The Seekers share favourite memories of Judith Durham ahead of state memorial

Judith Durham’s bandmates have reminisced on sound checks that descended into chaos, ahead of the music icon’s state memorial.

She was the girl next door with the golden voice.

Indeed, The Seekers — Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley — will remember their leader, Judith Durham, that way, at her state memorial at Hamer Hall on Tuesday.

But they will also pay tribute to Durham as their beloved little sister; a storyteller and musician who shared her gifts with the world, and remained forever grateful and humble; a warrior who overcame an unfair share of life challenges, and a lady who loved a laugh.

“My favourite memories of Judith are the sheer fun we had together as work mates,” Potger told the Herald Sun. “We enjoyed quirky humour, limericks and testing each other out musically, all fuelled by vegan food.”

Guy and Woodley concurred.

“She had a great sense of humour, and loved a good joke, which I was more than happy to supply when required,” singer-guitarist Woodley told the Herald Sun. “We shared lots of laughs and genuine enjoyment of each other’s company.”

The Seekers band members Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and Athol Guy.

Sometimes, Guy said, those moments bordered on satire when perfectionist Durham would insist on approving certain stage protocols.

“I relished the nonsense we all shared when sound checks for concerts descended into good-natured chaos, as Judith spent as much time reviewing our bows and exits to pin point accuracy and timing,” Guy told the Herald Sun.

Judith Durham, the lead singer of The Seekers, a trailblazing quartet that rose to global fame in the 1960s with hits including Georgy Girl, Morningtown Ride, I’ll Never Find Another You, and I Am Australian, died last month after a long illness. She was 79.

She was the original Australian pop princess, a superstar who preceded Olivia Newton John, Helen Reddy, Chrissie Amphlett and Kylie Minogue.

When she passed away, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the thoughts of a nation, by saying: “Judith Durham gave voice to a new strand of our identity and helped blaze a trail for a new generation of Aussie artists. Her kindness will be missed by many, the anthems she gave to our ­nation will never be forgotten.”

Judith Durham with her bandmates from The Seekers, Bruce Woodley, Keith Potger and Athol Guy. Picture: David Farrell

The Seekers, pictured in 2020, when they penned a Christmas message to their fans.

“Judith’s legacy will always be the dignity and honesty with which she approached any activity and those two qualities made her a role model for countless people,” Potger said.

Guy added: “She leaves behind a classic ‘self belief’ motivational ethos. Tackling a multitude of potentially destructive life moments — undeterred — she maintained her faith that her compass was always set correctly.”

In 1990, Durham and her husband, musical director and pianist Ron Edgeworth survived a car accident on the Calder Freeway, in which the driver of the other vehicle died.

A few years later, Edgeworth died of motor neurone disease.

In 2013, Durham suffered a stroke that affected her ability to read and write. She worked on rebuilding those skills during her long recovery.

“I would like Judith to be remembered for her bravery and resilience in overcoming the greatest physical obstacles in her lifetime and again,” Woodley said.

“She gave her all in her pursuit of excellence with The Seekers both on and off the stage. Judith was a warrior and an inspiration.”

Potger said Durham’s musical talent was undeniable.

Judith Durham will be farewelled at a state funeral. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“In my opinion, Judith’s greatest gift as a storyteller and musician was her ability to focus on the detail that made up the foundation of what would result in her creative storytelling and musicianship,” he said.

Guy added: “She had such a natural gift to instinctively reach out to her audiences musically and emotionally.”

Woodley said there was no other match for the classic Seekers sound than Judith Durham.

“Judith was an excellent pianist and a damn fine singer with her distinctive, clear, soaring voice that provided the jewel on top of our three interwoven harmonies,” he said. “As a storyteller, Judith was never lost for words.”

Durham’s state memorial service, which starts at 7pm, is a free, but ticketed event.

ABC Radio Melbourne will broadcast the event live, and people are also invited to watch the service on the big screen at Federation Square.

“I would like Judith to be remembered as a loving, caring, loyal, incredibly talented, thoughtful, indomitable force of nature,” Potger said. “I will always remember her as my dear, dear friend.”

Guy added wistfully: “Her memory with the public is clearly defined as the ‘girl next door with the golden voice’. Personally, she was a loved ‘little sister’ link for me, to a musical, intellectual and joyful series of life moments to be treasured.”

Watch Judith Durham’s state funeral live from 6.30pm at vic.gov.au/judith-durham