“In Tune” Edition 1 July 2026
It is with great pleasure and much excitement that the Gleemen Committee have decided to resurrect
the “In Tune” newsletter. The purpose of this narrative is to keep you informed of our events Calendar
and to also keep you informed about the Gleemen’s other activities.
About our main man
Trevor Vincent, Musical Director, Bribie Gleemen 1/7/26
I have been singing all my life. I remember singing in kindergarten and playing the triangle there at
our Christmas concert. Many useful skills learnt. Throughout primary school I sang in the Ipswich
Central Boys choir for Eisteddfods etc. At Bremer High I sang in my house choir and meanwhile
taught myself the ukulele and guitar (very basic only) and discovered the joys of the kazoo. In 1969 I
spent a year in Fosston, Minnesota and sang in their High School choir, Boys Quartet and enjoyed
singing an hour of Chorus every school day. I also sang in the local Lutheran church choir.
Back in QLD to resume studies, I joined the Queensland University Musical Society in 1971, singing
in many concerts with them under David MacFarlane and others, and for a year was their president
(not very effective). I sang in a couple of Intervarsity Choral Festivals, and in the process became
enamored of a particular QUMS alto. We are still together. At that time, we both sang in the QUMS
Chorale under John Nixon.
Moving to Townsville to work in 1976, I sang for a while in a local madrigal group there. Back in
Brisbane from 1980 onwards I sang with many local choirs – QUMS (again), QUMS Chorale (under
Colin Brumby), Brisbane Chorale (under Roy Wales), Pro Música & later Canticum Novum (under
Emily Cox), and Cantilena (Peter Roennfeldt).
After moving to Bribie in 1995, local choral activities were a bit scanty. I sang with the Beachmere
Singers for a year or two and we put on several concerts including Showboat (more of a dinghy…)
In 2002, a loose collection of 6 lost musical souls (John Gaffy, Les Foster, Robert Kay, Ray Kent,
Gordon Lee and myself) were herded together by Lyn Fry who was running the Gallery Singers at the
time, and she said we should form a group of Gentlemen Songsters. Like flies to a honeypot, we
quickly attracted a dozen more. The rest is history. The Bribie Gleemen have now done close to 500
performances over the years, and I am proud to have been a catalyst in their success as a singing
Men’s Shed.The beginning, a Potted History, Written by John Gaffy, 26/1/2006
The Gleemen had their origins in March 2002 when Gordon Lee convened a meeting of interested
parties at his home with a view to forming a male voice choir. After a few weeks the group consisted
of Gordon Lee, Les Foster, Robert Kay, Trevor Vincent, John Gaffy and Ray Kent. Initially Trevor
Vincent offered to act as Musical Director (a position he still holds) and Anne Dommett was
approached and became pianist for the group. Originally we called ourselves BOBS ie. Bribie Old
Boys after a short time this was changed to the Bribie Glee Club and then the Bribie Gleemen.
The group practiced at Gordon Lee’s home initially then an arrangement was made to use the
boardroom at the Community Arts Centre on Bribie Island. Music was mostly old favorites and
barbershop songs.
Early Performances. These were mostly at Music in the Gallery concerts arranged by Lyn Fry (The
first was the May concert in 2002) and performances at the Golden Age Day Respite Centre, Bribie
Island Retirement Village and the Bribie Island Library where we sang carols at Christmas 2002 plus
appearing at a Christmas Concert in Brennan Park the same year.
By early 2003 our numbers had grown considerably from the initial six to about sixteen and it was
decided to attempt a proper stage performance the piece chosen was Trial By Jury by Gilbert &
Sullivan. We were very fortunate in our Production team Trevor Vincent Musical Director and Roger
Brooks as Stage Director.
The show featured the combined talents of the Gleemen members of the Gallery Singers and pupils
of the Bribie Island High School, where the show was performed. The program was Trial by Jury in
full costume and selections from various G&S operas. It ran four performances and was a complete
sellout.
About this time, it was decided to form a spin-off group under the umbrella of the Gleemen to do at
least one major musical production per year, and so was born the Titanic Light Opera Co. of Bribie
Island, the idea being to expand our activities vis a vis musical productions and at the same time
retain our core purpose as a male voice choir.
In 2004 we put on our most ambitious production “The Bongaree Follies of 04” the RSL auditorium on
Bribie was hired and with a cast of over 60 we put on an old time Music Hall with a sit down dinner.
The show ran for six performances over two weekends and was a complete sellout as with “Trial by
Jury” we were able to make substantial donations to the Bribie High School and the Bribie Hospice so
in 2003-04 we entertained 2,400 people on the Island plus our many performances at nursing homes
and retirement villages
The Present 2026
It’s turning out to be a busy year. We were very honored to participate in a joint concert with the
Gallery Singers at the Bribie Island Recreation Hall on Saturday May 9th
. This concert was titled
“Battle of the Sexes” a playful choir show down and a very light-hearted afternoon, lots of fun. Two
choirs and two conductors. I believe that the ladies won by a whisker.Our next concert will also be at the Bribie Island Recreation Hall on August the 8th at 1.30 pm. The
theme for this show will be” Happy Days, Songs from Stage and Screen”. There will be some of your
favourites and a few new ones too.
In early December “the Gleemen” will perform with the Sundowners. This concert will have a
Christmas theme and perhaps there will be some Christmas goodies to munch on. Details to be
announced.
We must mention that these concerts would probably not take place without the help of Trevor Keys.
Trevor has been involved with the Gleemen for many years and is an expert in his field of sound and
light amongst many other things.
And as always, we thank those many helpers from the U3A who are always willing to give us a
helping hand with afternoon tea etc.
The Gleemen not only perform at the Bribie Island Recreation Hall we also do several other concerts
during the year. We enjoy entertaining members of the community.
In May we sang for the Marine Rescue Bribie Island Association at the Pacific Harbour Marina for
their annual Boat Parade. This is the third time we have performed at the Boat Parade. It was a very
gloomy day and very muddy, but the Gleemen are a stout bunch of fellows, they donned their wellies
and their raincoats and had a very enjoyable afternoon. The coffee stand and the sausage sizzle
were a big hit.Something very special and very entertaining happened in May the” Gleemen” performed at Waminda
which is an aged care day service facility in Ningi. This is the second time we have sang songs for the
residents and it looks like it will be a regular event. We have another concert planned in September.
Some of the Gleeman sharing afternoon tea at Waminda
The “Gleeman “do several free concerts each year. We particularly enjoy singing at the BIRV. We
rehearse each Monday at The Bribie Island Retirement Village, so as a thank you for their for lettingus their club house we sing for them. We also sing for the residents in the age care facility.
The Gleemen do other stuff also; we don’t just sing we go places and to things. In June 19 Gleemen
and partners went to Maleny see the “Spooky Men’s Chorale” in Concert at the Community Centre.
This was a truly fantastic experience. The “Spooky Men’s chorale” are a very talented bunch of men
who sing acapella and come from NSW. You can check them out on YouTube. We also had a very
nice meal at Pocky which is an Asian Fusion restaurant which was fab. Highly recommended.
There is also another group of us going to QPAC to the Pemulwuy National Male Voice Festival in
July. There will be over 400 performers. I can’t wait
Some Gleemen also like to play Trivia. There is a group of us who support the Bribie Rotary Club who
have a fund raiser every couple of months at the Bribie Hotel. There is a cost involved which is $10
pp which goes to charity. Chris Clarke is the new Emcee. If you would like to join let me know. We
have lots of fun and there is much camaraderie.
The Gleemen encourage their members and partners to get involved in these activities. Singing is
good for your mental health and wellbeing, and joining in these activities creates a social network and
cohesion.
Upcoming Events:
We will be having another coffee morning soon details go be announced.
Christmas is coming. We will be planning Christmas Lunch detail to be announced.
Our administration: -
President, Glenn Telford (also Gig Master)
Vice President, John Balchin (also Librarian and Flyer Printer)
Treasurer, Richard Hardaker
Secretary, Alan Blackman
Musical Director, (and lots of other things) Trevor Vincent
Committee members -
Shane Bycroft, (Assistant Director, Buddy System, Social Media)
Peter Gibson, (Information technology)The AGM is approaching soon and all the above have an opportunity to re-nominate. The AGM will
take place at 4pm on the 17th of August at the BIVR Club House. We would like to encourage and
invite other interested people to join us. The committee would love to see and hear new voices on the
committee to express their ideas and bring along their experience. We meet bi-monthly on a Monday
at 10am. The meetings last approx. 2hrs. Coffee and Cake is provided.
If you would like to be a part of the of these very exciting and outgoing men, then come and join us.
The Gleemen will always welcome new members, we rehearse each Monday at 3.45pm -5.15pm in
the club house by the duck pond. No auditions necessary. Just turn up. Membership is $25 payable in
June for a calendar year.
Stay “In Tune”
The next edition will be in December
and will
Feature Shane Bycroft assistant Musical
Director