Garry Ginivan honoured in Australia Day Awards

SFS was very happy to see this award.

Garry Ginivan AM

Entrepreneur, producer, writer, director, performer, colleague and friend.

Garry was a one man powerhouse, dedicated to creating quality musicals for children. Experienced in producing, his shows could play both the Arts Centre Melbourne's big stages, then tour nationally with the set adaptable to fit some of the small, regional stages. Children and families, Australia-wide, looked forward to his shows. Possum Magic, Wombat Stew, My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch, We're Going On A Bear Hunt were some of his more recent productions.

Scenes from Possum Magic -  Winner of a Helpmann Award for Best Presentation for Children. It had many national tours playing to almost 1 million people! 

Countless children had their first experience of theatre at one of his shows. Teachers loved them because they could rely on them being excellent. In fact, we know his shows changed children's lives - engaging them in a way that only good theatre can. 

Image above: scene from My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch

Theatre managers also loved buying a Garry Ginivan Attraction production. To illustrate their esteem, Garry won the inaugural Drover Touring Legend award in 2004, voted by theatre managers, celebrating the professionalism of the company. Whatsmore, the shows reliably filled the house and left the audience keen to go to more theatre. 

And of course, if you make lots of shows, you cast lots of performers. Garry had a reputation as being a demanding director. Each actor would arrive at the first day of rehearsal with their book learnt. No one wanted Garry's ire. But he really looked after his artists and crew and they loved him for it. Dozens of arts workers got their start with GG.

Image: Cast in Wombat Stew

Remarkably, in his 30 odd years of producing, his productions played to over 2 million Australians. This is an amazing feat. 

Garry died suddenly a year ago. He never knew that friends had put together an application for him to receive an Australian honour. We reckon he would have been chuffed - in a grumpy GG way.

We all miss him.

Top Image : Garry Ginivan with SFS' Karen Keegan in front of the Possum Magic set. Garry and Karen collaborated on many projects, including forming a company with Graeme Base to produce My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch.