Jo showcases her talent
Talented singer Jo Diretto was absolutely delighted when it was announced that she was among eight performers in each category of the 2022 production of Drowsy Chaperone to be nominated for Georgy Awards.
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Selected to play a cameo role of Trix the aviator, Jo gave it her all at each of the eight performances by the Shepparton Theatre Arts Group (STAG) and while a relatively new performer, she has shown she has the talent to achieve a long-held goal to perform professionally in musical theatre.
“I love performing and while rehearsals are hard, once you are in costume and playing the character, it comes together,” she said.
Jo received nominations for best singer and best cameo and admitted it was such an enormous thrill to be nominated alongside such talented singer/performer like Stefania Panella who played the lead singing role in the Drowsy Chaperone and claimed the Georgy award.
“Stefania is absolutely amazing and so talented,’’ said Jo.
The awards incorporate performing arts groups from throughout the north-east region with many talented performers vying for recognition and hopeful of capturing one of the many prestigious awards.
After the production ended in April, 22-year-old Jo moved to Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Business degree at La Trobe University in Bundoora, while also undertaking a short course in musical theatre at NIDA.
With university finished for the year, Jo is back in Cobram working at the Community Cinema and helping on the family orchard and has enrolled at Barooga’s indoor swim centre to become a swim instructor.
A young woman determined to ensure she doesn’t waste a moment, Jo looks forward with huge anticipation to an audition next month with Williamstown Amateur Theatre Company for its new production, The Boy from Oz, a musical based on the life of Peter Allen. For Jo to land the role of Liza Minelli would be a dream come true for the amazingly talented 22-year-old.
Recognising locals in World War I and II
Historian and author Margaret E. Fleming has launched her latest booklet honouring the memory of local men who served in the armed forces during World War I and World War II.
Titled Yarroweyah and Koonoomoo — Soldiers who fought in WWI and WWII, the launch was held at the Cobram Bowling Club with approximately 60 people attending and welcomed by Cobram/Barooga RSL president Glen Murphy.
The book was an initiative of fifth-generation Yarroweyah man Peter Sutton who was born and educated in Cobram. His father Jim ran the Mobil service station and still lives in the town today. Peter has a similar interest to Margaret in ensuring that local families remain a part of local history.
Peter has been instrumental in working with RSL clubs and government to obtain funding for suitable memorials to honour the memory of locals and their service to their country in both wars.
Introducing Margaret, Peter congratulated her on her ability to research the history of local families and to bring to life their stories.
Margaret was herself born in Yarroweyah and grew up on a soldier settlement farming property and despite living in Melbourne for many years has the district in her heart and visits regularly.
Margaret attended Cobram Consolidated School before moving to Melbourne with her mother and siblings, and travelled back each weekend to visit her dad Ian Fleming on the farm.
At age 18 after attaining her high school certificate, Margaret attended teachers’ college and it was some years later that she met and married the love of her life. The young married couple then moved to Warracknabeal where her policeman husband was stationed and Margaret took a position teaching at the local junior high school.
Over the years, the couple had four children, but in 1981 tragedy struck the young family and her husband passed away due to a sudden illness at the age of 40. There were to be many difficult times for Margaret and the children, however education was at the forefront of a future for them all. The children worked hard and studied and would have made their father extremely proud. Each went to university, and attained a masters’ degree in their chosen profession.
Margaret spent 17 years teaching migrants English with AMES (Adult Migrant Refugee Services) and also spent four years teaching English at a girls TAFE college in Dubai.
Writing and history go hand in hand for Margaret and her passion for telling people’s stories has not waned over the years and undoubtedly there are more to come.
The historian has donated copies of her book to surrounding schools, Cobram library and historical societies to ensure all children have an opportunity to learn and understand the importance of local history.
If you would like to purchase a copy of this interesting read please email Margaret: mmoxhamfleming3@bigpond.com
- WW1 — (1914-1919)
In World War I, young men from the district, who were second and third generation children of the original wheat and sheep farmers, gave up their farming and labouring jobs to seek adventure by enlisting in areas of conflict overseas. The Great War was to cause a catastrophic loss of life and just as many servicemen were injured. Six men from Yarroweyah were killed.
- WWII — (1939-1945)
Word War II was just as devastating and again farmers’ sons enlisted and fought overseas, firstly in Europe and later South East Asia and the Pacific. Three men from Yarroweyah lost their lives.
Some returned to find changed conditions where the land was gradually being converted from sheep and wheat production to dairy farming and orchards, with the introduction of irrigation.
WWI — Among locals included in the book and which readers may recognise are: Bourchier-Evelyn Denison and Norman Gerald; Bruce-Robert Thomas; Houlihan-Daniel Francis; Jordan-Robert John; Levings-Victor; Maidment-John Thomas and Henry James; Morris-Thomas; Woods-Norman Leslie.
WWII — Bourchier-Cyril Hector; Collie-Murdoch Andrew; Hanrahan-Austen Anthony; Houlihan-Thomas Joseph, Francis and Gerald; Leahy-Gerald Daniel and Francis John; Maidment Leo; Morris John Alexander, Thomas Robert and Keith Henry; Mudge-Robert William and Robert Alexander; Naughton-Michael, Stokes-Michael Alfred and Albert Murphy, Tweddle-Geoffrey Walter; Windsor-Dominic Patrick, John Ernest and Augustine.
Three little cuties enjoy a lovely spring day
The happiness on the faces of these three cuties while out enjoying a luncheon treat with their mums on a lovely spring day recently is infectious.
The sun was shining and blue sky abounded, a day following several days of considerable rainfall, definitely all that was needed to brighten one’s day.
Especially for these beautiful cuties.
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