Coffs Harbour: Status

Over the past couple of years people have enquired about the music teaching and arts-in-general situation in Coffs Harbour. What do I tell them? How can I describe the current happenings and progressions in this town located at the heart of the mid-north coast? Normally I would refuse to give a response to the arts-in-general question, since it is so broad and encompasses so many facets. But what of the music and tuition situations of Coffs Harbour and the mid-north coast?

In the Wednesday edition (12/11/2008) of the Coffs Coast Advocate, I came across a very interesting article by David Bancroft entitled “They’re gloating in Grafton”. When it comes to Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley relations the two towns are like fierce rivals in a boxing ring; always having a poke and a jab looking for the opening to land a devastating blow. This article was no exception when art critic John McDonald visited Coffs Harbour and Grafton for the recent “Eutick Memorial Still Life” and “Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing” awards. Upon visiting the two towns, Mr McDonald was quite critical of the architecture and the inherent focus on sports and business. To describe Coffs Harbour as being “soulless” would have devastated and stirred local patriotism within different parts of the community (it certainly did with my father-in-law!).

While many people would be quick to dismiss such a strong criticism of the town, unfortunately it’s a sad but true tale within the music and, most likely reaching out to, the arts communities. Mr McDonald’s comments reach a lot deeper than scratching the surface of an art competition. Two years ago another article from the Advocate labeled Coffs Harbour as the “franchisee mecca”, flourishing with all of these businesses with a focus on retail. The statues located at either end of town were described by many as ugly and hideous, even by artists within the area that feature artwork within and around town. Coffs Harbour is quickly becoming a town that is losing its past culture and heritage, while refusing to establish and build a new culture. Even within sporting circles, I honestly don’t believe enough is being done to develop local sporting talent. We are lucky to hear about one or two sportsmen more each year being as successful as their musical counterparts, but we never hear many stories about the rising and developing talent. Within musical circles it is virtually a ghost subject, especially when regions around NSW ask about student eligibility for the state band program. There are virtually no students that would be able to cope with the standard expected at state level, and none that would warrant immediate selection. In fact, I don’t think one student has been selected or invited to take part (from Coffs Harbour) in the established NSW state band program.

Despite having a smaller population, the Clarence Valley have taken much larger strides within musical circles to establish and develop students and ensembles in the world of music in comparison with Coffs Harbour. Two years ago five students were selected to take part in the state band program. Students are being given the opportunity to visit and perform overseas, ensembles are being invited to perform and take part in events interstate and across the border. What does Coffs Harbour have to show? A part time orchestra that delivers two big performances each year that is meant to represent the north coast, and a full time orchestra that is still playing and performing repertoire that they have been working on for fifteen years (if not longer). While the Clarence Valley are gallery might be old and weathered and the Coffs Harbour gallery fresh and modern, the complete opposite can be said of the towns in areas of musical art.

Fresh ideas, development, and new ensembles need to be established if music is ever going to do its part for the arts, and the community in general. The petty politics that has caused so much division in the past, and the “I can’t” and “It’s too difficult” attitudes need to be cast aside. Raw talent needs to be harnessed and developed, emerging talent needs to be nurtured and guided. New musical experiences need to be created through teaching and performance experiences. This is to extend as far north as Woolgoolga to as far south as Bonville, plus their surrounding suburbs. A new, positive work ethic must be established and one that encourages fun not purely through entertainment but through success of study, participation and learning; “…breadth of activity has been promoted over depth of activity. The pursuit of pleasure is favoured over and above depth of musical study and the accreditation of genuine musical knowledge, many teachers failing to realise that genuine musical joy is found in intensive musical study” – Richard Gill, 2003.