The Arts Vanguard of West Gippsland: David Steele

Arts and Health Gippsland is sharing a series of interviews with artists who have been mentors and leaders in the West Gippsland region – the Arts “Vanguard”. The interviews simply ask each artist to describe their work in whatever arts genre they have worked in. They describe how they began, their successes, and how they have continued their practice when faced with challenges along the way.

Designed to become an archive of life stories from the region that highlight the importance of cultural life to communities, the series commences with an interview with David Steele, local musician, teacher and music educator.

Arriving in the town of Warragul as a teacher in the mid 1970s, David Steele has played an important part in bringing the power of creativity and learning through music to members of the Gippsland community for almost 50 years. His involvement has included everything from travelling to local Gippsland primary schools to bolster much-needed music programs, to being an original member of the highly acclaimed Gippsland Symphony Orchestra.

In this interview by RebeccaVandyk-Hamilton and Steve Wiegerink, David shares the origins of how the West Gippsland community arts landscape has been shaped.

Read the full interview at Arts and Health Gippsland.