Paula from Tasmania

BY PAULA XIBERRAS

Esther‘s fostering knowledge through academic assistance

Esther Simpson was the real life woman who inspired Caroline Beecham’s latest novel ‘Esther’s Children’. Once again Caroline continues to discover extraordinary but little known women from history giving them their chance to shine. Esther Simpson’s name has not been a high profile one and few have heard of this remarkable woman who did unique, hard ground work to rescue academic refugees during war. The title Esther’s Children refers to the fact that if Esther had not rescued these academic refugees during the time of harsh regimes in Europe through the organisation known as the academic assistance. they would not have had the chance to allow their research and knowledge to ‘grow’ to adulthood and create change in the world. Their lives and subsequent success was fostered by Esther as she worked in Austria in 1936 for the council of academic assistance. The novel while telling a true live story gives some poetic and romantic license because as Caroline says ‘Esther’ deserves it’. We don’t know anything about if this busy and dedicated woman had any romantic affiliations but in the book she gets a romantic storyline with Harry Singer, a young musician and academic. Esther herself had academic qualifications in languages and was like Harry a talented musician. There is a playlist in the book that allows the reader to listen to some of Esther’s music on Spotify. In 1940 refugees were interned as enemy agents on the Isle of Man and this is what happens to Harry Singer. Those that had to live through this experience were doctors, lawyers, painters, lecturers and performers. They survived by practicing their crafts. Esther saved 16 Novel prize winners, without her intervention many advancements in knowledge we have today would not have existed. People like Nikolaus Pevsner an architect, Karl Popper a philosopher and Ludwig Guttman, Neurologist and the man that formed the idea of what we now know as the Paralympics. There was also Ben Elton’s father physicist and educator Lewis Elton. Esther is at last being given the recognition she deserves with a blue plaque at Leeds, the place of her birth. Esther’s Children is out now published by Allen and Unwin. - Reviewed by Paula Xiberras.

Starry, Starry eyes and the eyes of a child, for this Vincent

The Journey since his win on Australia’s Got Talent at just 15 years of age has been phenomenal, Mark tells me when we chatted recently on the release of his new album. ‘In The Eyes Of A Child’ is his tenth studio album. The other nine have all reached #1 on the ARIA classical crossover charts. In the time since his win he has toured both at home and overseas and experienced marriage and fatherhood. We talk about how being a father has influenced the songs on the new album and also about his friendship with Ireland’s Tommy Fleming. ‘In the eyes of a child’ signals a change for Mark. Since his last album his life has changed dramatically. He has married and had a child, his son Matteo in 2020. The album is a family one in and demonstrates how he’s been able to connect emotionally to songs like ‘In the eyes of a child’ that he couldn’t before the birth of Matteo. Songs like ‘Have you ever really loved a woman’ connects with his wife and a couple of other songs ‘Il Mondo’ ad ‘A time for us’ were favourites of his grandfather and connects with their relationship. Away from studio albums, Mark has done musical theatre and was chosen by Dame Julie Andrews to play Freddy Eindfelde in the 2017 production of My Fair Lady. Another dream has seen him sing ‘Because you’re mine’ alongside his hero Mario Lanza. When asked what songs on the album are his favourites, Mark says all of them. Mark says he is respectful of all genres of music not just his niche of classical and that all music is valuable, especially so through COVID. It was on a cruise that Mark first met Tommy Fleming who had sold 2 million albums.

vigil in Sydney attended by dozens of people on the hill above Bronte Beach and spoke to the emotions felt by all who were touched by her death. “In front of the crowd on the grass, a row of candles illuminates a framed photo of smiling young woman,” she wrote. Sunrise-watching at beaches across the city is a staple social activity for lots of Sydney’s Irish expats. Perth’s Irish community – like many It became more popular others in Australia and across he world – came together to hold a vigil than ever during last year’s lockdown, when outdoor in the wake of the shocking murder meetups were the only of 23 year old Tullamore teacher opportunity for many of us, Aisling Murphy while she was jogging living thousands of miles from in broad daylight in her home town of our families, to see friends. But Tullamore, Co. Offaly in January. Saturday’s clifftop gathering Hundreds of Irish people – including is by far the biggest I’ve ever seen at families with young children, took part Bronte... The primary school teacher’s in an evening time vigil and walk at murder has deeply shaken many of us in the Flame of Remembrance in Kings Sydney. The mood among those gathered Park on January 19, organised by the with their candles on the hill this morning Claddagh Association and supported is of sadness – and utter disbelief.”

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for Aisling day for the Irish community and women all over the world”. A group of musicians played traditional Irish airs and a flute and fiddle as well as a top with her Tommy saw Mark’s talent and showcased him on his PBS special ‘Voice of Hope’ and now Mark has a fan county’s colours were amongst the base in Ireland so much so that he will make a tour tributes laid out for the young Irish of his own. His work with Katherine Jenkins has also woman who was in adition to being a Increased his profile in the UK. A not so distant place promising and popular educator was also heavily involved with her local where Mark would like to return to perform a full tour is Tasmania which he thinks beautiful, especially after his brother in law sent him some photos from his own visit. In the Eyes of a Child is out now. GAA club and a musician in her own - Reviewed by Paula Xiberras. right. Elaine O’ Grady who attended Queen of Castledergt the vigil tweeted: “The beautiful song of the kookaburra who sang along It’s a great pleasure this issue to the stunning to write a story and introduce a traditional Irish wonderful, Irish (by choice), friend, music at the the lovely Gill Marseilles. vigil tonight for Formerly from England, now living in Castlederg, appropriate for this Queen of Irish music #AshlingMurphy in Perth,”. Similar events were staged across Australia, fandom. Gill works as a radio presenter on Finn Valley FM playing a selection of music from the 50’s and 60’s as well as American Country and Irish music. Gill presentation is unique including one at because she also offers memories and reflections of the Amphitheatre her experiences with celebrities both in England and in Ireland. at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane “to remember her It’s been a life of mixing with the celebrities of movie, and all who have died by genderbased violence”, organised by the Irish Australian Support Association Queensland. A piece written for her.ie music and royalty for this extraordinary lady. In the London of the fifties, young Gill did babysit Michael Cain’s daughter and was a penpal to Paul Anka. With a job as a telephonist in Covent Garden and later working in a theatre box office Gill met and by Anna Rourke described a sunrise

Paula from Tasmania befriended many celebrities. The Theatre she worked at housed a cafe where Gill says celebrities gathered to hear news from their agents in the pre mobile era. Later in the earlier days of Coronation Street Gill was working as a telephonist in Regent Street at Granada TV fielding the first reactions to the now long-lived soap. Being at the forefront of the entertainment industry

Queen of Castlederg by Paula Xiberras Gill married a Greek actor but after seven years they parted company, but the acting bug continued with Gill’s three young children working in modelling and acting for some extra cash. The next move for Gill was working as a paparazzi taking snaps of celebrities and royalty. Prince Charles even introduced his bride Princess Diana to Gill’s mum! Sadly Gill was the first person in London to lay flowers at Kensington Palace in tribute to the Princess following her tragic passing. For many years Gill and a friend collected signatures to have a fountain built in the Princesses honour.

An interest in music and particularly Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell encouraged Gill to use her well It’s a great pleasure this issue to write a story and introduce a wonderful, Irish (by choice), friend, the lovely Gill Marseilles. honed celebrity skills to promote both Daniel and many young upcoming Irish singers. This love of Irish music and Ireland itself, following her many visits in promotion of the singers, soon led Gill to make her home in Ireland. Without friends and family nearby Gill was eventually ‘adopted’ by Harvey Point’s Noel Cunningham and of course Gill has made many friends throughout the world, including myself, from her promotion of Irish music and attendance at Formerly from England, now living in Castlederg, appropriate for this Queen of Irish music fandom. Gill works as a radio presenter on Finn Valley FM playing a selection of music from the 50’s and 60’s as well as American Country and Irish music. Gill presentation is unique because she also offers memories and reflections of her experiences with celebrities both in England and in Ireland. It’s been a life of mixing with the celebrities of movie, music and royalty for this extraordinary lady. In the London of the fifties, young Gill did babysit Michael Cain’s daughter and was a penpal to Paul Anka. With a job as a telephonist in Covent Garden and later working in a theatre box office Gill met and befriended many celebrities. The Theatre she worked at housed a cafe where Gill says celebrities gathered to hear news from their agents in the pre mobile era. Later in the earlier days of Coronation Street Gill was working as a telephonist in Regent Street at Granada TV fielding the first reactions to the now long-lived soap. concerts. Long may The Queen of Irish music reign in her Castle-derg! - Reviewed by Paula Xiberras. Being at the forefront of the entertainment industry Gill married a Greek actor but after seven years they parted company, but the acting bug continued with Gill’s three young children working in modelling and acting for some extra cash. The next move for Gill was working as a paparazzi taking snaps of celebrities and royalty. Prince Charles even introduced his bride Princess Diana to Gill’s mum! Sadly Gill was the first person in London to lay flowers at Kensington Palace in tribute to the Princess following her tragic passing. For many years

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