Patrons
The Hon R J L Hawke AC
The Hon Robert J L Hawke AC, Australian Prime Minister from March 1983 until December 1991 and local Willoughby resident, said encouraging the growth of centres around Sydney through the arts and learning was a cause to be passionate about.
“As Patron for this ambitious project, I believe the new Civic Place will be a catalyst for supporting a vibrant commercial centre for Sydney while also fostering a stronger sense of local community” Mr Hawke said.
Renee Goossens, Author and Arts Practitioner
Miss Renee Goossens is an arts practitioner and author. During her extraordinary life she has been a teacher, medical researcher, community worker, lecturer, translator, language coach to many opera singers, family therapist, counsellor, administrator, editor and author.
Her memoir Belonging is an extraordinary book and as reviewer Mr Fred Blanks wrote “In this book sadness and joy dance a pas de deux that brings tears to the eyes and solace to the soul. It shows how indomitable the human spirit can be.” This quote well describes Renee Goossens.
A member of the Willoughby City Council Access Committee, her community work as a volunteer and advisor regarding access issues has not only been invaluable, but also very practical for our project. Her new book is entitled Pain Management and is aimed at the much needed market for adults, children and for those who care for them.
Yvonne Kenny AM Bsc. DMus (Hon) (Syd) – Soprano
Yvonne Kenny is one of the most distinguished sopranos of her generation. Born in Sydney, she went to London and made her operatic debut in 1975. Ms Kenny was made a Member of the Order of Australia for Services to Music in 1989 and in 1999 was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Sydney.
Now living in London Ms Kenny has fond memories of her childhood growing up in Northbridge and Willoughby and performing with Chatswood’s Willoughby Musical Society. She often returns to Sydney and is thrilled an arts and cultural centre is a focus of building a ‘heart and soul’ for the North Shore in Chatswood.
"My journey as a singer began as a teenager performing in the old Willoughby Town Hall. Those early beginnings were the seed of an international career - my love of performing began there. I think it is brilliant that Willoughby Council is taking this opportunity to really invest in the future of its children. I look forward to performing in Civic Place myself" Ms Kenny said.
Further information on Yvonne Kenny can be found at: www.yvonnekenny.com/
Les Murray AO - Poet
Les Murray, internationally acknowledged as Australia’s leading poet, has been a prolific local voice for more than forty years. Celebrated nationally and around the world, Murray is often coined ‘perceptive’, ‘sharp’ and ‘humorous’. His long list of achievements include the prestigious TS Eliot Award, the Queen’s Medal for Poetry and both the NSW and Victorian Premier’s Awards.
A Willoughby City resident for 14 years and long time Willoughby City Library patron, Mr Murray said he was honoured to serve as a patron for Civic Place.
“As a supporter and user of the Willoughby Library, I am greatly impressed by the increased size of the new library and the breadth and quality of the additional arts and cultural facilities. Listening to descriptions of private study rooms, meeting rooms, state-of-the-art IT facilities and lovely sunny and shaded spaces for quiet reading sounds to me as though the new library will be great match for the many enthusiastic visitors it receives” Mr Murray said.
Further information on Les Murray is available at: www.lesmurray.org/
Matthew Reilly BA LLB – Author
Matthew Reilly was born in 1974 in Sydney. He set about writing Contest while attending university. He finished it in 1994 when he was only 19 years of age. Matthew earned himself degrees in both Arts and Law. During this time, he repeatedly tried to have Contest noticed by one of the major publishing houses in Sydney, but every one rejected his manuscript. Matthew published the book himself - creating 1000 copies at $8.00AUD each.
One of Australia's most successful young authors, and resident of Willoughby, Matthew Reilly researched his international bestseller Ice Station at Willoughby Library.
"For any writer, it all starts at your local library. The Civic Place project offers the next generation of Willoughby born writers an opportunity to work in a marvellous state-of-the-art facility – right on their own door step” said Mr Reilly.
Ice Station sold in excess of one hundred seventy thousand copies in Australia. Matthew Reilly's public debut was an instant hit, requiring six reprints in its first two years and delivering a new style to action-thriller readers.
Further information on Matthew Reilly is available at: www.matthewreilly.com/