About Us
Mission
To conduct Australia's foremost Eisteddfod, promoting, fostering and encouraging participation and interest in the performing arts.
The Royal South Street annual Eisteddfod is run primarily by volunteers. Its members and friends give generously of their spare time to encourage enjoyment and excellence in the performing arts. We do this by way of competition, festival, concert, publicity, and even guest speakers. We aim to help aspiring Australians from three year olds to adults. The Society is the longest operating competition in Australia.
Royal South Street Society
A.C.N. 004 058 020 A.B.N. 33 764 110 838
The Grand National Eisteddfod of Australiasia
Honorary Patrons
Professor David de Kretser, AO Governor of Victoria.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Lady Primrose Potter, A.C.
Mr. Don Kinsey.
Office Bearers 2010-2011
President: Barb Dunlop
Hon. Treasurer: Bob Matthews
Members of Council
| Anthony M Cole |
Barb Dunlop |
| Ron Harrington |
Lloyd Harvey |
| Bob Matthews |
Brian McInnis |
| Michael Stewart |
Peter Zala |
Life Members
| Mr R. Harrington |
Dr A.M. Cole |
| Mr D. McMillan |
Mr R. Morgan |
| Mr P.C. Nicholson |
Mr E.T. Lewis |
Community
The Competitions have supported 5 generations of aspiring Australians. Untold thousands of artists have made their mark on the stage, and left a little piece of their heart in Ballarat. They have shared a moment of history with the likes of James Scullin, Alfred Deakin, Mary Grant Bruce, Amy Castles, Joan Kirner, Denise Drysdale, Betty Pounder, David Atkins, Robert Lempke, Kiri Te Kanawa and more.
The Society was granted “Royal” status in 1962 for services to the community. In recent times we were honoured with 5 community service awards. We also helped develop national copyright protocols for competitions, and established the Australian Eisteddfod Association.
Competitions
The Competitions currently run for 14 weeks each year. They cover 16 theatrical disciplines of voice, music, and movements, and provide some 40,000+ on stage performance opportunities for artists from all over Australia. We use four or more venues as well as Her Majesty's Theatre.
There are eight committee persons, plus partners, and four valiant office staff, who organise the annual event. We are assisted by theatre staff, Fire Brigade, and over 220 amazing volunteers who willingly help as writers, ushers, back stage crew, and chairmen etc.
The total voluntary input to stage the Eisteddfod in 2009 was in excess of 15,000+ hours.
Funding
The Society is a not-for-profit organisation. The charges for entry and admission only cover 50% of production costs. We are extremely grateful for the additional funding that comes from generous sponsors, businesses, City Council, individuals and families, committee, and some volunteers themselves.
As the nation’s wealth concentrates in fewer and fewer hands, the search for support becomes increasingly difficult. As well as major sponsors, you will find many new people sponsoring individual sections dear to their hearts. However we would earnestly welcome more new friends to share the path to excellence.
Heart
The whole Eisteddfod is a partnership between ourselves, staff, sponsors, performers, and audience, none of whom could survive without the other. Our life blood is the goodwill of everyone involved. There is a generosity that comes from the heart, and is devoted to providing you with support and encouragement in the performing arts. There is a passion that your self esteem and confidence will flourish. There is a hope that you will enjoy and treasure your time at South Street always.
|
