HiGreg, I remember thefirstday I
metyou. Itwas late inJanuary1984
at theBaha’iSummerSchoolat
PointWalter. Onlyaweekbefore I
arrived intoPerth fromSydneyso I
didnotknowmanyof the friends:
It was the Saturday night and the youth had
just endured hours of the “oldies” performing
their traditional skitsand singing their songs.
What? That’s it? Bedtime? 10pmonaSaturday
night??
I remember Greg taking a bus load of mainly
youth to sing in the Barossa Valley in South
Australia at a large Baha’i gathering there.
There were a lot of performers but the New
Era Choir took the prize so to speak. They
were exceptional andwhen you looked at the
individuals in the choir very few were there
because they were magnificent singers. Greg
brought themall togetherasoneand thespirit
of unitywas the thread that lifted them all to
thehighestheavens.
My links and connections with Greg have
been rather from a distance as I was never a
member of theNewEraChoir and lived away
fromPerth formost ofmy life since I became
a Baha’i. However, seeing Greg’s last concert
wasmore than justGreg’s last concert – itwas
a tribute to the New Era Choir and all those
peoplewho came in andout of it, whose lives
were transformed through its dynamics not
just itsmusic.
I wish Greg a peaceful passing into the Abha
Kingdom and hope I will have progressed
sufficiently in a spiritual sense to meet him
thereoneday.
Loveandprayers
HelenGordon
Well,youcanimaginetheyouthwerenotready
for bed yet. Wemet up in the room set up as
themusic roomandgotup toabitofharmless
fun. Weplayed somegamesandplayedmusic.
I struckup a conversationwithGregwhowas
quietlyobserving the ‘mischiefmakers’ from a
distance. Well,mischief is such a strongword
relative to today’s standards. Gregaskedwhy I
wassittingandhavingaconversationwithhim
while theotherswereplaying around. I know
this is cliché but I told him I was bored and
really wanted to ‘hit the town’ and see what
Perthhad in terms of nightlife. Of course, as
I did not know anyone in Perth well enough
and being a youth, who could I hit for a ride
into town? I told Greg that all I wantedwas
someone to loanmeacar…Greg reached into
his pocket, took out a set of keys and said, “…
the old Ford stationwagon parked in the car
park. It’sgot$20,000ofMusicgear in theback
andone of the cylinders is blown…make sure
itgetsback.”
I staredat thekeys for aminuteand lookedup
athim.He said, “Goon…”
I quickly roundedup several of the youth, got
into the car and headed into Northbridge.
We drove around the block several times and
just couldn’t believe my luck. Wow! We are
cruising…
Miraculously, we found a place to park…but
I just could not get out of the car. I had to
consider the cargo in the back of the car. It
was so precious to Greg, how could I risk it
being stolen? Ibegged thekids togetback into
thecar, wefilledup the tank full ofPetrol and
returnedback to theSummerSchool.
Greg taught me such a valuable lesson that
night. He empowered me by “trusting” me
and Icouldnot lethimdown. Hedidnoteven
knowme!!
I have always remembered that lesson and
taught it tomychildrenbyexample. Trust isa
virtue that I learnedbecauseof thepureheart
thatGregpossesses.
Idon’trememberthemanypeoplethatrefused
tohelpusout thatnight,but Iwillnever forget
the generosity (some may say silliness) Greg
showedby trustingme.
I loveyouman. Happy40thBaha’iBirthday.
HoomanGolestani
