by friend and colleague Jane Sherlock

National treasure.

Legend.

Unique.

They are words which can often become cliched and lose their richness but they are indeed, accurate when discussing Gordon Streek.

Gordon died on Friday morning of 8th October. I wish that we all could have been there to give him a rousing ovation, an encore, a full house to farewell this important and wonderful human being.

Gordon is best known to locals as the founder of the Roo Theatre. Born in Southwark, UK Gordon graduated from Bristol University in Education. He taught in a range of schools in Bristol and London and was quickly recognised for his compassion and gifts as a teacher especially with children who were challenged in different ways.

He then moved into Television including the BBC and directed and produced many educational programs which gave him the background experience for his work in the Illawarra where he worked for Migrant Education television in Wollongong. Gordon was a founding member of Theatre South and president of the Illawarra Council of Performing Arts.

Fast forward to 1987 and Gordon responded to the call from Kiama Council to start adult drama classes at the Anglican church. An enthusiastic and eager group joined Gordon and that group became the foundation for Gordon’s next project- the Roo Theatre.

In many of Gordon’s trips back to the UK he had seen the growing interest and influence of community theatre. Gordon loved the theatre and wanted those stories to be told and enjoyed by everyone. He despaired at the cost of traditional theatre in Australia and that sometimes it was alienating.

Above all, Gordon wanted theatre to tell real stories about real people.

The first production by the new Roo Theatre was We Shall Work, We Shall Live a piece written by Gordon and the music was written by Jon Suffolk.  Jon was a music teacher at Kiama High at the time and the collaboration between Gordon and Jon would see some of the most exciting and powerful pieces of community theatre.

Combined with the extraordinary talents of Jean Gabb (Ogilvy) who made hundreds of costumes over the time, the Roo quickly became known for quality theatre. Stalwarts James Philpot and Wendy Woodward were key figures in the company and productions.

We Shall Work, We Shall Live was the story of Kiama from the original days through to WWI. Gordon interviewed local people and ensured that the musical captured the facts, the spirit and the toil of those who contributed to Kiama’s heritage. The show was performed at Jamberoo, Kiama Pavillion and Berry.

Local Peter Berriman who taught at Kiama High, and was a frequent member of the Roo orchestra as drummer, recalls these early days with fond delight.

“Gordon had the capacity to get the best out of everyone. The songs were a joy to play and Jon’s music was sensational. They were special days.”

Over the ensuing years there would be more of these local stories and each one captured the joy of storytelling as well as the importance of the past and exploring history.

There was a part 2 to We Shall Work, We Shall Live which covered the twenties, the arrival of electricity to Jamberoo, the impact of yet another war and the changes in population between Jamberoo and Kiama.

Wild was a wonderful celebration of the escarpment landscape with haunting music composed by Jon Suffolk. Later there would be the story of Kemira and Gordon’s portrait of migration to the Illawarra in It’s a Long Way Back. The ambitious and exciting production of Quarry in the quarry was breathtaking.

Gordon also directed more traditional plays like Oliver, Away, Othello, The Crucible, West Side Story and so many more.

He instigated drama and dance classes and soon the Roo outgrew its home at the old squash courts behind Terralong St and they moved to the Shellharbour theatre which is still its home.

Many of Gordon’s young students have pursued the theatre world and have become success stories including Brendon McDonald and Kellie Higgins; Kiama’s own Michael Cassel started his theatre experiences with the Roo and Gordon.

Gordon has left a long-lasting legacy for the local community especially in his dedication to ensure that local stories were seen as being important and be included in theatre.

Gordon travelled extensively with his life partner Colin Hollis and both enjoyed the delights of growing roses and were eager participants and observers of Australian political life.

It is best to turn to the words of the master of theatre - William Shakespeare:

“All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts”

There are few men who have played so many parts so well as Gordon Streek.