The Links Seaside in Wollongong will be part of the national Driveway ANZAC Tribute this Saturday.
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A small group of residents are planning to gather at the reflection pond at dawn while others look on from their balconies.
Retired Sydney Conservatorium of Music principal Dr Ron Smart has been practicing The Last Post on his small soprano trombone this week in readiness to play at dawn on Saturday as part of the 6 o'clock ceremony at The Links Seaside.
Trumpet legend James Morrison is at the forefront of the national initiative that will see individual members of community brass bands and concert bands joining with thousands around that nation at dawn on ANZAC Day giving a personal tribute by standing in their driveways, balconies or back yards to play The Last Post at 6am.
Those who don't play instruments will be able to stand with a light to pay tribute.
When Dr Smart plays The Last Post to fellow residents at The Links Seaside on Saturday they will be listening to a man of enormous experience.
He hasn't played the soprano trombone for 25 years but is bringing it out this Saturday because it is a special occasion with ANZAC Day unable to marked in the tradtional manner because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Last June 2019 Dr Smart received an OAM in the Queen's Birthday 2019 Honours List for his service to music and Sierra Leone.
He is still the founding chairman of Auburn-2-Africa, organising events such as Australian Choral Grand Prix and Top Brass' Band to raise funds for the construction of a primary school in Sierra Leone.
Was a member of the Salvation Army Brass Band movement for over 50 years.
His roles have included being the music director of the Hollywood Tabernacle Band and the Hurstville Salvation Army Band and Choir.
He was conductor of the Sydney Staff Songsters for a decade.
And was founder and director of Pan Pacific Music Camps. Adjudicator of the Choir Olympics Competition in China in 2006.
Dr Smart has also been the artistic director of the Sydney International Music Festival for eight years.
Dean of the Australian Institute of Music in the 1990's. Vice-president and board member of International Federation of Choral Music for 15 years.
He was chair of the organising committee of the World Symposium on Choral Music and World Choirs Festival in 1996.
Guest adjudicator at the Pacific Basin Choral Festival in Honolulu from 1990 to 1995.
Past founding president of the Australian National Choral Association.
Past founding chairman of the National Council of Heads of Tertiary Schools of Music.
And past council member and conductor of the Sydney Cultural Council for over 15 years.
Dr Smart was involved in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music from 1975 to 1995.
He was a former head of performance studies and deputy director. The principal and conductor of the Conservatorium Chorale and Symphony Orchestra.
And founding president of SCM Alumni Association.
He was also an adjudicator and board member of the World Choir Games from 2000 to 2015.
Dr Smart moved to Wollongong 12 years ago.
After being born in Australia he and his wife Janette lived in America where he studied for 11 years.
They then lived in Sydney during his time at the Conservatorium.
"I retired early to develop a new career of conducting orchestras and choirs around the world being on the boards of international music festivals in many countries," he said.
"I didn't actually retire until I turned 80 which was a few years ago.
"We love Wollongong. My mothers family all lived in Wollongong and grew up here. So I have an affinity with this city".
Dr Smart also loves the work he is involved with in West Africa.
He shared photos with the Illawarra Mercury of excited school children in Jui Village in Sierra Leone.
They had just heard the news that the Australia-2-Africa project he is chairman and chief fundraiser for is going to rebuild their school and add necessary classrooms, ablution blocks, clinic, canteen and a library.
The project is almost completed and will be opened in September by the president of Sierra Leone.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
