Foundation

Science and Innovation Luncheon – Tickets on sale!

We are delighted to announce the Science and Innovation Luncheon to celebrate a long history of Science and Innovation at Redlands. Proceeds from this event will be dedicated to the Dr Sue Morey AM Scholarship to honour and celebrate her outstanding service achievements and standards of excellence in the field of Medicine. This fifth means-tested Redlands Foundation Scholarship will provide the opportunity of a Redlands education to an exceptional student for the entire six years of their Redlands Secondary School education.

Dr Sue Morey made an enormous contribution with over 60 years of service in the area of community health within cities, as well as across regional and rural Australia and she is perhaps best known for her dedicated leadership as Chief Health Officer for NSW from 1988 to 1994. In 1999 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the development and promotion of improved public health services. 

Musicals at Redlands have a Long History

The 1982 production of Bye Bye Birdie began a tradition that continues 40 years later with Redlands’ 2022 production of  Shrek the Musical’. As the Musical performances evolved, the production moved from Redlands Hall to the Seymour Centre and more recently, to the larger and more sophisticated theatre environment. of The Concourse Chatswood.

Our Archivist, Marguerite Gillezeau shared with me that the first annual school production was staged in December 1884, six months after the School’s opening on 14 July in the Mission Hall in Fitzroy Street, Milson’s Point. After the move to Redlands on Military Road, weekly recitals were held in the ballroom of the old mansion, with larger productions held at various nearby theatres. The first full length Shakespeare production, The Tempest was staged in 1907, directed by former student and Drama teacher, Elsie Dumolo.

Despite performing a combination of traditional and original material throughout the decades, including a World War I satire in 1916 called Crackers VC, written, directed and performed by future novelist Eleanor Dark, all student productions before 1982 were short one vital ingredient – boys. The students either had to dress up as boys, or during the SCEGGS Redlands era, borrow boys from nearby Shore or North Sydney Boys’ High.

In 1982, four years after Redlands became coeducational, the School had its first two Yr 12 boys and a smattering of boys in Yrs 9, 10 and 11. It was enough for the School to be able to stage its first legitimate coed musical, Bye Bye Birdie in Redlands Hall. As now, it was a full- scale production involving staff, students and parents.

In 1985 the Secondary School production of Godspell rivalled the ground breaking Bye Bye Birdie in terms of effort and results. With a highly competitive audition process and five sold out shows, it cemented the popularity of the Redlands Musical.

Mrs Dana Casimaty
Director of Development
dcasimaty@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9858