Monday June 8, 2009:
Australian singer Frank Ifield has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to entertainment.
NEWS REPORTS:
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(Photo left by
Terry Phillpot - Eyegraphics)
Frank Ifield recommends...
'COLLABORATION'
The act of working jointly
"This is an album that deserves listening attention. It is a collaboration of two fine talented artistes in BOB HOWE and NICKI GILLIS.
Nicki is credited with vocals and mandolin while Bob provides vocals, instruments, loops and the CD's design.
Each of the ten tracks on the album offer unique tonal colours. while the diversity of songs, like the haunting Chasing Cars and the Everly Brothers' Price of Love or the bluesy Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar to the popular Everybody Hurts, should guarantee the listeners attention from start to finish.
PS: Paul Anka's Classic It Doesn't Matter Anymore suits Nicki's voice to a 'T'
PPS: I wish you a successful tour of the UK this July - You'll WOW 'em."
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16 June 2009: At the 33rd Australian Entertainment
'MO' Awards...
Carole and Frank Ifield
Carole Ifield, Frank Ifield OAM, Barry Crocker OAM
Pat Nati OAM (who was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the same Queen's Birthday Honours for his service to the community and his support of various charities), enjoying the MO's and celebrating with Frank Ifield OAM
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Catching up with friends...
Frank with Rolf Harris
(photo by Glenn Ware)
Frank with Roger Moore (photo by Glenn Ware)
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March 2009:
On the promotional trail...pictured left,
Frank Ifield and young vocalist James Cassar with leading radio personality BOB ROGERS at the studios of 2CH.
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Photos from 'I REMEMBER YOU' at
St Marys Rugby Leagues Club, March 2009
The first performances of 'I REMEMBER YOU' revealed a nostalgic show that told the story of the legendary singing star FRANK IFIELD, set against a backdrop of the times. Frank related stories from his childhood and career highlighted by original film footage and, along with the cast, recreated his biggest hits and songs of the era...
Frank introduces the show and the glamour of the vibrant Planet Dancers...
Kathy Watson and the cast remember the music and the spirit of the war-time era when Frank was born...
Frank's return to England and path to stardom...1st chart success...Lucky Devil !
James Cassar and Angeleah Heap bring the songs of the fifties and sixties to life...
Frank relives the emotions of his life...the highs and the lows...
The rousing finale by Frank, Kathy and the cast of M.A.T.S. singers and dancers, followed by a standing ovation and later a 'meet and greet' session with Frank himself.
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VALE - PAULINE HALFORD
BRITISH AUTHOR & CO-WRITER OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Pauline passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 19th, with her husband Mike and daughter Heather at her bedside. Mike had only just retired, but instead of both being able to enjoy retirement, they were forced to face the harrowing business of daily radiation treatment.
Her close friend Mary Payne only a few days ago, informed me of Pauline's demise and it hit me like a thunderbolt - I stood in stunned silence for several minutes before I was able to regain my composure.
My mind recalled the times when she and her friends would come to my shows in the UK over the years. Then, many years later when she contacted me excited about the idea of writing my biography. She learned that I had already started to write one, and readily agreed to take on the daunting task of co-writing with me in Australia and her in England. Not and easy task, and to tackle my life story together meant sharing many intimate events that would require an enormous trust in one another - Yet, Pauline made this easy for me by her obvious honesty and impeccable integrity.
She told me she had written a short story of convict life in early Australia and another book about the weather man; and I knew she could make anything she turned her mind to, into riveting reading.
Evidently Pauline started feeling ill last summer, with bad indigestion. After months of tests and interminable waiting for results the specialists concluded at the end of September that she had pancreatic cancer. Somehow, she bravely kept writing through all this and still attended Writers meetings, so determined was she to beat it, but it proved impossible. Fortunately, Pauline did get to spend a few happy days with Mike in the New Forest after she had recovered a little from the radiation therapy, but after returning home she collapsed and lapsed into a coma. The hospital did not think she would come out of it, but she did. In fact, Pauline was able to go home to spend a last Christmas with her family.
The funeral was at Amersham crematorium and was very well attended by members of the many groups to which Pauline had given so much. She was a very good friend to so many people and we shall all miss her terribly.
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"My friend George Payne unearthed this historic photo from 1953 of the 2SM radio show On The Trail. Alongside myself at the microphone is Nola Hurst and you can also see announcer Tommy Jay, singers Jimmy Little, Kevin King, Alan Hurst, George Payne, musician Kenny Kitching and agent Ted Quigg. Do you recognise any other faces? If so, by not
to my Webmaster..."
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Tom McDonald & Unique Entertainment
present
The Story & Music Of A Legend
FRANK IFIELD
In Person
I REMEMBER YOU
Hear Frank relate his incredible journey to stardom
See original nostalgic film footage of Frank's career
Relive the magic of the greatest decades in music as Kathy Watson and the cast of M.A.T.S. singers and dancers help hi-lite the hit recordings of Frank and the era
Meet and greet Frank after the show
SENIORS' WEEK SHOWS
12.30pm for 1pm start
ST MARYS RUGBY LEAGUES CLUB
MARCH 17th & 18th
$16.50 per head
RING CLUB RECEPTION TO BOOK
(02) 9677 7777
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Thursday 12 March 2009:
NICKI GILLIS wins the 2009 Frank Ifield International 'Spur' Award. Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Galston in conjunction with the Galston Country Music Festival, this award is designed to give exposure to our most promising Australian talent overseas.
From Frank: "My announcement of this years winner of the 'International Spur Award' proved to be a very popular choice indeed. Such is the public acceptance and wide appreciation for the talent of Nicki Gillis. Nicki is a towering talent who has an abundance of charisma both on and off the stage.
Her song Watch The Wildflowers Grow has already impacted the overseas market having reached #8 in the UK and European Country Chart and this will be followed up by a UK tour this coming July. I know that Nicki will be a credit to Australian Country Music and will once more prove how worthy we are to strut the world stage."
The presentation of the 2009 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD was made at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club during the
Canterbury Country show that also featured performances 2003 Spur winner DONNA BOYD,
2009 Country Duo TIARA Winners THE HARMONATORS,
2008 Cooper's Golden Saddle People's Choice Award winner MATT FROST
plus BOB HOWE and the Hillbilly Heaven band.
Rae & Liz (The Harmonators), Frank, Nicki, Matt, Donna
(Photos above by Bob Howe)
FRANK IFIELD and RICHARD YOUNG (Galston Rotary) present the 2009 FRANK IFIELD INTERNATIONAL SPUR AWARD to NICKI GILLIS
(Photo by Terry Phillpot - Eyegraphics)
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