Congratulations to Larry Hills and the Bass Coast Chorale on their performance of the Miners’ Requiem in Wonthaggi on 19 & 20 June 2010 as part of Wonthaggi’s Centenary celebrations.
Several current and past members of the Prom Coast Singers joined with the Bass Coast Chorale to perform the Miners’ Requiem composed by Larry Hills.
The Miners’ Requiem was reprised and recorded
2:00pm Sunday 27 March 2011
Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre
A MESSAGE FROM LARRY HILLS
I’ve written the Miners’ Requiem specifically for the Wonthaggi Centenary celebrations. It is being performed by the Bass Coast Chorale accompanied by a full orchestra. It is a beautiful and moving work. There are only two performances: Saturday, 19 June at 8pm and Sunday, 20 June at 2pm. The performance will be of great significance to the citizens of the Wonthaggi area, but also of significance to other parts of the world due to recent mining tragedies in the US and in China.
15 February 1937, the day 20-Shaft blew up, was the blackest day in the history of Wonthaggi. The whole town rallied, united in their anguish, to save thirteen miners trapped behind thousands of tons of fallen rock, engulfed in plumes of black smoke and deadly gasses. The valiant attempt to rescue the miners captured the attention of a whole nation.
As we celebrate our centenary, we remember those men who lost their lives that day and all miners over 100 years who also lost their lives in the State Coal Mine at Wonthaggi.
Requiem (Rest in Peace)
