By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
Grant takes centre stage for his curtain call…
AFTER performing in his grade three play, Grant Alley’s drama teacher told him he might be better suited behind the stage rather than acting on it.
Now for close to half a century the 64-year-old Keysborough man has been a member of the community theatre company CLOC, formerly known as the Cheltenham Light Opera Company.
Having served as president, treasurer and technical director of CLOC – involved with the group for 46 years – Grant will be officially recognised today (Monday) with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the performing arts.
Grant didn’t finished his university course in accounting and computer science and said he always wanted letters after his name – now he has them.
“I started getting involved in theatre back in grade three at school,” Grant said, who started building sets when he was 10.
“For once in my life I performed on stage and at the end my teacher suggested I design and build the sets instead.
“So I started doing that.”
Grant joined the Cheltenham Light Opera Company as a member of its production team in 1969, when he was 18. He has overseen the company which began with a budget of $600 and now operates on at least $300,000 per show.
Theatre, Grant said with adoration, is like a fatal disease – “you can’t escape it”.
“There’s something about theatre that is all encompassing,” he said.
“It’s challenging and demanding and hard but enormously satisfying, bringing joy for the public and those involved with it.”
Grant, who keeps a part of all the sets he makes, gave up his job as an executive at Coles Myer in 2003 to be able to focus full-time on his volunteering at CLOC, where he was president for 15 years.
As technical director Grant is responsible for every technical design of every show – with the company staging two productions a year – but despite his dedication to CLOC, Grant admits he was still “gobsmacked” to learn he had been an awarded an OAM.
“You watch people get accolades on stage and this award is great recognition, not just me but for all those other people pushing the buttons behind the scenes,” he said.
And while Grant has seen many other community theatre companies fall by the wayside, he is determined to ensure CLOC remains a viable entity for decades to come.
“I’m focused on moving the company into a stable position, getting backing, and making it into something that’s going to move forward and survive,” he said.
“As part of that I stood down from the president’s role to become treasurer to appoint a younger person to take over that role, who I can mentor.”
Former Dandenong RSL Club stalwart James Banks, who now lives in NSW, was also among those honoured on the Queen’s Birthday.
He was awarded an OAM for his service to veterans and their families.
James was a long-time member of the Dandenong RSL Club and part of the club’s bowls committee from 1967 to 1986.
Two Greater Dandenong firies were also honoured with Australian Fire Service Medals.
For their stories turn to pages 5 and 8.
