Address to Trinity College Music Assembly

Chris Waddell – 15 May 2007

It is a pleasure to speak with you this morning and enjoy your celebration of Trinity music and performing arts.

I’m a former student of the College for whom music and sport became my passions – and have remained so ever since.

As you know, the world celebrates its heroes and idols as if they were gods – and these gods tend to be outstanding sportspeople or musicians. We worship the Eagles, Dockers or other AFL teams - and identify with Aussie cricket and soccer teams, swimmers and athletes as if their fortunes embody our own. We live or die by their success or failure. Indeed, Trinity has produced famous members of these teams, including Andrew Embley who was Norm Smith Medallist in the Eagles’ 2006 AFL Grand Final victory. Sport at this level electrifies and unites us – and fires our imaginations. It celebrates excellence.

To my mind, music and the performing arts are the same as sport in that they unite, excite and bring us together through common, universal language. They begin in silence and don’t need words - although words can enhance their meaning. Music, in particular, is the universal language of the world – communicating the full range of human ideas and emotions. It expresses our deepest joy and sadness; it stirs us to song and dance – it magnifies life in a common statement for all people; it expresses love when words fail.

In all forms – classical, jazz, rock, pop and other – music speaks for us all.

Let’s consider the importance of education in sport and music. They both require years of study and training; deep, sustained skills and commitment; superb teachers and coaches; funding, policy directions and goals. Thank God that Trinity provides all these in abundance as part of its regular educational agenda – and always has.

When I began at the Terrace in 1959, then to Trinity from 1962, we spent as much time on the sports field as we did in the music room – and this training became central to my life, especially in enabling me to establish myself as a professional opera singer and to sing in concert with orchestras. I am forever grateful.

It’s true today as then. Trinity dominates the sporting fields and the arts – especially the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival where its music, dance and other artistic performances set the standard and are the envy of other schools. In that regard, I commend Dr Braham, Ms Ruth Bott and all staff for this success, which follows in the great tradition of Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers’ tradition of education.

Great success in sport and music doesn’t occur by accident. It requires high levels of education and dedication to produce the champions we idolise and adore. Trinity knows this and provides for it.

I wish to comment on Trinity’s importance in the wider consciousness of Perth and beyond. It is a rare and privileged college because of its central city location and the diverse mix of its student community. Unlike most schools in Perth which serve a local area, it draws students from all parts of the metropolitan area – and they have no particular socio-economic classification. Because of this, Trinity comprises students from all economic, social, cultural and perhaps spiritual backgrounds, all supporting each other in common and worthy causes. This, I believe, is the reason Trinity is so successful in all its pursuits – it is made of real people united and committed to core values like truth, trust, excellence, beauty, skill, collaboration, honesty, respect and justice.

I encourage you today to make the most of these advantages. In everything, enter and strive for the best. Be generous and courageous. Don’t be afraid of success or failure – one can be as good as the other, providing we give our best, learn and move on.

I return to the arts and music.

The world is full of business, investment, innovation, government, regulation, policy, science and technology, law and enterprise. In all these we achieve certain levels of reward and fulfilment. However, nothing rivals music and the arts for the greatest fulfilment – that of putting us in touch with ourselves and each other, with our own hearts and souls, with our imagination and destiny, and communicating in the most direct, sincere and profound ways. Whatever we do in life, we all seek the solace and inspiration of music to make sense of it all.

I congratulate the College for its ongoing achievements – especially the staff for their crucial roles in teaching, encouraging and guiding the way. Teaching is the noblest profession and the most demanding.

Finally, support your musicians, dancers and artists. Become one – discover yourself. Create beauty and magic – make the world a better place.

Best wishes to you all.

Thank you.