KILLED as he stood on the trigger of an insurgent bomb in an early morning operation against the Taliban in 2008, Lieutenant Michael Fussell is one former The Armidale School student who will have his story preserved in song.
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The school has commissioned Australian composer Paul Jarman to create a piece about the value of courage and mateship demonstrated by Old Boys who served in war.
Mr Jarman was inspired during a previous visit to the school when he looked up and noticed a formidable list of TAS students who had devoted their lives to serving the country.
“I was just overwhelmed and the fact that they go all the way through from the World Wars to Afganistan today, it says the date with a dash and it’s still going – it’s a current thing,” Mr Jarman said.
“I think the first thing to think about is the country philosophy here, the get in, roll your sleeves up, give it a go, get on with the job attitude – that is this school without a doubt, in fact it’s this town.
“That has to echo through it, then of course the conflicts abroad, there wouldn’t be many schools in Australia with such a commitment, dedication and passion for it as this – it is remarkable.”
Mr Jarman begins his creative process with research into the history of a place and his lyrics are drawn from the stories of locals.
“It’s a very hard thing, you don’t want to write a piece that’s bogged down in history,” Mr Jarman said.
“It’s a little bit like being an architect, someone wants a new building built but they only want it to be three storeys and it has to look out to the north.
“You can be as creative as you want but you cannot miss anything they have imagined they’re after.”
The song will be performed in October and Mr Jarman expects it to be uplifting.
“Up there is one of the best organs in Australia. When it sounds in that space, it’s almost deafening and it goes through you,” he said.
“When the students and teachers sing, it’s a seriously religious experience. You’ve got nostalgia and you’ve got this greatness.”