Australian Historical Medals

Lot 1141    SESSION 5 (4.30PM TUESDAY 21ST NOV)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $700
Bid at live.noble.com.au

SYDNEY SAVAGE CLUB, 'Koora Na Boon', name badge pressed in polished bronze plate (oval 72x98mm), by Angus & Coote, Syd., features aboriginal corroboree scene and below an enamelled strip and the name, 'Vernon Lisle/Vice President'. The pin-back replaced with a clip back, otherwise very fine.

The Sydney Savage Club, formed in 1934, was based on the Savage Club in London. The name is derived from Richard Savage (1697-1743), the English poet. It has social and cultural objects and its meetings were called corroborees. Its logo was Koora Na Boon, which was also the name of its journal. It operates today with the aim of sponsoring multiple events in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod and providing encouragement to young performers in the fields of music, arts and theatre.

Vernon Lisle studied violin and piano in his youth and also studied engineering at Melbourne's Swinburne College. When he won a prestigious singing scholarship he abandoned his engineering studies to pursue a career in music. At university he sang professionally, conducted choirs and composed music. After university he had several years as a conductor and briefly was the manager of a music store.

He also performed in vaudeville, musical comedy and opera but when World War II started he joined the RAAF where he served in air intelligence. After the war ended he devoted much of his career to broadcasting clocking up 25 years at 2KO Newcastle, the ABC and 2UW Sydney as programme and studio manager.

He had an interesting career being the first person to sing on radio (3LO Melbourne), was the founder of Carols By Candlelight being the compere of the event for 14 years. He was also the President of the Fellowship of Australian Composers and as such was instrumental in raising private funding to enable the 1985 Asian Composers League Conference to be held in Australia. In 1991 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to music. He was also vice president of the Sydney Savage Club and in 1951 wrote the song, 'Square Dance By The Billabong'. Vernon Lisle died in February 1991.