GOLDEN Rivers Theatre Group has received a Murray River Council arts and culture award for an “outstanding contribution to the local arts space”.
The group has decades of performing in the region, beginning in 1990 when volunteers came together for a concert-hall musical to raise funds for the local hospital.
For many years the amateur group performed at many different venues around the Murray Valley, but settled down at Sandy Faulkner Pavilion in Barham in 2007.
Group president Veronica Martens said the group was excited about the Australia Day award.
“It’s been really amazing. We weren’t expecting it,” Ms Martens said.
The group has faced many challenges, one of the biggest being COVID-19 lockdowns from 2020 to 2021, when it was unable to perform for over a year, resulting in many leaving the group.
Its 2022 production Motherhood – The Musical had only four performers due to lockdowns as well as floods in the region, but to Ms Martens it was a very special moment.
“We didn’t actually think we’d get there in the end with everything going on, but it was really good and the audience loved it, and it was a lot of fun to make.”
In 2023, the group came back strongly with its second original production, Kackawackadoo Bay, with 30 volunteers on board.
The musical, written by local theatre veteran Elaine Keely, centred around the titular town and how the locals fought to “save it” from redevelopment.
The production was well received by audiences as tickets to their shows sold out.
“We’ve got so many more people involved who are passionate and ready to help and it’s really amazing to see,” Ms Martens said.
While people under 16 make up the majority of the crew, the theatre group is open for ages 12 to 80.
Ms Martens is a veteran at the theatre group, having performed in her first show, in the 1990s, at age 8.
Throughout the many productions she has worked on over the years, one thing has remained the same.
“They all involve working with people towards the same goal, same interests and passion for theatre,” she said.
The group will receive the award at a local Australia Day event, where other groups and residents will also be recognised for their service to the community.
Murray River Council Mayor Frank Crawley congratulated the award recipients and nominees.
“I would like to acknowledge all the nominees and congratulate this year’s award winners who are a shining example of how we can all have a positive and lasting impact in our community,” Cr Crawley said.
“From community volunteering, community events, sporting achievement, and artistic offerings, this year’s awards reflect the vast and varied contributions from across our area.
“It is their efforts that add to the story of Murray River Council and make it such a great place to live.”
Murray River Council area’s Citizen of the Year was honoured to Moama’s Graeme Teasdale and Young Citizen of the Year to Mathoura’s Jobe Unwin.
Moama’s Damien Cocks was Sportsperson of the Year, Lara O’Callaghan, from Mathoura was Young Sportsperson of the Year.
Moulamein Rural Fire Service received Community Group of the Year and Community Event of the Year went to Tooleybuc Piangil District Action Group.
The award recipients will be presented with their award at local Australia Day breakfasts.
