Mr Wanner retires from teaching at Koonung after 40+ years
A farewell letter from John Wanner:
Dear Koonung community
Well, it’s very difficult to even start to gather my thoughts in what to say upon deciding to leave Koonung.
I guess, after 40 years, there’s much to reflect upon, as well as the need to sift through what I feel may be relevant and important to share. I felt perhaps a mini-autobiography could be a good guide for all of you to understand and hopefully enjoy.
As a young boy born in Melbourne of both Swiss and Italian parents, I was exposed to music at a very early age. This led to a deep desire to allow music to fill my soul and make me chase my dreams.
Along with loving the family car (a 1957 FE Holden Station Sedan), my love of music and cars would eventually take me on a life-enhancing journey of experiences and development of many amazing friendships.
Fast-forward via learning the clarinet (at age 13 to14 in 1973), then starting my own big band at age 15 in 1974, completing 4 years at Teachers College (Melbourne State College, to later become Melbourne University) between 1979 and 1982, and study with the two principal clarinettists in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, I graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Music Instrumental and Media in 1982.
I was employed with the Department of Education on May 23, 1983 to work at 3 schools: Richmond High, Doncaster High and Koonung High. My first teaching day at Koonung was on May 24, 1983.
Koonung was still only a 19 year old school of about 700 students. I was 23, about to turn 24 years old, and was the 7th woodwind teacher to be employed there since 1981. For some reason, woodwind teachers didn’t stay long and so, my first groups of students were quite cynical about how long I would last. I guess I changed their views and am still in touch with about six students from my first year at Koonung! They are now all in their 50’s and are in the collage of photos supplied.
When I started, Koonung only had one day of Brass lessons and one day of Woodwind. There was only the Concert Band and a handful of brass and woodwind instruments for hire. In those days there was no music levy, so demand for lessons was high. We didn’t even own a bass guitar or a drum kit! It was a small program that had great potential.
When David Forward arrived in 1990, he seized the opportunity to develop the music program to where it is today. Koonung now has eight Instrumental Music teachers and over twelve Instrumental teaching days that also run over ten ensembles!
David was one of the many reasons I stayed so long at Koonung, he was amazing to work with and we have developed a life-long friendship.
Over the next 40 years, I would fine-tune my skills in teaching the clarinet, sax and flute, as well as run the Concert Band, Swing Band and various Woodwind groups.
I saw several Principals come and go, but without a doubt, the most memorable and influential ones were:
- Dr Robert Brooks, who, from the early 1990s, fostered the development of Musical Productions, and
- Peter Wright, who as a senior coordinator in the early 1990s, set up the “Enrichment Program”. This eventually led to the formation of the Swing Band. Peter eventually became Principal in 2009.
Koonung was always a very caring school that found a great balance between striving for great academic results and catering for individual differences and needs. It carried this philosophy through to the staff .
The Music Department in particular, was very much like a “family”, but could always be relied on for great professional support.
I was very proud that even one of my own ex-students, Kathryn Dunning (who learnt flute from me in the late 1980s), went on to become the College Captain in 1993, to eventually teaching the piano at Koonung – now known as Ms Kathryn Rogers!
Even a previous Mayor of Whitehorse, Bill Pemberton, was one of my clarinet students in the 1980s!
So, all in all, Koonung has certainly been a great place to work and grow. I have made many friends of ex-students and their parents, as well as staff. I am blessed!
Outside of my life at Koonung, I continued my career in music, running my 17-piece “JW Swing Orchestra” as well as a traditional Swiss Folk Band called “Kapelle Grüetzi Mitenand”, along with many smaller Jazz groups.
I had the honour and privilege of my Big Band playing at the official opening of the Victorian Arts Centre Theatre on October 29, 1984. The pressure was enormous , but I was only 25 and still had nerves of steel!)
Other highlights of my musical career, included performing with legendary Japanese Jazz clarinettist Eiji Ktamura in 2019. He, along with the great Benny Goodman, was one of my greatest musical heroes who inspired me to chase my dreams. Eiji was turning 90 that year and so, Tokyo TV were documenting his performance. I introduced myself and Eiji invited me to play with him! It was such a great honour!
In the following month of February 2019, another life-enhancing experience came my way when I was booked to play with my Swiss band on Swiss National Television (SRF) in Switzerland! The network came to Melbourne first to document this “Aussie-born-Swiss” who runs a Swiss band in Melbourne and then flew us all to Zürich to perform live on TV. It was totally life-enhancing! Everyone was so kind and amazing to us!
Koonung was more than kind to allow me the time to go and I am particularly grateful to the then Principal, Ms Marianne Lee, for her support.
As I conclude my essay, I guess some of you might wonder about my love of early Holdens?
It’s simple: I had a wonderful childhood with the most amazing parents (fortunately my beloved father Hans at age 95 is still alive and well). I loved our family car and over time, I developed a serious love of these cars. I learnt much about them after buying my first one in 1985 and eventually formed the “FE/FC Holden Car Club of Victoria Incorporated”. I have built several including making customized FE Holden Convertible - these cars are a part of who I am. Despite them winning awards (something I really don’t chase) and receiving media attention, I built these beautiful machines just because I love them and they simply feel “right’ for who I am. I know many students have loved my blue ute (“Bluey”), as it’s my “everyday work-hack”. They simply think it’s “cool”!
So, where to now, you may ask?....well, I will continue to teach at home, as well as play/record music (my Big Band turns 50 next year!). My car builds will continue and I intend to travel with my partner as often as possible, to see beautiful and wonderful places – especially more of Australia and to my beloved Switzerland!!!
In conclusion, I wish of thank all of you over the past 40 years and can only wish everyone all the very best for the future!
Below are links/references for you to view.
Much love
John Wanner
Links:
1: From my Swiss Band’s performance on SRF TV Switzerland – February 7, 2019. By the way, the pianist in my band is an ex-Koonung student, Bryan Anderson, who was the Music Captain at Koonung in 2002.
2: Eiji Kitamura’s Website.
I first heard of Eiji in 1973 and bought his record when I was still in year 8. I took the album cover with me to Japan for him to autograph. He was honoured. My partner, Reg was able to track down where he was in Japan and was able to meet him in January 2019. Eiji was so kind and generous to me. He’s still alive and playing at age 94!
https://eijikitamura.com/profile.html
3: Benny Goodman
He was the reason I learnt the clarinet. In 1972 I came across a book that had his address and I wrote to him. I couldn’t believe he replied! He eventually performed in Melbourne in 1973 and I saw him play at Festival Hall. I was too shy/nervous to try and meet him though – I was still 13! …By the way, Benny has inspired millions of clarinetists, including Eiji Kitamura!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Goodman
4: My YouTube channel.
Obviously this has a whole mix of things including some “Super 8” film footage of my band playing at the official opening of the Victorian Arts Centre Theatres on October 29, 1984 (next year it will be 40 years ago!!!).!