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The littlest Shade plays the littlest flute!
Granddaughter Clara Elizabeth, 9 weeks old, 18th August 2008.
Click here for details on the July 2007 Visit to Israel - Peregrinations of a Piccolo Priest.
PHOTOS
From Fred's 60th birthday party
More photos:
Libby's
60th birthday (30/11/2002)
Phillip
Island (1/2003)
Janet's
birthday (20/7/2003)
Fred's
60th birthday (10/2004)
BIOGRAPHY
Fred meets Libby
Fred's association with music has led him to many
wonderful experiences and adventures, and one of
those was meeting Libby when he was just a teenager.
This occurred at the rehearsals of the Junior Symphony
Orchestra, which rehearsed on a Saturday morning.
On one occasion they performed the Cimarosa double
flute concerto with the orchestra at Wilson Hall,
Melbourne University. Libby joined the Preston Symphony
Orchestra at Fred's invitation (and without the
conductor's prior approval!), they both went to
National Music Camps for many years, and also performed
together in the Australian Youth Orchestra. By this
time Fred's father, Ern, was conducting musicals
around Melbourne and Libby joined Fred and the rest
of the family for these seasons.
Fred and Libby were married on 19th
February 1966 at Libby's church, Holy Trinity in
Kew. Their flute teacher, Leslie Barklamb, proposed
the toast at the reception.
The Family arrives
Children started to arrive, the first was Michael
in 1967, then Katharine (1970) and finally Janet
(1975). Michael married Bernadette (1993) and Isabella
arrived on the scene (1997). Katharine married and
has since divorced, and Janet is still at home.
(Fred conducted the weddings for both Michael and
Katharine.)
Fred
Fred has been teaching the flute since he was 15
and still enjoying it. His life centres around performing,
teaching, church work and lodge work, as well as
keeping an eye on all four generations of the Shade
clan. He worked in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
for nearly 30 years and has many happy memories
of great events. These include MSO tours to Japan,
Korea and Europe, Australian tours with Elton John,
John Farnham and Frank Sinatra, great events such
as the Sydney Olympics Arts Festival, Centenary
of Federation Celebrations in Melbourne, Music Festivals
etc. He has also performed a few times as soloist
with the orchestra including at the Myer Music Bowl
in the presence of 18,000 people. He retired from
the MSO at the end of 2002. He continues teaching
and performing, giving master classes and solo recitals.
His work as Vicar of St. John the Beloved in Gardiner
(again!) takes up most of his spare time, together
with is active in the various Orders of Freemasonry.
He has also worked as a Volunteer for
World Vision.
Libby
Libby's working life has been almost entirely with
P.M.G./Telecom/ Telstra in computers, moving up
from Programmer-in-Training in the 1960s to I.T.
Manager. Her section was outsourced to Deloitte,
where she was busy as ever as an I.T. Manager, keeping
many programs, systems, and staff on track. She
retired from this work at the end of 2002 and set
up her own business/shop in Rosanna, providing typing,
desktop publishing and other services, and is thoroughly
enjoying the challenge, now working from a home office. Daughter Katharine is also
involved in the business.
During the 1960s - 1970s Libby also worked professionally
as a flautist, spending several years in the MSO,
and also doing a number of seasons in musicals and
opera at the Princess Theatre. About 12 years ago
she decided that there weren't enough challenges
in her life and she took up the violin. Libby had
her first lessons with her daughter Katharine and
later with her mother-in-law, Beatrice. She is a
valued member of a community orchestra, Whitehorse
Symphony in Box Hill, where she leads the 2nd violins
(naturally!) and loves it. In 2004 she joined the
Eltham Orchestra, which rehearses mid-week, just
for the fun of it. And now her daughters Katharine and Janet are also members of the various Eltham orchestras.
Fred and Libby have now their dream holiday home
built at Cowes on Phillip Island, and which they
try to visit whenever they can.
Fred's parents
Beatrice and Ern have been a model to the family
of what a successful and loving marriage can be
like. Ern's rich life included his work as a printer,
musician, conductor, adjudicator, founder of the
Eltham Concert Band, Freemason etc. He was awarded
the Order of Australia for his services to the community
through music. He died in 1999 at the age of 86
years. There were many tributes paid at his funeral
including items from the Eltham Concert Band and
the Grand Lodge Choir. Fred had the privilege of
conducting the service and was ably assisted by
his brothers Ron (Masonic Commemoration) and Neville
(Eulogy). Mum is now a resident of an aged care facility in Northcote and receives
frequent visits from family and friends. From time-to-time she comes to
church on a Sunday and also family functions. On 28th December Beatrice will
be 90 years of age! She continues to hear from former students
who studied with her during the many years she worked
as a string teacher for the Education Department
and also privately.
Fred and Libby have been happily married for over 40
years, have three lovely children and one gorgeous
grandchild. They share the home with Janet. Charlie, a 'polar bear' west highland terrier recently adopted them.
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Last updated: August 2007
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