The first time I saw and heard Greg
Parker was at a National Teaching
Conference in Adelaide, held to
celebrate the successful conclusion
of the5YearPlanand launchingofa
7YearPlan, in1979or1980.
Truth be told, I am not a 100% sure of the
date, but I seem to recall some of us Sydney
Bahá’ís filling a coach organised by Tom
Price and travelling overnight to Adelaide for
this conference (I had only been in Australia
for just over a year, single, and living with
my parents inWaverley) – I even remember
playing“stewardess”on thecoachandhanding
out juicesand lolliesat the startof the trip!!!).
Greghad come to theConference fromPerth,
and Greg had written a special song for the
Conference: Onward to Victory, a rousing
rallying song which he delivered with great
gusto and got the attendees to join in the
chorus line. Itwas themost joyous soundyou
can imagine and brought us all to our feet,
cheering and clapping, hearts bursting with
joy and gratitude for being Bahá’ís – and so
moving, thatmany, likeme,wereunashamedly
weeping for joy. That wasmy first encounter
withGregParker, and I justwanted tohughim
todeathforthiswonderfulgift,butwastooshy
todomore thandecorously thankhim. Then
in 1982, at a Conference in Mildura, I came
across Greg again, and had the pleasure of
hearinghim andMalini sing a song dedicated
to the Greatest Hoy Leaf, Bahíyyih Khánum,
on the 50th Anniversary of her passing, and
I knew that here was an Australian believer
whose love for theFaithhadgivenhimmusical
wings. Hismusic seems tobe all that remains
inmymemoryof these conferences, thedates
andvenuesbecomehazybut Icanstillhear the
songs!
Many years later, when I moved with Allan
and the kids to Perth, listening to Greg and
theNewErasingersbecameaconstant joyand
delight; IalsogottoknowGregabitbetter,asa
friendaswell as amusical genius. In2002our
daughter,Allison, spent ayearof serviceat the
end of her Year 12 inAlbany, whereGreg and
Malini hadmoved to as home front pioneers.
Allison spent a lot of time in their home, and
learnt somuch from both of them; but since
this is about Greg, I will confine myself to a
coupleof thingsthatAllisonsharedabouthim:
Greg’s love forcreamandcustard (together) for
hisdessert, andhis totalobsessionwithcertain
TV series, during which no one was allowed
to so much as move or whisper! She called
himherpretendDad, andhehas retained this
title and the special place inher heart till this
day. And so, hehas a special place inmyheart
too, and I owe him a great debt of gratitude,
for his lovingkindness and support toAllison,
for his delightful sense of humour and for his
wonderfulmusic.
So, thank you, Greg, for the joy, fun and
loving friendship yougave to somany. Cheers
mate, and happy “birthday” on this special
anniversary– theone that countsmost.
MunaWaters
