Centenary of Armistice Remembrance Concert at Albert Hall

Two concerts will be held at the Launceston venue on November 3 with Australian and New Zealand artists, as well as performers from around the world.

Launceston’s contribution includes the Vox Harmony and Scotch Oakburn choirs, Launceston City RSL Pipes and Drums, the West Tamar Band and Melissa Wimmer Theatrical Dancers.

The combined Vox Harmony and Scotch Oakburn choirs will be something special, Centenary of Armistice Concert coordinator Brian Watson said.

“There are 102 in the choir,” Mr Watson said.

But concert guests will be wowed even before they step inside, by a poppy display in Albert Hall’s gardens designed by Lyn Berry, who created the poppy display at Chelsea Flower Show.

“They will see 12,000 poppies that were made by the Country Women’s Association in the grounds outside,” Mr Watson said.

“State Emergency Service, Scouts and Longford Fire Brigade will lay them,” he said.

Ms Berry is also supplying the poppy curtain that will hang at the back of the concert stage, behind the painting depicting the signing of the Armistice documents.

“It will be really fantastic,” Mr Watson said.

Concert stage manager Dian Smith is honouring her uncle Walter Brown, who was awarded the Victoria Cross after World War I, through her involvement in the event.

Theatre North set designer Alan Gray designed and built the concert set and Bill Carney is producing the event.

“We spent two-and-a-half years planning this,” Mr Watson said.

“We’ve worked so hard for this. You can’t put all this together in five minutes,” he said.

Herb Hammer, 94, who survived Darwin’s bombing during World War II and now lives in Tasmania, will attend the concert.

Members of the South-East Asia Army Security Agency Veterans Association, also known as the Old Spooks and Spies, are also eager audience members, along with serving members of the United States Marine Corps and California Cadet Corps.

This Remembrance Concert will be followed up with a Centenary of Armistice Commemoration Dinner on November 10, also at Albert Hall, which celebrates Armistice Day and the United States Marines’ 243rd birthday.

For more information about the Armistice Day concert or dinner visit centenaryofarmistice.com.au or contact Theatre North.

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