Moe latrobe Valley Jazz Clubgreat traditional Jazz every month
  • Home
    • Club History
  • Venue
  • GIGS
  • Membership
    • Blog
  • Presidents Message
    • Committee
  • Gallery
  • Jazz Clubs
  • Links

Picture
The  Moe-Latrobe Valley Jazz Club (MLVJC) began on 12th September 1993 when Merv Burrage called a meeting of jazz lovers at the Gala Ballroom to form the  club.  The format for the club was for its activities to present jazz music  rather than performing, even though there were musos amongst us.  The  format would include monthly functions with live bands, dancing, an annual ball  and other events all with a jazz flavor. 
A monthly newsletter,  produced by President Bill Lawler, is posted to all members to keep them well  informed.  Members are entitled to a discount on tickets to most club
functions, and over the years it has become a happy meeting place for mature  people who enjoy jazz music, a bit of dancing, and a good time.  New  members, visitors and guests are always welcome.
The club is run by a  Committee of twelve people elected at the Annual General Meeting.  The  current Committee is:
President/Newsletter  Editor                          
Bill Lawler 
Vice-President                                           
Ken  Heppleston
Secretary                                                    
Denise  McKnight
Treasurer                                                    
Helen Durrand
Artistic  Director                                          
Greg  Simmons
Committee                                                  
Merv  Burrage
Glad Burrage
 Pam  Lawler
 Flo Heppleston
 Harold Bagnall
 Joan Bagnall
 Sue Cale
     

VALE                 Merv  Burrage
My  sincere apology for not being able to be present at this celebration of Merv Burrage’s life and his enormous contribution to Jazz music in the Latrobe
Valley.

Merv Burrage had many visions of how life could be improved for  the residents of Moe and the wider Latrobe Valley community.  One of these  visions was to establish a Jazz Festival and a Jazz Club in Moe.

The attributes that set Merv apart from other visionaries was his foresight, passion  and determination to realise those visions.  Establishing a Jazz Festival  and a Jazz Club in Moe was no exception. 

After attending a  successful Jazz Festival in Merimbula, Merv wanted to replicate the event in  Moe.  He and Bill Boulton approached the Moe City Council, but were
disappointed with the response they received.  Undaunted Merv approached  members of the Valley Jazz band who agreed to support him. 

Merv  arranged a meeting on 26 June 1991 where he asked Ray Clark to be President and
suggested  Tom Davey be approached to fill the role of Secretary /  Treasurer.  Bill Boulton agreed to be a member of the Committee on a  temporary basis.  Merv had three other people in mind to become members of  the Committee; they were Shirley Westerberg, Leigh Dodd and possibly Terry  Roney. 

On 2 July 1991 a meeting was called to establish a
Committee to run a Jazz Festival in Moe. The rest is history as the Moe Jazz  Festival, later to become known as the Moe Music Festival is still running 20  years later.

Merv’s vision was still incomplete without the establishment
of a Jazz Club in Moe.  He set about lobbying local Jazz enthusiasts and  eventually called a meeting on 12 September 1993 at which a Committee was elected to establish and run a Jazz Club. 

The Inaugural elected committee included:
* Ken Ipsen (President)
* Bill Lawler (Vice-President)
* Merv Geddes (Secretary)
* Helen Durrand (Treasurer). 
Other members were:
John Battista
Denise McKnight
Harold Bagnall
Valda-Jane Townsend
Flo Heppleston 
Merv Burrage.

Once again the rest is history with  the Moe-Latrobe Valley Jazz Club still running successfully today. 


For over 20 years Merv’s enthusiasm and support for Jazz music in the  Latrobe Valley and beyond never wavered.  The Moe Jazz Festival and the  Moe-Latrobe Valley Jazz Club have made an outstanding contribution to business,
tourism and the community.  A fine legacy from a truly fine
man.
Bill  Lawler.
Back to top
Home page
Web manager Bill
Richardson :
[email protected] 
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.