After 46 years in Australia, many of them in Orange, NSW, Bev Glover has this week returned home to New Zealand. Bev became a close friend to Alpha and myself and we wish her all the best on the next stage of her journey.
Beverley's off to New Zealand
Returning once more to her home;
We'll miss her in so many ways, as you know,
And in this we are not on our own.
The keyboards in Orange will want her fine touch
- Both the ones that are owned and the hired.
For the Male Voice team - that's most of you here
- Another key staffer's re-choired.
She's danced on the ivories since she was eight
She can finger just all of the keys
And though you don't know it, she played cello too -
- Just a keyboard between both her knees.
She came to Australia forty-six years ago
For a while she needed to roam;
In Sydney, Port Stephens and then Central West
With Lesley she made a warm home.
She served in her towns for political reps
In the community and in the pews
Les always behind her to get them the papers
- In those days there wasn't 'Fake News'.
Her church and her music are precious to Bev
And in Orange from nineteen-eight-nine
The Rowland Gregory Orpheus Singers
Took much of their after-work time.
Bev was accompanist, Les in the choir,
Together a close double act.
Her favourite key was always G Flat
For in that mode it's mostly All Blacks.
Apart from her partner there's one other man
For whom Bev has always been true
In tune with each other, from bar to bar,
And Leon, you know that it's you.
Alpha met Bev at the Sydney Town Hall
- The memory both of them chat-on
The men tried to speed up But Bev remained geed-up
She said "It's like cricket: When you're at the wicket
Keep your eyes on your leader She'll declare when she needs-ta;
In the meantime please all watch her baton."
Alpha and Bev became very firm friends
Similar women with similar ends -
Though Sasha and Toby, you all will agree
Were closer companions than Alpha could be!
Alpha has written in elegant prose
Of the Beverley Glover that each of us knows.
She has energy, patience, she's keen to do more
In musical matters she knows the full score.
Her large congregation of this is apprised:
On Sundays she'll keep her church well organ-ised.
Her laugh is infectious, she's full of kind tricks
And only in silence when watching Netflix.
We will share her on Facebook, we will see her on Skype,
And her legacy's plain, she is one of a type.
Let us pick up her mantle, let us go where she's led
Our thanks not piano but forte instead!
For Bev's contributions will always inspire
After thirty-odd years with the Male Voice Choir.
12 May 2017
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