The issue of recognition of musicians (& others in the wider music industry) who have given decades of service is something I have been thinking about again. This was sparked recently when I saw an ad for a show at Memo by Sir John Rowles. He received his NZ knighthood last year.
Early this year Australia recognised Garth Porter for his years of dedication to music. (See January 28, 2019 post on this site.) I was also heartened to see that in June this year David Gapes (who was one of the drivers for establishing Radio Hauraki in NZ in the mid 1960s) was awarded an Officer of NZ Order of Merit. He had worked as a journalist in Sydney from 1963 – 1965. Radio stations he heard during that time were light years ahead of radio in NZ. He returned home knowing exactly what needed to be done. He & the other founders worked tirelessly against enormous odds but they did achieve the outcome they wanted. Eventually.
I’ve begun to compile a list of musicians & music industry people who have received awards. The issue of recognition will be re-visited over a series of posts in the next few months.
Leave a Reply