Patron Nola Speir, QSM
2 August 1928 – 20 October 2007

One singular sensation, every little step she takes;
One thrilling combination, every move that she makes;
One smile and suddenly nobody else will do;
You know you'll never be lonely with you-know-who;
One moment in her presence and you can forget the rest;
For the girl is second best to none, son;
Oooh! Sigh! Give her your attention
Do I really have to mention
She's the one

This says it all about our wonderful Patron, Nola Speir, QSM, whose passing has left such a huge void in our theatre family. A large number of friends, family and musical theatre people traveled from all over NZ and Australia to farewell Nola at the Holy Trinity Church in Tauranga on 24 October. It was a wonderful celebration of Nola’s life with Len – her husband of 57 years, her four fantastic children who spoke so highly and lovingly of their Mum, and of course, her extended family – the theatrical one. President John Antony spoke on behalf of MTNZ, thanking the family for sharing their gracious lady with us all for so long.

Nola was brought into the church (which is also utilised as an auditorium so certainly had a “theatrical” flare about it) to take her final bow and we all stood and gave her a standing ovation, whilst her grandchildren gave her a bouquet of flowers, as all leading ladies receive on final night. We laughed, we cried, we all remembered Nola in our own way, prompted by overheads of old photographic memories. Some people there had been friends with Nola for over 50 years – Dame Donna recalled to me on the plane going up how she met Nola at the first inaugural meeting of the Federation, nearly 50 years ago. “Morning has Broken” was sung, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” which some of us didn’t quite manage to get through. Eventually the time came to say our final goodbyes to one of the great ladies of the NZ theatre scene and then, through the speakers we heard it - “One” from A Chorus Line. We applauded her out of the auditorium - never a truer word was ever sung about someone. It was a privilege to have known her loyalty and leadership.

Our Nola will have never ending encores in all our hearts.

1978 - 1982 – Zone Two representative 1982 – 1987 – Vice President 1987 – 1997 – President
1996 – QSM for Services to Musical Theatre 1997 – 1999 – Immediate Past President
2000 – Vice Patron (renamed Life Member) 2001 – Awarded a MTNZ Merit Award in Christchurch
2004 – 2007 – Patron 2007 – Instigated the Patron’s Achievement Award at conference in Hamilton to encourage young people in theatrical craft

A big thank you to those MTNZ members and friends who sent emails, cards and messages to the family and to the MTNZ Executive. There is a Nola Tribute page on the MTNZ website and it will be left on there for some time. If you would like to add a tribute or perhaps your thoughts or a memory of Nola, then please don’t hesitate to email kate@musical.org.nz  For page of tributes to Nola go to: http://www.musical.org.nz/Nolatributes.htm 

Photo of Nola and Len taken at the 2004 Annual Conference in Napier