Author: Yanni

AUTHOR and therapist Bernadette Hoey celebrated her 80th birthday last week by taking a dip at Mt Martha in a seagrass palanquin, the Eastern version of a sedan chair. It was made for her by peninsula puppeteer Ian Cuming who, with Mornington author and world renowned shakuhatchi flute player Anne Norman, joined Ms Hoey for her birthday. “Anne and I wanted to do something special for Bernadette so we arranged a beach picnic. She’s a very dear friend and mentor,” Mr Cuming said. “We can so easily forget the wisdom carried by our elders,” said Ms Norman, whose busy schedule…

RESPECTED and admired Aboriginal singer–songwriter Archie Roach shared both poignant and light-hearted stories of growing up in the Australian outback and memories of life with his large family with about 150 people at Hickinbotham winery in Dromana on Friday night. Roach even managed to throw in some inspiring tunes he’d written over a long and distinguished career. The all-female a cappella group Ling Marra opened the night with an hour of harmonies and magical arrangements of songs from traditional and world music styles. In February 2010, Roach suffered immeasurably. Many people will remember the venerable and dignified performer, who captured…