So long, Patrick, it’s been good to know you!

After 15 years of supporting the arts, professionally and personally, Patrick Gambles has retired from Meander Valley Council.

Photo by Mike Moores

By Sharon Webb

Patrick Gambles knows what it’s like to run an event on the smell of an oily rag.

One year when Deloraine’s Little Laneway Fringe Festival was scraping for funds to put on the event, he came up trumps with $300 of council money to save the day.

It wasn’t much, said organiser Alfred Franssen from Seppenfelts Emporium in Deloraine, but it hit the spot and the event was a success. And Patrick himself stepped onto the stage to perform, along with all the locals.

That was the secret of his success as a local government bureaucrat, blurring the line between work and play.

That happened because Patrick lived in the community in which he worked. He could see his own community benefiting from the help he gave, whether it be to Arts Deloraine, the Launceston Art Society or Westbury Primary School’s 180th celebrations.

When Patrick retired a few months ago from his Meander Valley Council position as community development manager, folks were disappointed. Over fifteen years in the job he’d built a reputation as a good organiser, someone who invariably supported, especially in the arts. Obliging, someone described him.

Stacey Tweedale, president of the Westbury Primary School Association, experienced that successful blurring of the line between Patrick’s work and local life.

‘He had a connection with the school because his niece Samantha’s two children attended there,’ she said.
‘I asked, Would you be interested in writing a piece for the school?

‘He came up with a beautiful song with a soft melody, not really a traditional school song. The kids loved performing it with him and recorded it in his studio. Patrick was very willing to be a part of our 180th celebrations.’

Westbury Historical Society, a sub-committee of council, always attracted Patrick’s support according to president Amanda Taylor.

‘If questions came up Patrick was always our first port of call,’ she said.

‘He always showed an interest in events and displays. He never missed attending one, whatever it was. When he left the council, everyone at the Historical Society had their story of how he’d helped them and were disappointed he was leaving.’

Patrick’s namesake festival, Westbury’s St Patrick’s Festival, was where he made a special contribution. (Then again, everyone who worked with Patrick believed he made a special contribution to their event.)

‘The music side of the festival was his passion,’ Amanda said. ‘He knew all the musicians. He had all the contacts.

‘Patrick was the push behind starting up the festival again after its first phase ended. He organised a community meeting, a lot of people came and a committee was formed.

‘He facilitated everything and without him it wouldn’t have happened.’

But often Patrick’s help was unofficial and behind the scenes. That’s how he lent a hand to organise the wedding of fellow musicians, harpist Joanne Mitchelson and violinist Hamish Pike, famous for being rained-out on Westbury’s Village Green and moving their wedding to the Westbus Depot.

‘I asked for his advice on the wedding and he suggested Florida Rickard and Miles Kerr. We couldn’t have pulled it off without them,’ Joanne said.

‘Patrick was one of the first people to whom I was bold enough to play some of my own compositions. He liked the songs and lyrics and it gave me confidence.

‘He’s so talented with music and lyrics and he plays the banjo really well.’

At the council, Patrick’s important talent was on show at community forums.

According to Councillor John Temple he hit the right level and made everyone feel at ease.

‘He was brilliant at those sessions, bringing everyone together and speaking to their needs,’ John said.

‘I knew anything Patrick was organising was going to be well-run with attention to detail.

‘We started a cycling group and I enjoyed his company on a personal level. He is a loss to the council.’

Currently Patrick Gambles is trapped in Cornwall, in the UK, because of COVID-19, hopefully sunning himself on the region’s wild coastline.

Patrick’s own comment on his Meander Valley role is self-effacing. ‘It was a privilege to represent the council and to work closely with the Meander Valley community.

‘There are so many good people out there doing selfless things that greatly enhance the quality of community life.

‘Typically, they do not seek acknowledgement or reward. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to get alongside just some of them and to have gained an insight in to what makes Meander Valley truly tick.’

Meander Valley residents have one message for Patrick, said Amanda Taylor. ‘Come back. We’d love you to be on the St Patrick’s Day Festival Committee to organise the music.’