IfirstmetGregwhen Iwasan
impressionableyouthataYouth
Camp thathewasspeakingat.
He approached me and asked me about my
opinion on the Baha’i Faith. I sharedmy love
for it but becausehemademe feel completely
at ease, I also expressed that I felt the Baha’is
needed to ‘Get Real’ (as in tackle real life issue
and real people with all our inadequacies). I
worried a little that he may be offended but
shortlyafterwardshegavea talk thathecalled
‘GetReal’.Wehadan instantconnectionwhich
ended up being as close as that of father and
daughter.
Very quickly I felt a part of his family and I
cherish thispartofmy familywithallmyheart
as if theyweremyownblood.My true feelings
are hard to express adequately in words so I
shall just say that I admireGreg’screativity, his
sense of spirit, his service, his ‘wodja-wodja-
ness’ and I lovehimverymuch.
Dalex
Dear Greg, the last 14 years that I have been
partof thechoirhavebeena sourceof joy, awe
happiness andpure inspiration. Thank you so
much for the accompaniment on this lifelong
adventure!
Lovealways
BayanMassoudi
MyBelovedGregandMalini -
MesMiserables inestimables.
Gen and I had beenmarried 2months when
wewalked into theBaha’i centreonaTuesday
night back in November 1996. We were
probably 10 minutes late for the scheduled
7.30start time of choir practice, whichmeant
wewereoneofthefirsttoarrive.Sowehadthe
chance to introduce ourselves . Greg repeated
our names; Craig and Je–ne–sais–quois! The
first of countless Greg jokes that will amuse,
bemuse and confuse us in the years to come.
Theothermembersarrived,wesat inour semi
circle of chairs. Greg welcomed us, invited
someonetosayaprayer-silence.Afteraslightly
awkwardpausea femalevoice,Malini’s, gently
starts to fill the space with Holy words in
melodysopureandbeautiful that Istart tocry.
Just as I amnow,writing this.
Baha’u’llah tells us the Kingdom is sanctified
above space and time. First inkling we had
stepped intoaportal to theKingdom.
A fewpractices layer Itoowillhavethecourage
to sing aHiddenword or a prayer at the start
of choir. A fewweeks later wewill be singing
‘acapella’ in front of hundreds of strangers in
a Joondalup shopping mall, waiting for the
backing tracks to arrive. A fewmonths later
wewill be singingover thePAof theRottnest
Island Ferry, at the Australia day celebrations
onthe foreshore,atcancercouncil fundraisers,
at citizenship ceremonies, at the Olympic
Torch relay, at Government House-with the
Governor, Premier, Leader of the opposition,
their ministers and families dancing and
singing in unity with us! A few years later
I will be teaching songs to children in Baha’i
classes instateschools. Further inklingsof the
Kingdom.
None of this could have happened without
you. You have givenme the gifts of your art,
love, time and courage. Youhave inspiredme,
andbroughtme into contactwithother souls
who inspireme. Youcontinue to inspiremeas
Iwatchyou face thisgreat test together.
I loveyou.
Craig
