Megawenya Matthews (Giblin 1960) is the first woman in Australia to have been made an Associate of the Royal School of Church Music.

 

The organisation, based in the United Kingdom, aims to ensure high standards in music for worship through education.

 

Meg, who now lives in North Turramurra, was recently interviewed by the North Shore Times and said being made an associate meant a ‘huge amount’ to her.

 

‘I’m the first woman, as far as we can find out,’ she said. ‘It’s very blokey at the pointy-end of church music, so that’s why I felt particularly thrilled. It’s harder for us ladies and we’ve got to earn it.’

 

Meg said she had always had a passion for music. As a student at Abbotsleigh, Meg said Dorothy Hughesdon, or ‘Dot’ as she was affectionately known, was an outstanding teacher.

 

‘Dorothy inspired me, and most of the girls in our class, to enjoy and value history,’ Meg said. ‘After her funeral at St Paul’s, Abbotsleigh girls lined both sides of the highway from the church at Pearces Corner down as far as the School.’

 

Meg said that when she became a teacher of both music and history, it was her own experiences in Dot’s history lessons that were her inspiration and guide. Meg also recalled piano teacher Barbara Feledi.

 

‘As a result of 10 years of piano lessons with this unforgettable teacher and her exacting standards, I have a lifelong knowledge of how to swear in Hungarian (quite gently, I am told) and an excellent recipe for Hungarian goulash. And I still play the piano.’

 

Meg will travel to Peterborough Cathedral in England to receive her award.