Violonist Richard Tognetti has been taken to task over an article in which he describes Wollongong as a "dark, troubled place" with little to offer aesthetically."The city has never been beautified - you could argue there's nothing to beautify," he is quoted as saying in the January edition of magazine Coastal Style.
EDITORIAL: Tognetti out of tune with WollongongIn letters of protest to the Mercury, residents said the 2011 Australian of the Year nominee was unfairly painting the region in a bad light."His remarks about Wollongong and its people are offensive and damaging," wrote Janelle Bond, of Towradgi. VOTE: Are Tognetti's comments out of line?Tognetti (pictured at right) leads the Australian Chamber Orchestra and left Australia yesterday for a concert series in Europe, but his mother Irene said her son was simply being provocative, in an effort to inspire the best from his home town."Richard loves his home but he doesn't like it. He has tried very hard to bring about change," Mrs Tognetti said.In the magazine, Tognetti talks of happy days growing up in Keiraville, but also of tortured school years as he attempted to make his mark in classical music while all around him were absorbed in "footy and Meatloaf".Mrs Tognetti said her son came out of his shell in his teens at a Sydney high school."I will never forget the first week he came home, he said, 'At last I'm with people who understand me'."But Tognetti returned to Wollongong for six months and enrolled in Wollongong High School, a period he described as "one of the worst experiences I've had"."In the early 1980s, you didn't want to be playing the violin at Wollongong High," he wrote.Now a Manly resident, the 43-year-old father of one said Wollongong contrasted starkly with the colour of Sydney."It's a dark, troubled place, a working class place ... Wollongong is not full of different people. I feel it's full of downtrodden people."Ms Bond said Tognetti's comments displayed "absolute ignorance" of the true character of Wollongong.Former Wollongong High student Julie Naughton was "absolutely appalled" by the comments. "Mr Tognetti should stay well away from beautiful Wollongong and stick with his elitist Sydney social group," she wrote.Mrs Tognetti said her son was reflecting opinions that had been burning since childhood, assisted by the views of his activist parents.Mrs Tognetti and her husband Keith, a retired mathematician, are well known for their efforts to improve the cultural climate of the region.Their son, who helped save Wollongong Town Hall from demolition with an impromptu performance for the city's administrators, followed in their footsteps, making no apologies for his honesty."I have been consistent in my criticism of Wollongong," he told the Mercury in 2009."I just think it deserves much better."
