Memories of heady days

by Norma Allen

Dec 16, 1996

Noel Ferrier with Coralie Wood, Lorraine decker and pianist Tony Magee. Photo: Martin Jones

WE ALL tottered along Memory Lane on Wednesday, gathering at the Canberra Theatre to honour its first director, Terry Vaughan, 1965-1980. His widow, Roma, and daughter Sally, unveiled a plaque in the foyer, surround by friends and fans from 30 years ago. Terry died in April this year and had lived in Perth with his family since 1980, returning to Canberra in 1983 to conduct The Merry Widow for Canberra Opera.

And no doubt about it, Terry Vaughan was among us all last week. His memory was invoked in story and anecdote and everyone had some recollection of Terry’s days at the theatre. Raconteur, actor, conductor, composer, director, persuader, coaxer and author. His book Whistle As You Go was launched last year, telling the story of the Kiwi Concert Party.

Heady days, indeed, when the theatre was opened. All the big names came to Canberra, Dietrich, Ustinov, Laurinda Almeida, the Tintookies, Winifred Attwell, Googie Withers and John McCallum, Christian Ferris, Kenneth McKellar, the list is there for people to see, on precious, fading billboards in the endless passageways underneath the theatre.

A reunion for Roma Vaughan, widow of the theatre's first director,
with John Rohde and Terry's daughter, Sally. Photo: Martin Jones

Several people from “day one” were at the ceremony on Wednesday. Manager John Rohde, ageless, handsome as ever, came from Sydney and so did actor Noel Ferrier. Coralie Wood was the theatre’s first publicist, Lorraine Decker worked in accounts, Joyce Barker was in the ticket box and Sir Richard Kingsland was head of the then Department of the Interior, “and Terry would seduce my staff into giving him more material and concessions than he was entitled to”, he said in his speech.

Former board member, Jim Leedman had some tales to tell and messages were read from absent friends. Stuart Wagstaff could not attend, he was working and a cheer went up for an actor who was in work. Hec and Phyll McMillan, another couple who “trod the boards” at the theatre had memories to add. And in an eerie footnote to those theatrical days, the Playhouse came down the same day, across the courtyard.

First published in The Canberra Times, December 16, 1996