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Despite a six-month COVID delay, powerhouse soprano Mirusia is letting nothing hold her back from performing at The Regal Theatre this autumn.

Born to Dutch parents in Brisbane, Mirusia has been described as the “Angel of Australia” by the iconic André Rieu, who took Mirusia under his wing only weeks after she graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2006.

Mirusia’s aunt played a pivotal role in launching the soprano’s career, having called Rieu to tell him about her niece’s remarkable talent. Rieu found Mirusia’s music online and within weeks was touring alongside her and the Johann Strauss Orchestra internationally.

While Mirusia’s career has gone from strength to strength since, music has always played a prominent role in her life ever since a young age.

“When I was about four-years-old I had to go to kindergarten and I could only speak Dutch, and so to teach me English my parents bought kid’s music cassette tapes and played them for me,” Mirusia said.

“The thing they quickly realised was that I wasn’t just learning English, it was that I could actually sing all of the songs in tune after only listening to them once or twice. From there in primary school I would sing in the choir, volunteer to perform the anthem in assembly, and in high school I performed in musicals. If music hadn’t been in my life as a child, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Although being a country artist had originally been Mirusia’s aim, she found her voice didn’t align with the genre and was more suitable for a career in classical crossover.

“To this day I still love country music and I love all of the Australian country artists. I very much respect what they do because it’s a very difficult genre to master,” Mirusia said.

After over 10 years of touring with André Rieu, Mirusia has since established a successful solo career, which the artist found time to focus on during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was actually in Adelaide in March 2020 when my promoter called me and said ‘hey, your concert in the Barossa is cancelled, so head home and hopefully this will blow over in a couple of weeks’, and as we know it didn’t,” Mirusia said.

“I’m a silver linings person and realised it was a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with my daughter, going for walks in the park and having picnics. Rather than being on the road I had that time to spend at home.

“I also had time to record two albums and a live DVD, so the pandemic afforded me time for things I wouldn’t normally have time for. I think for all of us it was a time to reflect on what was important.”

Mirusia is now having a bumper 2022, which she described as “three years of touring rolled into one” as she travels nationwide to catch up on a variety of postponed shows. This includes her performance at The Regal Theatre on 20 and 21 May, which was postponed from 10 and 11 December 2021.

“I am so excited to perform here [The Regal Theatre] for the first time. There’s something for everyone in this show, there’s different genres: classical, classical crossover, musical theatre, pop and so much more,” Mirusia said.

“We’ve got local artists from Adelaide in Amicus Strings and Emma Kavanagh, our wonderful soprano. We’ve got artists coming from Brisbane and my musical director Shane Calderbank as well. It’s really going to be a wonderful event and I can’t wait.”

You can see Mirusia – Live in Concert at The Regal Theatre on Friday 20 May and Saturday 21 May. Tickets are available online at www.theregaltheatre.com.au/event/mirusia-live-in-concert/

In the early 1900s, Australia entered ‘The Walking Craze’ and competitive walking events were scheduled weekly across the country.

This photograph shows the scenes of Glen Osmond along the route of a 22 kilometre walking race between 22 share brokers in 1903. A crowd of over 2,500 people watched the share brokers when they walked through the city. The winner was N. Cox, who won with a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 21 seconds.

Photograph: Glen Osmond Walking Race 1903. State Library of South Australia, B 8338.

Burnside Community Centre is excited to offer a new art therapy program to residents that will improve their wellbeing and develop their art skills, beginning from May 4.

Run by local artist Eksha, the 10-week course will allow participants to work with watercolours to paint abstract flower settings to reduce anxiety, increase creativity and alleviate stress.

Eksha has been painting for many years and has found art to be a calming influence during difficult times. This includes during the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she experienced depression and anxiety while her husband was stuck overseas and could not be with her and their two young children.

Eksha's goal now is to serve the community through art, which she hopes will help people to feel more in control of their lives and relieve anxiety and depression.

The Art Therapy sessions will occur every Wednesday 3 pm - 4 pm from 4 May to 6 July. You can book your place at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/art-therapy-in-the-corner-room-tickets-309211097717

Stonyfell House was originally a three-roomed cottage constructed in 1838 of creek stone and timber. Stonyfell Vineyards founder Henry Clark and his business partner Joseph Crompton purchased the house in 1858. It was a much-loved family home, remaining in the Crompton family for several generations until 1978. It is local heritage listed and remains standing today.

The area of Stonyfell was named by Annie Montgomery Martin, the fiancée of Henry Clark. A ‘fell’ is a term used for barren or uncultivated high ground.

Photograph: View of Stonyfell House and outbuildings, Stonyfell circa 1915. Burnside Local History Collection.

Mayor of Burnside Anne Monceaux brings you the Burnside Highlights for this week, with a number of updates for you:

✅ Council voted in favour of creating a permanent memorial plaque in memory of Bob Parr at The Regal Theatre
✅ Burnside Community Centres Fit and Fab class raised $1,500 to support flood victims in NSW and Qld
✅ George Bolton Swimming Centre Burnside and Tusmore Wading Pool closed for the season from Monday May 2
✅ Anzac Day dawn service will return to the Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial at Rose Park.

To find out more information and receive the latest updates about what's going on in Burnside, sign up to engage.burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

Did you know? The first mail delivery in Australia is believed to have taken place in July 1803 in Sydney.

Postal services in Burnside were initiated circa 1863 by Joseph Lockwood and were conducted from his store on the corner of High Street and Lockwood Road until in 1903 the Post Office on Glynburn Road was built by the Federal Government. The Glynburn Road Post Office is a solid red-brick building with a bull-nosed verandah and timber eaves that incorporate a Flemish bond brick pattern. Service transactions were originally made through a window that opened onto the verandah.

Photograph: Burnside Post Office, 1956. Burnside Local History Collection.

Have you seen this 154-year-old eucalyptus tree in front of St Saviour's Church? This tree was planted by John Henry Wiles in 1868 to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Glen Osmond. John Wiles was the manager of Hardy’s Glen Osmond quarry and later an inspector for Burnside Council. The tree is still standing in front of St Saviour’s Church on the corner of Portrush Road and has a plaque beneath it to commemorate its significance.

Photograph: The eucalyptus tree near the entrance of St Saviour's Church, Glen Osmond in 1923. State Library of South Australia PRG 280/1/36/155.

Lucy Grace Lillywhite of ‘Perroomba’ Wattle Park was the third Australian woman, and second South Australian, to receive the prestigious Florence Nightingale Scholarship. This scholarship is designed for nurses and midwives and funds scholars’ training, research and professional development. In 1938, Lucy headed for London to undertake study in postgraduate nursing and hospital administration at Bedford College. Lucy’s plans to return to Adelaide in 1939 were abandoned when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis on a visit to Norway. As her health deteriorated in hospital, she observed the outbreak of World War II before passing away in 1942.

Learn more about Lucy’s story in the ‘Local History Corner’ at www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Latest-News/History-Corner/Lucy-Grace-Lillywhite

Photograph: Lucy in nurse’s uniform, circa 1938.

Mayor Anne Monceaux brings you the Burnside Highlights for this week, with a number of updates for you:

✅ James Stevens MP and Mayor Anne Monceaux opened the revamped Tusmore Wading Pool last Wednesday
✅ Harmony Week celebrations this week
✅ 79 new citizens to be welcomed next week
✅ Fitness in the Parks returning 5 April.

To find out more information and receive the latest updates about what's going on in Burnside, sign up to engage.burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

Susan Mary Crompton née Clark (1846-1932) emigrated to Australia with her family in 1850 from England. In 1852, the Clark family purchased property east of the city of approximately 45 acres, which included what is now the suburb of Hazelwood Park. The family named their home Hazelwood after a boy’s school in Birmingham.

In 1866, Susan married vigneron Joseph Crompton and the couple lived at Tower House, Beaumont and later moved to a property in Stonyfell. Susan worked with her sister Caroline Emily Clark on the ‘boarding out system’ for destitute children and sat on the committee of the State Children’s Council. During World War One she was appointed a justice of the peace, one of the first South Australian women to be chosen for this position.

Photographs: Studio portrait of Susan Mary Crompton, 1930 and Susan at the Hazelwood property, circa 1870. Burnside Local History Collection.