Committee 2011/12
President: Cathlin Gemmell 0421 843 512
Vice-President: Chris Toyama 0417 363 108
Secretary: Evie Housham 0400 327 970
Treasurer: Marg Gemmell 5968 4108
General Committee:
David Greenaway, Kieran Dennis, Barry O'Neill, Ted Horton, Judy Neilson, Michelle Drinnan.
News by email or post: Evie Housham
President’s Report 13th Aug 2011 - Gecmo Players AGM
What a fantastic year it’s been for Gemco! This is due, mainly, to the hard work of many people who are excited by the possibilities of Gemco and those of the new Gem theatre.
Thank you to the excellent committee for your 12 months of support.
Thanks especially to Cat and Marg Gemmell who have been tireless in their support of everything, but especially the three Youth Groups and their contributions in the Little Gems and The One Act Play Festival. Not only did Cat and Marg help run these two events but the increased success of have been instrumental in their great improvement from last year in quality and quantity. We had many visiting theatre groups participate.
Evie has also been working hard behind the scenes literally – stage managing, her support being invaluable to the actors and directors.
We are lucky to have so many people who contribute or manage numerous different activities in Gemco, and they have helped to bring in many more new people through our doors over the last 12 months.
Despite the amazement of outsiders or newcomers to Gemco of the wide variation and numerous activities on a continual basis, we have this last year added new annual events including the ‘Story Telling”.
The obvious continual increase in new visitors and participants and success over the year is in part due to new initiatives.
There have been many initiatives that have contributed to the ever increase in events and increased participation and audience numbers.
Ken Purdham came up with the new 10-minute Little Gems Festival for writers. Ken Purdham and Marj have worked hard to get the Little Gems 10 minute play Festival going strong and also combine it with the publication of a book of the plays each year.
The Murder on the Puffing Billy was rewritten, and improvisation rehearsals have been run to attract new performers.
Kieran Dennis has led the Murder on the Puffing Billy to such great success that the number of performances just keep rising.
Ted Horton and Carol have been running the Open Stage consistently and the last event held had the largest number ever of very happy and boisterous participants.
We have people offering to share costs and profits in productions or events, which helps promote all participants.
Whilst the events, plays and youth have been on the increase the committee has dwindled with Jan Storer retiring and David Greenaway flying off to England.
Unfortunately Jan Storer also stepped down from the front of house co-coordinator. I’d like to thank her for all the wonderful work she did in virtually designing and setting up the bar /foyer area single handed.
Fortunately, Marg has taken this on board as well as everything else, and the bar/foyer area is looking fabulous. I’m sure she would like a few more helpers or someone to lead the coordination.
You maybe aware that David Greenaway left for London and Europe in May this year for a once in a lifetime tour with his sister and brother-in-law and has met up with many relatives and lost friends at organized reunions. He keeps emailing us with brief snippets of his fun escapades. This will be perhaps the only AGM that David has missed in 30 years.
We are very appreciative to have Barry O’Neill join the committee and bring with him expertise and foresight.
Barry has been instrumental in future productions area, pushing for a ‘balanced’ yearly calendar with a projected program of 12 to 18 months. Excellent!
Evie has been making great progress in publicity and organizing a calendar of events/plays well ahead of time.
She and Cat have also been updating the Gemco website, now with a ‘Google Calendar’. They send out regular reminders of upcoming events via a personal email prompt to go and check out the now vibrant Gemco website with all the details you need. Amelia, with much patience, from the very supportive IT business of Damion McNaught in Belgrave, Llamablue, and has been invaluable in coaching the committee to become successful active drivers of the website. You will be impressed with the content and the detailed information on all aspects of Gemco as presented on the website.
Youth
What a great year it has been for them. They were involved in the Little Gems and won many awards in the One Act Play Festival.
Marg, Cat and Kylie have been running the Youth so the numbers have been continuing to rise steadily. What great talent we see in those groups as they continue improving. A few of them have stepped up to help teach the younger ones which has benefits for them and the group.
Kylie has left recently to look after her new baby daughter. Congratulations to her and her wonderful family.
The Gem Committee has been going strong and have been extremely active. They have accomplished many jobs especially in finishing off the building. With Brian Hannon at the helm they have organised the Cardinia Shire Council to finally resurface the car park as promised and erect external lights. What an improvement!
Also we have been fortunate in receiving during the year a Cardinia Shire Grant to upgrade the bar/foyer – work in progress, and also a Bendigo Bank grant for the kitchen upgrade.
Brian with Marg have done the business plan for 2011- 2012 and things are on track and looking very promising.
Cindy Lee and Louise are in the process of actively promoting the Gem to the community with a re-branding, and website changes.
We are thankful to have the Assembly of God as well as U3A, not only renting the Gem but actively contributing with Mal on the committee and many in working bees and generous donations of equipment and volunteer time.
Thank you to the outgoing hard-working committee, especially Marg as the treasurer always has the biggest and most important task. You are amazing!
We have Cosi written by Louis Nowra, right on our doorstep – what a great production – thanks Sharon Maine - director and Kate McManus - don’t miss this show!
Also in November this year Gemcos’ second musical will be performed in our new theatre … Blood Brothers written by Willy Russell, directed by Tania Ryder Barnes with musical direction by Marg Gemmell.
So 2011-12 is promising to be an even bigger, better and more exciting year than 10-11.
Chris Toyama,
President