General News
30 August, 2025
40th Birthday Party for the Piano
It was a celebration fit for an instrument, at Gilgandra Alive’s ‘Party for the Piano’ held on Saturday night (August 29, 2025) .
Around 90 people attended the 40th birthday/anniversary celebration for Gilgandra’s Yamaha Concert Grand Piano at the shire hall.
Hosted by Gilgandra Alive’s MCs Jess Reed and Lucie Peart, the concert featured a number of local musical acts and some emerging new talents - highlighting the multi-generational impact of the piano to the Gilgandra community.
Known socially as ‘Janet’s piano’, local pianist Janet Cheal accompanied most acts on the piano and led a sing-a-long section to conclude the night.
Gilgandra Alive’s Judy Shalhoub welcomed the audience to the event and spoke about the history of the piano.
“In 1985 the piano was purchased by the Gilgandra Entertainers with a loan from the Gilgandra Shire Council [$25,000]. The first celebrity to play the piano was Roger Woodward AO.
“The Gilgandra Entertainers held many stage productions starting our locals over the years including three concerts where the proceeds went towards the building of Cooee Lodge. Not many of us are still here, with some moving and others passing away. We changed our name to Gilgandra Alive in 2004 and have presented varied shows since including art and craft displays, a mock royal wedding, masked ball for the 50th anniversary of the shire hall, quilts and embroidery exhibitions, the launch of the books for the Point Blank Writers’ Group and memoirs of world war diggers, and recently we’ve donated to the Terry Nangle Drum Kit appeal.
