Life Membership Honour Roll
2020
All Life Members have contributed greatly to both the life and culture of the Highlands Theatre Group and more broadly, the Southern Highlands theatrical community. Listed next to each image is the areas each person is most known for (in no particular order).
Alphabetical Order by Surname
Ossie Bruckard
Sets, Administration (Committee and Public Officer), Acting, Backstage
Jim Cheesley
Directing, Administration (Committee), Acting
Barbara Collins
Props, Administration (Committee), Production Management
Mark Davidson
Stage Management, Production Management, Administration (Committee)
Roma Dix
Orchestral, Acting, Furthering the growth of Theatre in the Southern Highlands
Barbara Handley
Directing, Acting, Administration (Committee)
Darrell Hope
Sets, Directing, Acting, Administration (Committee), Furthering the growth of Theatre in the Southern Highlands
Jill Hope
Front of House, Costumes, Administration (Committee)
Anne Robinson
Directing, Acting, Publicity, Administration (Committee)
Ron Russell
Costumes, Administration (Committee)
Mike Butcher OAM [Posthumous Award]
Musical Direction, Orchestra, Highland Proms Co-Ordination.
A note on Mike Butcher OAM, ARCM, LRAM, LGSM (1936 - 2015)
Mike Butcher was an extremely valued member in our music department. He conducted a rejuvenated Highlands Theatre Group Orchestra, and played an integral part in the success of nine of the Group’s major productions over ten years. He assembled and directed the orchestra for Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Oliver, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Miss Saigon, and The Music Man.
During this period, and in order to keep the theatre group orchestra together, he produced and directed the first of the Highlands Proms, which became a very popular annual event with local audiences. In recent years The Proms were performed by the Concert Band. It was in 2010 that the Band gave its first formal public concert to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Since then, the band has performed two major concerts a year, to packed houses at the Playhouse, and the Band’s present home, the Bowral Memorial Hall.
Mike was the recipient of an OAM in 2001 to acknowledge his services to music in the community, and was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International for teaching children with disabilities.
HTG wish to acknowledge Mike’s significant contributions to our group over the years.