Biography
The Garrick Theatre in Guildford, Western Australia, was pivotal to my interest in the performing arts. I was brought up in Guildford, Western Australia, and my parents, Ailsa and Keith Murray, were keen members of the Garrick Club, an amateur repertory group.
My brothers and I spent many hours there as kids. In my teenage years I also became involved, and a skit for a revue was my first venture into writing for the stage. It was also in that revue I made one of my rare stage appearances. In fact, it was probably during that revue my future on the stage was decided. I was more comfortable out of the limelight; writing, directing, and stage-work were a natural fit for me.
In 1966 I married David Johnson, a brewer – something I was well qualified for, being an enthusiastic beer drinker at the time. To my amazement, a year later, he announced that he had always planned to be a farmer – something he failed to mention prior to the wedding. With not a cracker between us, we left Sydney, where we had spent the first year of our marriage, and took up a farm manager’s position in Esperance, where we have spent the last 54 years. We are blessed to have three children who live in Esperance with their partners and eight grandchildren. The eldest are now spreading themselves around Australia and littlies are continuing to come.
Esperance was very small in the year 1967. It boasted a population of around 2000, but to my great delight a theatre group had just formed, and their first show, Oklahoma, was staged at the community hall in l968. I was involved in a production of my own at the time, being pregnant with our second child. However, we soon became involved and a few years later the Esperance Theatre Guild purchased a derelict movie theatre, known as The Bijou Theatre (est. 1896) (see news). To this day, this little gem of a theatre operates and turns out regular productions for an enthusiastic audience.
During the last 50 years I have written and directed many plays and revues for the Esperance Theatre Guild. I have also been involved in the visual arts through the Cannery Arts Centre, where I was the Centre Manager for a short time. Later I was chair of the Cannery Management Committee and chair of Esperance Community Arts. In the late ‘90s, together with friend Heather Gee, we started The Festival of the Wind. This bi-annual festival ran in Esperance for many years with great success.
Not many people can be fortunate enough to arrive in a tiny regional town to witness the emergence and growth from fledgling beginnings of a rich and successful arts community.
I have met many wonderful and talented people during this time, and I have been the recipient of the magic they have imparted to those who have been lucky enough to encounter them.
Two great events stand out: The year 2000 Regional Arts Conference, which was held in Esperance, with 400 people from around Australia attending, and Boundless, the only regional art exhibition ever to be held at the Art Gallery of WA, which was organised during my time as chair of the state body, Country Arts WA.
The Cannery Arts Centre - Image source: https://www.canneryartscentre.com.au/
I have been honoured and delighted with life membership of The Bijou Theatre, The Cannery Arts Centre, Esperance Community Arts and Country Arts WA. Living in a remote regional area has many wonderful advantages. It has given me the opportunity to fulfil my artistic dreams.
As for that pink hatbox – the recipient of my finished works – I thought my children would find them after I left this Earth. However, the lid was lifted earlier than expected and here I am, sending these pieces out into the ether. It is another of life’s adventures and I hope in their new art form, they will find people who are equally as generous in their listening, as the Esperance public has been in their viewing, over many years.
Esperance is very beautiful and my involvement in the arts here has been like the icing on a very rich cake.