Congratulations & Thanks from Paul McShane, SHYAC Secretary

Coty's eloquent expressions of appreciation are really touching and quite overwhelming. But they are, of course, so characteristic of the thought, time and energy she has put in to this wonderful show. You are one extraordinary lady!

On behalf of SHYAC to the Farquhars - Coty, Andrew, Tom and Becky - thank you for making this show something very special for all of us and for all these young people who have participated. I'm sure they will all remember it as one of the highlights of their youth.

I can recall when you first sat down at our place with your sketch pad to watch the movie with director Alan Dunk and begin the process of translating his vision into reality on stage. Seems a lifetime ago but it was only a few months. You gave up a bigger chunk of your life than most of us to make sure this happened. But it was all worth it, the cast and audience agree on that and hopefully the CAT judges will too.

The work done by Coty and Andrew for Wizard completed the creative partnership with director Alan Dunk and musical director, John Woodhouse. The result was superb musical theatre and a huge credit to you all. Hundreds of hours of your collective time went into this show. SHYAC congratulates and thanks this splendid creative partnership on the wonderful outcome. We do, in fact, "love your work".

On a personal note, as well as thanking the Farquhar family, who did respond to our call for help like the cavalry reinforcements coming over the hill in a nick of time, I would also wish to acknowledge the contribution of some others:

Allen Cupitt: who could have so easily said no to taking on this role as SHYAC President, but put the interests of the SHYAC youth and the community first and said YES. His quiet but firm, principled leadership has been crucial in SHYAC's recent consolidation and growth. And his good humour and commonsense have rescued the situation more than once, when tensions might otherwise have boiled over.

Mandy Bransgrove: who has taken many of the brave steps with myself and others on the Committee to bring SHYAC out of some dark shadows into a very bright future. The difficult role of production liaison was essential to Wizard's success. Thanks Mandy.

Vicki Schaefer: who conveyed her constant enthusiasm and support to all around her. Thanks for the fundraising, always the hardest of jobs. Vicki and her family supported SHYAC's every initiative and was always willing to put up her hand for more work. The legendary support she gave to Coty and the costume team was essential to the success of the show.

Deidre Knowlson: as Membership Secretary is someone who really does live and breathe SHYAC, such is her commitment to the association. Thank you Deidre for always caring as much as you do. Sally Carmichael has also been part of our Secretariat team in her role of Minutes Secretary and has contributed in many other ways, not least agreeing to be the Child Protection Officer - thanks Sally.

Special thanks to all who played their part in electing and supporting the new SHYAC Committee, to Roger Hind/Ruth Lowry of Theatricks lighting and the AES audio crew; to David McFarlane of Hyercet Printing in Mittagong who not only helped produce that excellent show programme but agreed at the last moment to be our stage manager.

So many other people - both within SHYAC and beyond - have made important contributions to the show and its preparation, I would have to simply start listing the credits, hence I will stop there for the moment but for one more:

Sue and Melissa McShane: my wife and daughter made all this effort possible and plausible for me. Coty has already referred to Sue's time and dedication helping her. Yes, I was very proud to see my beautiful daughter, Melissa, on stage as Dorothy. But earlier in the year she was confronted with the choice of possibly having to give up that role she so badly wanted in order to do something she felt to be right and that would help SHYAC. She chose to risk the role and do what was right. I couldn't have been more proud of my child at that moment, whether she got on stage or not, and it was further proof of how precious SHYAC is to these young people and why us "adults" need to bring our best standards and efforts to making it all happen.

Paul