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The following Ode is for a man that I greatly admired.
Ian Cookesley was an enormous source of support and encouragement for many students at NIDA and he continued that support throughout his long professional career, particularly at The Melbourne Theatre Company. I think Ian would have been surprised to know just how many people really appreciated him.
Personally, I am forever in Ian's debt, not just for his thoughtful support at NIDA, but also for gaining me my first professional engagement.
I, for one, shall never forget him.



Strike the set!
Bring down the fire curtain!
Lock the stage door!
The theatre, now stilled, not dark;
as motes of memories,
glitter and flitter glide,
through the thin ether.

Ian Cookesley;
production manager,
student mentor,
and friend.

A man of guffaws,
and gentle ribbing,
his NIDA guided beginning,
leading to professional staging,
of musicals, comedies and dramas;
MTC always,
his most beloved home.

At NIDA he encouraged all,
with affection and humour,
to follow his love,
for live theatre.

Ian, you are gone;
so let the flies fling open,
their counterweight cradles,
and cry out in clatter-fall,
their iron ingot tears.

Plunge the stage to black out,
rouse the house speakers to roar,
then, in prompt corner set,
a lamp, warm-yellowed,
for his spirit’s comfort,
from the welcoming glow.

Now, in final tribute call;
raise the house curtain,
then fill the hall with all,
his friends’ cheering and stamping,
make the boards thunderclap applause,
with our heartfelt farewell,
to a jovial and gentle man,
of Australian technical theatre.