Fred’s Nifty Fifty

Its been a nifty fifty Fred

It is difficult to imagine what the Irish community of Perth might look like today if Fred Rea had never left his native Cork city. ‘Irish by birth, Western Australian by choice’, his words, equally proud of both parts of his life. As soon as he arrived on April 28 1972 Fred started having an impact on those around him and he still does to this day. Before long he was the newest member of the Quarefellas folk group, who continue to perform to this day! Sometimes at venues and functions around WA you might see a man on stage with his guitar by the name of Patrick Hooligan who looks and sounds suspiciously like him. Amongst many other things he had a hand in the founding of the Irish Theatre Players, the creation of the legendary and the former legendary Blarney Castle and is behind several albums, books and even a play about Martin O’Meara Victoria Cross (Under any old Gum tree). Making connections and friendships comes easily for this gregarious character but meeting and marrying Lily here, who has been with him every step of the way and with who he has a beautiful and talented family, completed his new life. Scores of people and groups will, and have marked the special occasion of Fred’s 50th

Musical Entertainer / Teacher

David MacConnell

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anniversary or have reason to celebrate it. You would need a special edition of Irish Scene to try and get it all in. Indeed, there would be no Irish Scene without him. A printer – compositor in fact – by trade Fred joined forces with the late Joe Crozier, a teacher, to publish the first copy of Irish Scene for the visit of the then President of Ireland Mary McAleese to Australia in 1998. Irish Scene has been published every two months since then. As a journalist emigrating to Perth without a job or any connections it was a revelation to quickly discover the locally produced

publication. I wanted to get involved and thankfully Fred was open to the idea. That was about thirteen years ago. As well as working alongside Fred I would also sit down with Lilly, sometimes for hours, correcting typos and mistakes and putting the finishing touches on the magazine just before it went to the printers,

Vanguard, in Northbridge. It was a team effort, and still is. It is now three years since Fred and Lily trusted Imelda and me to carry on the magazine. Thank’s Fred. For everything. Lloyd and Imelda.

A View of the River Lee in Cork City, Ireland.