Graham Edmondson, MonUCS Honorary Life Member and co-founder of the Intervarsity Choral Festival, passed away last Sunday. A member of the Melbourne University Choral Society from 1944 until 1949, he, along with Colin Russell-Jones of Sydney University Musical Society were involved in the genesis of an idea of a joint concert between the two university choral societies, culminating in the first Intervarsity Choral Festival in 1949. The festival, now in its 62rd year, has enriched the lives of countless thousands of choristers, through singing, merriment and the formation of friendships and relationships between members of the university choirs from around Australia. More recently, he has been a feature at MonUCS rehearsals, with his cheeky grin never failing to impress the choristers. We will miss you Graham.
If you wish to leave any tributes to Graham, the Edmondson family have made available a tribute site with the Herald Sun and AICSA have done the same at The Age
Graham’s daughter, JJ Edmondson has given the choir permission to publish the details of Graham’s funeral service below.
Funeral Details:
Date: 29 July 2011
Time: 10:30- 14:00
Location: Salvation Army Church
1 New Holland Drive
Cranbourne, Australia
(Followed by a light lunch at Clyde Fire Station)
Much of the information in this obituary came from an article by Graham in Erato 82, published on September 1998 and available here