The Government House Foundation of Western Australia Inc.

Congratulations to His Excellency Governor Malcolm McCusker on being appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, the highest honour possible in the Australia Day Honours list. The award was in recognition for his service to the people of Western Australia, particularly in the provision of equitable legal representation and as an advocate for sustainable development and education.

On the 11th December The Friends of Government House had a Christmas function to officially welcome His Excellency Malcolm McCusker and the new President of the Government House Foundation of WA Mrs Tonya McCusker. Guests were treated to music by sax quartet ‘Just Sax’ as they mingled outside the Supper Room. The event concluded with Christmas carols to celebrate the upcoming festive season.

Former Governor Dr Ken Michael and his wife Mrs Julie Michael, former President of the Government House Foundation of WA, were awarded with Honorary Life Memberships in appreciation for their support of the Foundation during their years at Government House.

We wish all our members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With a lineage stretching back to 1829, Government House and its grounds are among Perth’s most important and iconic historic monuments; well-deserving of this first, full-length historical study.

This social history of Government House published by UWA Press uncovers life stories of the scores of people who have lived and worked in this grand Victorian mansion and who played a crucial role in the creation and maintenance of Western Australia’s social order in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It also describes the design, construction and furnishing of the residence, and the cultivation and landscaping of the surrounding domain.

Order your copy today from the Government House Foundation of WA for only $60 (RRP $69.95) for Friends of Government House. Call (08) 9325 2963 or email foundation@ghf.org.au

Government House will be having its Open Day on the 13 November from 11am – 4pm as part of Heritage Week. Come and explore this truly fascinating historical building and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful gardens. There will be free guided tours of the House and grounds as well as fabulous free entertainment for all the family.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Perth from 28 to 30 October 2011. It will bring together leaders from up to 53 Commonwealth nations and up to 3,000 delegates. There will also be a Commonwealth Festival (23 to 30 October) full of family fun, art and culture featuring events showcasing the diversity of Western Australia and also celebrating the people and cultures of the Commonwealth.

To see these exciting events visit: commonwealthfestival.com/

For more information on CHOGM visit: chogm2011.org

Neville Cohn, music critic for The West, described Argentine pianist Ingrid Fliter’s performance of Chopin’s Ballade in F minor as “a model of its kind, yielding some of the most profoundly meaningful playing of the work I’ve encountered since listening to Solomon play it more than 60 years ago. The same composer’s rarely heard Nocturne in B from opus 9 was a little miracle of finesse, its alternating moods of introspection and turbulence gauged to a nicety. There were delights aplenty, too, in a bracket of waltzes with Fliter bringing freshness to familiar notes in the much-loved Waltz opus 69 No. 1 – and the bitter-sweet essence of the too-rarely-heard Waltz in A minor, opus posthumous, was perfectly assessed.”

Mr Cohn was also impressed by Ingrid’s performance of Beethoven’s 32 Variations in C minor which he says is “not for timid pianists. It requires an iron nerve and fingers of steel to negotiate its dauntingly treacherous musical terrain. This Fliter did, generating cataracts of massive tone. But there were moments, too, of a gentleness and lyricism that were often the calm before yet another storm of titanic keyboard fury.”

Ingrid Fliter’s recital was proudly sponsored by Zenith Music. Ingrid appeared courtesy of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Paul Wright (far left) with the string ensemble and Stewart Smith on harpsichord

American soprano Julianne Baird

Neville Cohn of  The West Australian has written a glowing review of the recent ‘Four Seasons’ concert:

“In the most meaningful account of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons I’ve heard in Perth since Felix Ayo was soloist in the mid-1980s, violinist Paul Wright and a small string ensemble and harpsichord played for an audience that packed Government House Ballroom to capacity.

Vivaldi peppered his manuscript score with helpful hints about what the music represents: “drunkards falling asleep”, “biting winter wind”, “a barking dog”, “bagpipes” and so on. As a brief prelude before each of the four concertos, Wright shared Vivaldi’s comments with the audience and, with his fine accompanying ensemble, played very brief extracts to emphasise what to listen for.”

Neville was also full of praise for distinguished visiting American soprano Julianne Baird who sang music by Monteverdi, Quagliati and Vivaldi. He wrote: “I particularly admired her account of Monteverdi’s Laudate Dominum to which she brought faultless diction, clarity of line and impressive low-register notes.”

For more images from this concert, click on the Gallery tab.

On the 2nd May in glorious weather His Excellency Dr Ken Michael, AC, Governor of Western Australia, and Mrs Michael were farewelled by the Tri-Service Guard of Honour as they officially left Government House. In attendance were Wing Commander Russell J. Page, Royal Australian Air Force, Brigadier Stephen Cain, Commander 13th Brigade, Captain Brett Wolski, Commanding Officer of the Royal Australian Navy, the staff of Government House, Councillors and Friends of the Government House Foundation of Western Australia, as well as close friends and family of His Excellency and Mrs Michael.

The ceremony culminated with a fly-past by three fighter jets before the Vice Regal couple made a stylish departure in a black Rolls Royce.

On behalf of the Government House Foundation of Western Australia, we wish to thank His Excellency and Mrs Michael for all the wonderful work they have done over the past six years and extend to them our best wishes for the future.

To see more photos from this event, click on the Gallery tab.