Ian Douglas Stevenson 1 October 1940 – 26 July 2025
Gwen Gaff
5/5Over the years I've bumped into some of our volunteers like Richard Scott who I saw in Sydney. Richard is an electronical engineer and was living in Korea at the time - he said what he learned from Ian at the Walkington helped him know what he wanted to do as a career. He was very grateful for the experiences he and his sister had at The Walkington Theatre. Ian and all the team gave them a safe place to learn about life and grow from teenagers into young adults. Like Richard - Ian, the Stevenson family and our Walkington Theatre crew are a foundation in who I am as a person. Ian has a very special place in my heart, and always will. To Ruth and all the Stevenson family and friends - I'm sorry I couldn't attend and be with you in person. I'm thinking of you all, sending my love and sincere condolences to each of you.
Gwen Gaff
> VIEW ON MEMORY TIMELINEGwen Gaff
4/5 cont Tommy Emmanuel toured to Karratha - the lighting rig was set up by the Tuesday night volunteers, the lighting plan by Dianne, Kylie and Ian, ready for a music gig; and the sound desk ready to go in the theatre. Tommy's tour manager arrived to discover it was Dianne and Kylie as technicians. He ummed and arghed saying nothing about what he needed for the concert that night. Kylie came to get me, thinking he needed to see the Manager to then get the set up finished ready for sound check. Nope, he ummed and arghed saying almost nothing. So I headed back to the office and called Ian. 'I think we might have a sexist one here Ian, he won't tell us what's needed to finish it off before Tommy arrives - can you come to the theatre please'. 'oh one of those' Ian said 'I'll be right there'. Stevo walks in and immediately the guy started talking through exactly what was needed. Ian explained the theatre technicians had set it up to go, making sure Dianne and Kylie got the credit. By the end of the show the tour manager had been 'educated' with Jude and the other volunteers teasing him on the cans. Ian always polite, professional and quietly very proud of his daughter and all the theatre team.
Gwen Gaff
> VIEW ON MEMORY TIMELINEGwen Gaff
3/5 cont The Walkington had volunteers from age 14, and if the young men needed some guidance in their life or work at the Theatre, I could call Ian privately for a chat. Within a few shifts I could see that young volunteer begin to change, to feel better about himself, and as months went by those young kids would begin to flourish into more confident teenagers. Ian had a quiet way of making people feel valued, that bred self-respect and self-esteem, and a belonging in that community. There are so many fun and funny memories of Ian, Dianne, Darren, Sandy, Craig, Vicki and Ruth. The time I had to step into the role Sandy usually filled, performing as Tarzan's Jane, dancing and lipsinking to the song Guitarzan in the community concert. Dianne dancing around in the stinking hot ape suit, Craig dressed as Tarzan, strung up in the air, flying across the stage air-guitaring a cardboard guitar. Darren and the volunteers swinging Craig from one side of the stage to the other! Ian Stevenson was on the sound desk, and on cans keeping all the crew calm and on track, with Kylie Williams as stage manager.
