bentenlaughing

Janice: Gwen, I'm guessing your first connection with the music scene was in Brisbane? If not; where and who was it that took your imagination to become involved? Gwen: Good question! It was most definitely Brisbane but not really so much in a "who inspired me" way. I was doing Psychology at University of Queensland, 1st year, and around halfway through the year I did some "prac" observations at a place called The Open Door, which was run by an ex Minister of Religion Hayden Sargent, who was on talk back radio, and was involved in many things. My plan for my degree was to work with Drug Addiction, hence the connection to the Open Door He created this venue as a "Drop In Centre" for kids who needed a place to talk. Counsellors etc were on board and he also introduced regular gigs to attract the age group he was aiming for.  Friday night was "Blues" night, Saturday night was mainstream "Pop?" music with interstate guests who the loca...

  Janice:  Gwen, although we've yet to meet in person we've built a solid friendship over the last number of years.  One of the galvanizing aspects was a connection with the late, Mark Moffatt. Yours being a far more  engaged music industry and personal connection; going back to the 1970's I believe?  Whilst mine was briefly working with Mark in Festival studios in Glebe recording the vocals of Jo Kennedy who was starring in Gillian Armstrong's film Starstruck.   If you could share with us your first recollections of meeting Mark?  Gwen:  My first meeting with Mark was in 1967 at a venue called The Open Door.   It was a disco/youth hangout/drug clinic run by 4BC Talk Back host Hayden Sargent who had for many years been a Minister of Religion.    Mark and his band IRON WEB came to a Saturday morning session where we allowed all the up and coming bands to grab stage time and play to an audience. His band was a blues band and...