Edith Harrhy & Musicians Awards
Edith Harrhy Award

This award was created in 1979 by Alan Stone to honour the memory of Edith Harrhy, an eminent composer, lyricist, author, poet and pianist who devoted a great deal of her life to the non-professional musical theatre assisting the aspirations of many a budding artist – and hopeful ones too. Based in Melbourne, she devoted many years to the Lyric Light Opera Company as musical director and for which she was held in the highest esteem. A petite figure, she became endeared for her ever present supply of sweets for all and the constant application of the powder-puff both at rehearsal and during performances. She died in Queensland in 1975.
The Award is for outstanding service to the musical theatre, contributed in an honorary capacity.
From 1979 to 1986 this award was presented as part of Free Entertainment in the Park before becoming part of the Guild.
To date the recipients are as follows;
Year | Name |
---|---|
1979 | Val Pagram, Bruce McBrien |
1980 | Violet Jackson |
1981 | Cid Elwood |
1982 | Val Bolton |
1983 | Grahame Murphy |
1984 | Vin Foster |
1985 | Lorna Moran |
1986 | Harold Burrows, Ernest Shade |
1987 | Alan Stone |
1988 | Rex Callahan |
1989 | Nell Wynd, Grant Alley |
1990 | Evelyn Girling |
1991 | Arch Dyer |
1992 | Sandra Davies |
1993 | Maureen Hollier |
1994 | Rod Collier, Peter Torrens |
1995 | Terri Evans |
1996 | John Burrett |
1997 | Peter Dale |
1998 | Owen Collier |
1999 | Sue Porter |
2000 | Geoff Tomkins |
2001 | N/A |
2002 | Arlene Geoffrey |
2003 | Joyce Baker-Dawker |
2004 | Ena Hall |
2005 | Vic Luke, Sue Dyer |
2006 | Bernie Tichbon, Allan Paul |
2007 | Brett Wingfield |
2008 | Gwen Quick |
2009 | Bev Woodford |
2010 | Gwen Derrick |
2011 | Dot Parker |
2012 | Rohan Luke |
2013 | Lyn And Jim Muller |
2014 | Darrell Boyd |
2015 | Fran Boyd |
2016 | Paul Denham |
2017 | Bernard & Gemma Hedger |
2018 | Jeff Maxwell |
2019 | David Greenwood |
2020/2021 | Debbie Keyt, Peter Wills |
2023 | Marcy Paynter |
2024 | Colin Mitchell |
Musicians Award

This award was instigated in 1991, and acknowledges the Musicians whose dedication is paramount and essential to the productions staged by music theatre companies. Whilst in the main their services do not come freely, they subscribe their talent and expertise without which companies virtually could not operate. The all-important rehearsal pianist is normally recruited from amongst their ranks. The award is not granted in recognition of a particular performance but acknowledges the recipient’s years of service or expertise.
Year | Name |
---|---|
1991 | John Scanlon |
1992 | Keith Morgan |
1993 | Margaret Boyle, Marcella Peterson |
1994 | Robert Harry |
1995 | Shirley Greenwood |
1996 | Justin Jacobs, Kellie Ryan |
1997 | Corey Hall |
1998 | Tom Ryan |
1999 | N/A |
2000 | N/A |
2001 | Sarah Cliff |
2002 | Jean Arnott, Ian Norris |
2003 | Sue Goessling |
2004 | N/A |
2005 | N/A |
2006 | Victor Brincat |
2007 | Adrian Szondy |
2008 | Carmel Slater |
2009 | Dave Banen |
2010 | Danny Forward |
2011 | Andrew Corbel |
2012 | Amber Simm |
2013 | Claire O’Brien |
2014 | N/A |
2015 | Deb McLeod |
2016 | Brian Davis, Sharon Leppard |
2017 | Malcom Huddle |
2018 | Ned Dixon |
2019 | Graeme Patterson |
2020 | **No Awards run in 2020** |
2023 | Shirley White |