Vale Bill Denholm

On Friday 9 June, VicWelsh choristers gathered to farewell retired chorister Dr William (Bill) Denholm AM, who passed away peacefully at Camberwell Green Aged Care on 28 May. He had celebrated his 98th birthday with his family just days earlier, on 17 May.

Only a week before his passing, on Saturday 20 May, the choir had the privilege of surprising Bill with a mini-concert at Camberwell Green. A report of that visit appears below.

At the funeral service, President Tony Davies spoke movingly of Bill’s deep contributions to the choir. He recalled how Bill had transformed our computerised learning aids through his introduction of Noteworthy, and how he significantly enhanced our sound system – a quiet legacy that continues to support our music-making today.

The choir sang three pieces chosen by Bill’s family: What Would I Do Without My Music, followed by Roger Bartlett and the choir performing You’ll Never Walk Alone, and concluding with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Roger’s poignant a cappella performance of The Parting Glass at Bill’s mini-concert, just days earlier, now stands as a touching farewell. Its final verse echoes our collective sentiment:

Of all the comrades that e’er I had,
they’re sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e’er I had,
they’d wish me one more day to stay

But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise and you should not

I gently rise and softly call, Good-night and joy be to you all.

On 17 June, The Age published an obituary honouring Bill’s distinguished career as a CSIRO metallurgist – a remarkable professional life to match his musical one.