula. There is Do doubt that when one learns more about bing one is not so over-awed by his physical presence but muler by his character bunt by years of had work Iris ideals of loyalty. spirit and a geat sense of fun make him 'The Great White'. As to the future - weU next year we are going 10 see a 'new' Grabam White, runimg the Torch Relay and presenfuig manls a the Sydney Olympics. A1 BGGS - let's keep bringing home the gold!

water and the sort. Don Talbot, current AUS"an an Coach visited the pool when Cmham was almost eighL "Kei, h* 801 real imagine lime new Year Eights trying on their pole", inI. b", foree, chou, G, atom .... Ih@, kid will, "ryer mute if!" he told Frank Tingedy Coach's swimiimg shat. Sunie. Steph and I were cheeky enough to try this when we in VCd struck the White household when Kenh at BCGS in 1996. We've alumwn a bit since contracted Uubemia and died at the age o twelve. an of the energies of Frank wentinto then but w sun are awed by the physical presence of 'The Great White' developing Grubarn He was to become the I did not know much about ,, ir White until I swimmer that Keith would never be Fortunarely for Callam, by the age of nine he read a swimming infomiation sheer which contained a few snippeis or information about had devdoped good stroke leeimque and early successes at age wine led to him being garnied a Jantren Swimming Scholarship in 1960 Anna Moore

Commonwealth Games when Galam was a triple Gold Madamst and World Record holder He swam perhaps his most memorable individual mee - the 400m Freestyle aL these games. He came from behind after nitssing the last torn to w' the race. Despite living in America, Ocham continued to swim for Australia and compele in Suf Lifesaving competitions. Ahar Ih Munich Olympics in 1972, where he agal, I represented Australia, Ginham was gunned an acadentic scholarship to Harvard. However. due to fully miness he was not able to complete his degree there and returned to Australiain late 1972. He win has many fond memories of his time in the Slates, and of him friendships, which sun exist today

This was a gal boost for a country boy - an his coaching fees paid rot a season and some trim"Ig in Sydney

1973 was a momentous year - Granam White came 10 live in Brisbane. His fully remained in Vieioria while Gramm stoned ajob with the SIaie Tides led to more successes Brisbane City Council. Surf Lifesaving, which and despite moving around had always played a major part in his rife Australia and a short stay in became a real focus in the seventies and he England where I'ller$ to Ihe became Australian and World Slut Champion amor un Ih local Norwich paper winning surf nets, suit belt mees and R & R complained about Ihe "Down orescue and Resuscitotion . Queensland was a U, uler Swim Boy" unfairly positive move f Grubam. Surf Lifesaving had competing against the locals, strong links with Water Polo so it was not long Ginham continued to show before Granam was helping Queensland to win improvement with his swinuning. its first Men's Water Polo medal at National After salting back in Australia Championships (1975). By the 1980's. Grubam in country Victoria where his had married and his interests diversmed into father became an Aboriginal coaching and refereeing. notjust water sports, Welfare Officer, Granam's but - Australian Rules and Netball too. ms swilluniing began 10 thrive. By dents in Sports Admitiistration were used 1968, Gratam was swimming extensively by the City Council when Brisbane well enough to be setocied as a hostsd the Commonwealth Games in 1982. in member of Australia's Olympic 1984 Galam White was awarded an OALl Team to compete in Mexico. His coach Harry onedal of The Order of Australia for Services ager, w o ha so wn raser, o Do Just how did Mr Grabam White OAM become 1500m Freestyle events where he came roarih involved at BGGS? Through Netba". Cribam and fifth respectively. The Four by 200m bad a link to BGGS with Ms JaneUe Freestyle relay saw Galam win a silver Derimglon, a former teacher and swimiming prepared the Melbourne High School schoolboy to compete in the 400m and

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oar coach - "Olympic and Conunonwealth Games med'rims " - it was hard to believe. A few not so subtle questions to the teacherin charge of swimming coltunied these facts and prompted me to investigate mmher

Galam Ross White, hamin 1951 in a

coordinator. He attended the 1992 cosSSA swimmting and put a proposal to Mrs Hancock He believed he could produce a winning ream in 1993 he became the BOGS Swi, inning Coach. By 1994 BOGS had won the swimming

Northern New South Wales cotsial lown, learnt medal - his proudest moment so far.

to swini early at age two. His brother Keith.

\

,6

roar years older was already showing potential Rerunning to school must have been difficult

^" *

as a swilluner so Frank White (Ocham's

but Cribam mumeulated and gained a

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rather) took both sons along 10 Iruiimg at the swimming scholarship to colornta Slate

University. Don CombriU, The USA Olympic for the first time in 75 Years' Poor wins in six when he first stoned ^rimo! Needless to say. coach. then became Cribam's mentor and his years since 1993 speaks for itserr he did not like it very much but he enjoyed the work paid dividends in the 1970 Edinburgh Kernpsey pool. Grubam was truce years old

. Ig or

r 's NO G

h

Am's goals are simple, she wants to perform, and she wants people to hear her music and love it as much as she does. "People font be!i, uelh@,@11 Iw@", to do isp^,. Proc, ise cam be a b", denfor sonre, bullbrmeirisj"staino, her way loinp, Due 15"p"sew" could 30.1w@", to shapemy music with Ihe world". An

in

houns of piano a day. When she was at school, ed"care everybody. people don V 80 to coneeris an would wake up at five, preense until it was 10 be educ@, ed. Ihqv go to be cm, err@med. " in time to leave home, arrive at school. pmctise at New York an went so for as to come out on

Iacqui Mantle

The first thing that strikes you about AUShalian molting tea and lunch, arrive home and proctise stage for her Iasi piece in her favounitejeans, pianist Ni Wood mast student 1993-1995) is onin eleven o'clockat night. However this work red top and sneakers. What was the reaction? her age, 'Vim eigh, ee, ,. " she tells me. mis never worried the young teenager. "11 was "Well. .. " ponders An, "I'm sure some people difficult to believe. Eighteen year olds are not dad:c"11 whenJw@s disch@o1. Whenllqiingr@de were shocked b", Ihe a, adje"ce loved if. " As professionals. they do not possess the ton it bee@"" much easier. J was practising rein weU as this an plays repertoire once considered

from, s @ day toslye",. so now I'm dot"" to eigl, , impossible for a girl of her size and age. "For Aji is a performer, she loves music, she loves

datennination to proctise ten hows a day and they rarely have estab"shed an international career. However his is where Am Wood is an exception. At timeen years of age she

und it's jusr a breeze. " However, an is notjust ribo, ,I ni. e"Iy to Ihi, a, years mr one wonru"

the audience and she loves the singe. an has a

a machine. Like most people an is notimmune wowldpl@y Ihe reh"ikm. sky concerto. and Ihe" stubborn determination She is not modesc but

10 doubts and problems. "Ido gel depressed. " IPI"yedir wiih nv0 o1her coneeri@s in one

she is not hasth, I. She bows her chinty and is not prepred to allow anything to hold her

achieved her A Mus A in piano, at fifteen she an aimits, '7801depressedrhe orher Wednesday ,, 18hi when Iwas six, ee". ' left school to study as a pianist and at eighteen rindsolj"stankdjbr" cowle of hours. it J back An reflects on her career path simply she made her New York debut at Carnegie Hall. rho"gh, 1'1180 spy, ads@MCImo, my. so Idtd. B", As A1i begins to talk about her music "To succeedjo" h@e to love pky, ing Ihepi",@ in a field where success is slim and competition der@ whilelw"s, e"!b, sick", dbo"dby'$"king performance and her goals, it soon becomes more rim, amylhi"g in Ihe work* b", ills "tore is plentiful, All has emerged in the music world and so I we"I back to pr"cribe. Thai's how i, apparent what she loves the most. AM's entire Ih Ih@" it's g", s and delemi"", ion @, ad being as a giant amongst pianists. She is toown for w'orb. " demeanor changes, she stops smiling andjoking. able to bounce back every rime you 're kicked her abi"ry to captivate audiences, shock and acqimes a distont thoughthilness as she talks down row have to be able to sillhe, ejbr, e" Aji is also considered a revolutionary in the conservatives and play reusnoire never abouther concerts. "110ve, oped@rin. " she says, fro, ,73 a day undpmc, ise rift",'s wh@, you world of music. in the past, pianists have attempted before V love getting 5/@"ding ovations. 701, CFS dad have to do. " Am is not afraid. she is not daunted always adhered to a salent but rigid code of chocol@, es and limit all I need. For people 10 by the prospect of work and she is determined an's career choice as aconcertpiaiiislhas always conduct. Previously, it was unheard of for like what I'm doing. and to gel some, king our of 10 be the hasL However most of all an has an been and continues to be demanding. competitive musicians to use Uuhting to enhance their my conte, ,s Ih@! Ina. can reinen, be, for the r's, empathy with music pommeled by fow. "Music and difficult. When an reflects on the hours she pertonnance, costume changes were out of the of ,heir liver. " An holds an intense passion for h@s become my nib. it has become my career bar works and the physical and mental endurance she question and fireworks were unititnl:able. But music. She tells me she loves music: it is the i, twit a bude, ,. Itoi, on, ypa, , of ". " At just needs for piano she speaks fin"kly, "11 doer" 't an hameves that these effects add to the impact driving force belimd her work delennination and eighteen Am's datermination, her Forumd mailer what yo" wari, to do. ryou want to be Ihe on the au"ence. "JPky, concerts andlplco, success. "How could you put in Ihe hours and passion and revolutionary approach have seen b"! tile" you have to Ivork " it is this desire to Ih, in so rim, ,he a, die, "CS tyrodq, enjoy evenped@am wi, h so MMch energy @, ulp@$310"if her emerge as a pianist who wi" become be the best that means alpinetises at least eight Ihem ", said Aji, "There's "op@tint 11yi"g to you didn't love what y@,,'re doing?" asks An. challenged by few.

GinftfM*R OAZ^EMIY1999 - Page14