Tributes flow for Gympie singer, teacher, Eisteddfod patron Elizabeth Reid

Gympie’s arts community is mourning the loss of a lifetime eisteddfod patron, trailblazer and beloved vocal coach following her death.

The Gympie arts community is mourning the loss of its “heart and soul” following the death of eisteddfod patron and singing teacher Elizabeth Reid.

Mrs Reid died on Tuesday August 30, 2022, aged 95.

Daughter Fiona Reid said her mother’s life encompassed the arts and her family.

Mr Reid was born in Scotland, and auditioned for the best vocal coach in the country while she lived there.

She eventually moved to Brisbane with her husband Archie where she was offered the chance to teach at the Conservatorium of Music.

Gallery: 51 photos of the 2022 Gympie Eisteddfod

Mrs Reid turned down the offer, having committed to moving to Nambour with Mr Reid after he went into a partnership in a chiropractic business.

Elizabeth Reid was born in Scotland, and began what would become a 65-year teaching career in the arts when she m0ved to Gympie at age 30.

She arrived in Gympie in 1957 and embarked on what would become a 65-year teaching career.

Photos: 33 photos of young dancers ready to shine at the Gympie eisteddfod 2022

Mrs Reid was almost immediately asked to start a church choir before founding the Arion Singers.

“Mum’s musical theatre company they did things like Pirates of Penzance, The Gondoliers, The Marble Guest,” Fiona said.

Mrs Reid then opened her own private studio and started teaching vocal work and speech and drama.

“In no time at all she had a waiting list,” friend and Gympie Eisteddfod president Thelma Reisenleiter said.

“In both those genres her students were very high achievers.”

“Mum was still teaching up until she passed,” Fiona said.

Elizabeth Reid was a patron and lifetime member of the Gympie Eisteddfod, and performed in Queensland Eisteddfods ujntil well into her later years.

Mrs Reid was a driving force behind the region’s popular annual eisteddfods.

She approached then mayor Mick Venardos to ask to host a Queensland Eisteddfod in Gympie.

“Of course you can only say yes to Elizabeth and the rest is history,” Mrs Reisenleiter said.

She never stopped being at the top of her artistic talent either

When she was 89, Mrs Reid took the stage at City Hall in Brisbane at a Queensland Eisteddfod event to perform.

A talented singer, Elizabeth Reid was offered the opportunity to teach at the Conservatorium of Music when she arrived in Australia.

“Elizabeth hopped up … not only did she win it, they gave her a standing ovation,” Mrs Reisenleiter said.

“There was no problem (Elizabeth) could not solve.

“It was like ‘there’s no mountain too high, I’ll get there’.

“She didn’t say ‘cannot’, she said ‘why not’. There’s a big difference.”

“Her contribution to the arts in Gympie was immeasurable, you could not put into words what her contribution actually was.

“How do you measure what she did?”

With her death the region had lost an integral piece of the region’s artistic fabric.

“The Gympie and District Eisteddfod association lost its heart and soul,” Mrs Reisenleiter said.