Deirdre Snedden Trust Awards
THE DEIRDRE SNEDDEN TRUST was set up to establish a fund to provide a scholarship or scholarships to assist in sending students/teachers overseas to further their education in the teaching of voice, speech communication and/or drama. Applications are welcome from all members of more than 12 months for the purpose of further education or study. Long term and short term study opportunities are all considered. The trust can cover all (or part) costs including airfares, study fees and accommodation.
Alfea Deirdre Snedden, a retired teacher of speech and drama, died on February 21st, 2006. She left the major portion of her estate to the Speech Communication Association to establish this Trust.
Deirdre had a long association with SCA and many members knew her through using her textbook ‘Talkit’ (a ‘toolkit’ of ideas) published in 1990.
If you are a recipient of funds from the Deirdre Snedden Trust then you are benefiting from the generosity of an enthusiastic teacher, an advocate for the power of speech, a talented director and actress and a woman who is spoken of with appreciation and fondness by those whose lives she touched.
In 1940’s/50’s New Zealand, the only examinations in Speech and Drama were conducted annually by the visiting Trinity College of London examiner. Deirdre decided to extend her studies overseas. Rosemary Gulson shares Deirdre’s ‘London experience’:
“We decided in 1949 we would like to go to London to further our qualifications in Speech and Drama, and so began the ‘saving programme’,
We departed in March 1951 in the middle of the waterfront strike! Deirdre flew Tasman Empire Airlines to Sydney to join me and we boarded the Otranto for London and had five and a half weeks of bliss on board ship.
We arrived in London just before the Epsom Derby – no luck with the horses!
We had arranged to visit the Central School of Speech and Drama at the Royal Albert Hall. Miss Sergeant in the office there suggested we visit the Rose Bruford Speech and Drama College at Sidcup in Kent. We went there and had auditions and an interview and were both accepted to join their Speech and Drama course. This was for a year of very intense acting, mime, speech development, history of theatre, costume drama…..the lot! This course was intensely hard work, but a fantastic experience.
We graduated and sat our Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (L.R.A.M.) sitting our examinations at the Royal Academy.
We returned to New Zealand in December 1953. Deirdre then joined John N Thomson’s Auckland studio.”
All quite adventurous for young women in the 1950’s!
Deirdre’s friend, Lois Paynter, is concerned that:
Deirdre must not come out as a staid, serious figure. Dedicated she was, but she enjoyed life. She had a great sense of humour. She doted on cats. She loved books, pictures, drama, ballet and opera.
Deirdre loved arts and crafts shows. She valued her leisure and used it productively. She was a great correspondent, a great reader – she loved poetry and installed that love in others.
Not only her students, but her friends were enriched by knowing her and came to value the things she loved.”
Deirdre’s legacy to the Speech Communication Association will enable teachers to expand and develop their knowledge and abilities beyond New Zealand and to share that knowledge with their colleagues. In her lifetime she epitomises these qualities.
In 2007 a brochure giving detailed information about Deirdre, including tributes from past students, was prepared by Caryl Boyle, a past President of SCA. This brochure is automatically sent to the successful recipients.Criteria and Application Form is attached here
Applications must be made prior to the commencement of the course.