No matter where Alan Field OAM has lived he has always managed to find a local musical society to join and invigorate and where one did not exist, then he started one up.

So it is only fitting that Alan received his Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in this year’s King’s Birthday honours list, for services to the community through music and to education.

The retired teacher and Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services client turned 90 in August. 

“There is a joy about music,’ Alan says. ‘Individually, music helps people achieve something that is delightful. But together, music becomes even more than that. You can feel the music when a group is singing or playing together and that feeling brings me such satisfaction.” 

Alan’s musical achievements include President and Conductor of the South Australian Country Choral Association; President and Choir Conductor of the South Coast Choral and Arts Society; Musical Director and Conductor of The Hills Choral Society; and Deputy Bandmaster of the Victor Harbor City Band.

He has also served as Choir Master and pianist at the Adare Uniting Church at Victor Harbor for the past 30 years and he still plays piano at the church every Sunday.

In his career, Alan was Principal of Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge, Alice Springs and Glengowrie High Schools and was a secondary school teacher for 34 years.

“As a teacher, I would always try and encourage the thing that would help a student succeed at school,” Alan says. 

“Whether that was sport, or music, or books, being good at something would bring such confidence to students - it was very powerful to see. If a student can succeed in something, then he or she is well on the way to achieving overall success.”

Alan’s love of music began when he joined a drum and fife band as young boy.

“I remember going to the Tivoli Theatre (now Her Majesty’s Theatre) with around 250 other kids,” Alan says. 

“We would march in our official uniform from the Tivoli to the Regent Theatre, and then we would perform a free concert for the public.”

He also took piano lessons as a young boy. 

“I was the youngest in the family,’ Alan says. “And because of that there were certain things I got that my two older brothers did not. Being a head-strong lad, I didn’t much fancy doing the scales, but my teacher knew what I needed. Over the years I have done a lot of piano accompanying, and I’ve had to improvise in other areas to overcome my technical deficiencies. She knew!”

Alan attended Black Forest Primary School and joined the choir at the Black Forest Methodist Church. He went on to attend Adelaide High School and then Adelaide Teachers College.

It was at college that he met Margie – the woman, “without whom none of this would be possible”. He and Margie married in 1957 and have now celebrated 67 years as husband and wife.

Alan’s first job out of school was a rural posting to Victor Harbor High School in 1956.

“As a city boy, I decided that I’d enjoy a few years in the country – but when I arrived, I loved the community spirit,” he says.

He and Margie settled down in the area, and their three children were born there.

Alan joined the South Coast Choral and Arts Society, playing Samuel in a performance of Pirates of Penzance. 

“I enjoyed it a lot, and then the next year, I was invited to be the musical director for our performance of The Mikado. It was a big step up for me – and I loved it!”

In 1961, the family left Victor Harbor and Alan then taught at Adelaide High School – but this time to teach. At the end of 1967, before helping set up a brand-new school at Glengowrie.

The next adventure was Alice Springs, inspired by Margie. “A girlfriend of mine had been there and raved about the environment,” Margie says. 

“When we arrived, we found she wasn’t exaggerating, and the memories we made in Alice Springs at that time are just wonderful.”

The family would often spend time outdoors, camping in dry creek beds with friends and enjoying the natural beauty.

“It opened our eyes completely,” Alan says. “We didn’t use a tent – we would simply sleep on a tarpaulin looking up at the stars.”

After Alice Springs, the family returned to South Australia, first to the rural city of Murray Bridge, then to Victor Harbor. Here, Alan taught and was Principal from 1983 until his retirement in 1990.

“After 22 years as a high school principal I was burnt out,” Alan says. “I knew it was time to go.”

Alan and Margie took the opportunity to travel overseas, visiting many countries around the world. They also bought a camper van and spent some time travelling around Australia.

With work out of the way, Alan and Margie had more time to dedicate to musical pursuits. Alan took up the cornet, playing in the Victor Harbor City Band and taking on the role of Deputy Band Master as well as conducting for the group. 

Alan also became more involved in the Choral Society and was a driving force in the yearly productions. 

He says his favourite musical moments were conducting several performances of Handel’s Messiah. 

In his position with the South Australian Country Choral Association, Alan has worked to coordinate the 14 choirs who are part of the association, culminating in a massed choir performance every two years.

“Music has been a constant in my life,” Alan says. “It’s been an interesting and long journey.”