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■ Melbourne Observer arts writer Peter Kemp's interest in theatre started in 1939 when accompanying his mother to the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton to see Hiawatha. As a toddler, Peter recalls Hiawatha in a canoe standing with arms folded across his chest, sailing offstage. Peter says: "It must have an impact on me as I have been interested in theatre ever since." His mother was an avid theatre goer, taking her sons along whenever possible. This resulted in Peter's brother becoming director and conductor of the Whitehorse Brass Band, and his sister became a ballet dancer. Her daughter now follows in her mother's footsteps running several ballet schools in Ireland. As a young lad, Peter joined the local Scout troop where the Group Scoutmaster was a member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, so a theatre production was organised each year as a fundraiser. "We certainly had a theatrical start to life," says Peter. "As we progressed through scouting and reached Rovers, it was my job to do makeup for the rehearsals. When the professional team came out they were impressed, so I had the job of doing make up for the production." After hitchhiking with a mate around Europe, USA and Mexico in 1957 and attending the Jubilee of Scouting in England, Peter felt something was missing when arriving back in Australia. He was working full-time and because of his Scouting experience became a member of the Bushwalkers Association Search and Rescue Team. "We were involved with assisting the Police when anyone was lost in the bush," explains Peter. ‘ "This kept up until the 1990s and I was appointed 2IC Search and Rescue State HQ Civil Defence. When Civil Defence was changed to State Emergency Service, I was appointed Officer in Charge Search and Rescue Division State HQ State Emergency Service. As Peter was also seeking to return to theatre, his sister suggested he take up ballet. "Well, this was in the fifties, imagine my feelings," laughs Peter. So instead she suggested he join a Spanish Dance troupe that rehearsed in the ballet studios. Peter had seen Spanish Dancing in Europe so joined the group, performing in stage shows, cabarets, TV and films.
Melbourne says farewell to Lillian Frank
● Peter Kemp By now he was more attuned to dancing, and Peter was granted a scholarship by the Ballet Guild of Victoria where he danced until later in life until injuring his leg and having to retire. He then became an extra on TV and films, and "Yes, I had plenty of work on Neighbours. Peter still loved theatre and while a journalist for a local paper on the SES, a friend introduced him to the editor of The Herald and Weekly Times, explaining she was going overseas and Peter was to take over her column until she returned. Peter has been writing theatre ever since and worked for many papers, including being one of the founders of Stage Whispers. While working for the Leader Newspaper Group, Peter became an Arts Writer, and is now the Arts Writer for The Local Paper and the Melbourne Observer. Peter says, "With my other work in Search and Rescue, publicity writer for the Boer War Association, the National Servicemen's Association of Australia and the Waverley RSL, I was knighted by Prince Leonard of the Principality of Hutt River so now I am Sir Peter Kemp KOWL." - Cheryl Threadgold
● Lillian and Richard Frank. Photo; Ash Long ■ Melbourne mourns socialite Lillian Frank, who has died at the age of 92. Daughter, Jackie Frank, announced the news on social media, saying her family had lost its "heart and soul". "She lived life to the max, without any regrets and was forever grateful," Ms Frank said. "She used her flamboyant personality and social standing for good, raising millions and millions for charity. "She had a very public life and I was often asked what's it like growing up with Lillian Frank as your mum? "My answer, to us she was mum, to my kids' nani and the most spectacular selfless human being in the world with the biggest heart." "She saw the good in everyone and everything". Lillian Frank was made a Member of the Order of Australia and a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her charity and community work. The Victoria Racing Club paid tribute to Ms Frank, highlighting her impact on the fashion of the Melbourne Cup, where she served as a longtime judge of Myer Fashions on the Field. "Lillian left an indelible mark on the Melbourne Cup Carnival, where she attended nearly every year for 50 years," VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said. "Her impeccable sense of style and vibrant personality helped elevate the VRC's Fashions on the Field competition to one of the most popular and prestigious outdoor fashion events in Australia, if not the world."