Alan’s Musical Contribution Recognised With an OAM.

No matter which city Alan Field OAM has lived in, he’s managed to find a local musical society to join and invigorate – and if there’s not one existing, then he has started one up!

It is only fitting then, that the Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services client, who turned 90 in August, received his Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in this year’s King’s Birthday honours list, for services to the community through music and to education.

‘There is a joy about music,’ Alan says. ‘Individually, music helps people achieve something that is delightful. But together, music becomes even more than that. You can “feel the music” when a group is singing or playing together and that feeling brings me such satisfaction.’

Alan’s musical achievements include being President and Conductor of the South Australian Country Choral Association, President and Choir Conductor of the South Coast Choral and Arts Society, Musical Director and Conductor of The Hills Choral Society, Deputy Bandmaster of the Victor Harbor City Band as well as Choir Master and Pianist at the Adare Uniting Church at Victor Harbor for the past 30 years. He still plays piano at the church every Sunday.

In his career, Alan was Principal of Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge, Alice Springs and Glengowrie High Schools, as well as being a secondary school teacher for 34 years.

‘As a teacher, I would always try and encourage the thing that would help a student succeed at school,’ Alan says. ‘Whether that was sport, or music, or books, being “good” at something would bring such confidence to students - it was very powerful to see. If a student can succeed in something, then he or she is well on the way to achieving overall success.’ 

Growing up with music

Alan’s love of music began when he joined the drum and fife band as young boy.

‘I remember going to the Tivoli Theatre (now Her Majesty’s Theatre) with around 250 other kids,’ Alan says. ‘We would march in our official uniform from the Tivoli to the Regent Theatre, and then we would perform a free concert for the public.’

Alan was also given piano lessons as a young boy.

‘I was the youngest in the family,’ Alan says. ‘And because of that there were certain things I got that my two older brothers did not. Being a head-strong lad, I didn’t much fancy doing the scales, but my teacher knew what I needed. Over the years I have done a lot of piano accompanying, and I’ve had to improvise in other areas to overcome my technical deficiencies. She knew!’

Alan attended Black Forest Primary School and around the same time became a member of the choir at the Black Forest Methodist Church. He went on to attend Adelaide High School and then Adelaide Teachers College, where, after some consideration, he went on to study Latin, History, French, Maths and Chemistry.

It was at college that he met Margie – the woman ‘without whom none of this would be possible’. He and Margie married in 1957 and have now celebrated 67 years as husband and wife.

Alan’s first job out of school was a rural posting to Victor Harbor High School in 1956.

‘As a city boy, I decided that I’d enjoy a few years in the country – but when I arrived, I loved the community spirit,’ Alan says.

Alan’s loves of sport and music were well accommodated in the coastal town, so he and Margie settled down in the area, and their three children were born in the years following.

In his first year there, Alan joined the South Coast Choral and Arts Society, which was putting on a performance of Pirates of Penzance.

‘I was given the part of Samuel, the Pirate Lieutenant,’ Alan says. ‘I enjoyed it a lot, and then the next year, I was invited to be the musical director for our performance of The Mikado. It was a big step up for me – and I loved it!’

A change of scenery

In 1961, the family left Victor Harbor and Alan returned to Adelaide High School – but this time to teach. At the end of 1967, he was taken aside by the Director of Secondary Education and told of a brand-new school that was being set up at Glengowrie.

‘He asked me if I would accept the role of Principal for the new school,’ Alan says. ‘It was a limited tenure of one year, but I thought it was a wonderful opportunity.’

Unfortunately, the new school, which was being built on the old Hamilton vineyard site, wasn’t immediately ready so Alan led the school from the temporary location of the old Sturt Primary School site for most of the year.

Despite any shortcomings, Alan says it was a great experience and a ‘wonderful year’.

Come November, the Education Department was true to its word and contacted Alan with some options for where his next posting would be. One of the options was Alice Springs, which Alan dismissed immediately as being too far away, but Margie had other ideas.

‘A girlfriend of mine had been there and raved about the environment,’ Margie says. ‘When we arrived, we found she wasn’t exaggerating, and the memories we made in Alice Springs at that time are just wonderful.’

The family would often spend time outdoors, camping in dry creek beds with friends and enjoying the natural beauty.

‘It opened our eyes completely,’ Alan says. ‘We didn’t use a tent – we would simply sleep on a tarpaulin looking up at the stars.’

After Alice Springs, the family returned to South Australia, first to the rural city of Murray Bridge, then to Victor Harbor. Here, Alan taught and was Principal from 1983 until his retirement in 1990.

‘After 22 years as a high school principal I was burnt out,’ Alan says. ‘I knew it was time to go.’

Alan and Margie took the opportunity to travel overseas, visiting many countries around the world. They also bought a camper van and spent some time travelling around Australia.

More time for music

With work out of the way, Alan and Margie had more time to dedicate to musical pursuits. Alan took up the cornet, playing in the Victor Harbor City Band and taking on the role of Deputy Band Master as well as conducting for the group. Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services Coordinator, Laura McLeod, is the secretary, and also a member of, the Victor Harbor City Band. She and Alan interact regularly, both in the band, and through Resthaven Community Services.

Alan also became more involved in the Choral Society and was a driving force in the yearly productions. He has since performed in two more productions of the Pirates of Penzance, the second time in 1991, playing the Pirate King, and taking on the role of the Major General in 2010.

Alan says his favourite musical moments were conducting several performances of Handel’s Messiah.

‘It was just a total joy,’ Alan says. ‘We also did Elijah, an oratorio written by Mendelssohn. It was hard work, and some of the choristers battled with it – but it went very well.’

In his position with the South Australian Country Choral Association, Alan has worked to coordinate the 14 choirs who are part of the association, culminating in a massed choir performance every two years.

‘The choral tradition in South Australia has always been strong,’ Alan says.

The most recent performance was held in Murray Bridge earlier this year, when 11 choirs came together for the performance, singing together as a massed choir of around 200 people. Over the years, the event has been at Victor Harbor four times, where Alan and Margie have helped to coordinate it.

‘Music has been a constant in my life,’ Alan says. ‘It’s been an interesting and long journey.’

Congratulations on your achievements Alan – a truly outstanding career in music and teaching!

It is only fitting then, that the Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services client, who turned 90 in August, received his Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in this year’s King’s Birthday honours list, for services to the community through music and to education.