22 YEARS and counting.....!

JANUARY

The New Year saw Stormfront celebrating it's 22nd year operating in Whyalla, SA -
having started out in QLD way back in 1994 to support Mark's music career.

Alison was busy in The Office writing, printing & assembling Music Workbooks for Stormfront & SOTA
while Mark was flatstrap working in The Studio Recording, Mixing & Mastering 2 wonderful new Original Song
projects by Senior Students Nyasha and KT Stott ready for Release in 2025!

After LOTS of frustration dealing with the SA Department of Recreation & Sport - Stormfront very proudly & finally
became South Australia's first-approved Music Provider to the State Government's Sports Vouchers Scheme.

The State Government's 2025 addition of Music Lessons to this great initiative's list of eligible activities
see's our services now available for the lowest price ever if each child's $200/yr sponsorship is Claimed!

We were delighted to be featured by Regional print medias promoting Music as part of the Sports Vouchers Scheme in 2025!

FEBRUARY

Our 2025 Port Augusta School Of The Air tuition year commenced as we headed to Port Augusta for a day spent
delivering Piano lessons, and two exciting Bucket Drumming Workshops to the full PASOTA Class.

School Of The Air is an icon of Australia and of The Outback - and it's our
absolute honour to now be delivering our 4th year of this unique & amazing Programme!

In Whyalla our Private lessons had kicked off and our Samaritan College Band Programme started up.

The continued record growth and success of our Band Programme - which we entirely write and deliver -
is a highlight for us each year across the College's 3 campuses!

At Sunrise Christian School Whyalla we kicked off 2025 in The Hut -
a great little space dedicated to our lessons and perfect for enjoying music!

In an incredible day Whyalla was stunned to see the SA Government evict GFG Alliance from the Whyalla Steelworks
in a move we all hope will eventually settle and reverse our declining fortunes here in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

To celebrate the momentous event we were delighted to be called in by Spence Denny at the ABC Evenings show
across SA, NT and Broken Hill to interview and perform 2 songs from our "Out Into The Blue" album.

MARCH

We returned to SOTA in Port Augusta for another round of Piano Lessons for our kids who'd travelled
from Stations, farms & far away to attend their second Face-to-Face school sessions of the year.

Unexpectedly Mark had to undertake minor mouth surgery due to benign growths that had appeared -
this would lead to more attention than we'd hoped as the year progressed.

As a "one stop music shop" we're constantly assisting student families in many ways - this month saw us
replacing the pick-up system plus a full service & repair on a student's Electric Guitar for Cost Price.

Stormfront honoured it's annual donation of PA & operator to the Whyalla Swimming Carnival as Mark
spent a carefree day at the Whyalla Leisure Centre as competitors from all over our Region battled it out in the pool.

APRIL

Circa 2014 saw us introduce our wonderful & unique Stormfront Polo Shirts to any student families wishing to
"show their true colours" and wear our name with pride - sadly when Covid wiped out our excellent shirt
manufacturer in 2020 we've been searching for a quality replacement ever since.

We finally found our answer with Subprint in Sydney -
and April saw us take delivery of our first new shirts since 2019.

Our new shirts are a similar design to the Original -
which we of course produce entirely in-house!

Mark had to undergo further mouth surgery and Ali had a big scare with medical results
which we think have turned out clear, albeit with a lot of monitoring to continue forever.

As Mark said - "Maybe we're just getting OLD!"

April saw us attending the funeral of long-time Whyalla music friend Ted Kittel -
Ted & Alison founded the well-known Myall Country Band many, many years ago!

Meanwhile student families continued to avail themselves of the SA Sports Vouchers sponsorship scheme
which was proving to be both popular, and very efficient at getting everyone's Claims paid.

April saw a direct example as we chose to call time on our prospective involvement in a (for us) $4K project we'd agreed
to provide studio support to when the local artist, and local supporting artists proved simply unable to demonstrate
any ability to get organised, and to provide us what we needed for our work to commence.

We'd tried to advise and assist this project for over 12 months when it had become clear from the start
there was a near total lack of knowledge about anything they were asking us to commit to.

Ultimately the project received nearly $30K of funding and in our opinion it's just not good enough to hear the Project Manager tell us
"I'll need (even more??) more money to finish it - but I don't ever have to release the final product if it's not good enough"!?

MAY

Mark's mouth surgeries took us to Adelaide for Specialist appointments in
what was becoming a saga that no Professional Singer ever wishes to endure.

May also brought some Online Students to Whyalla for a rare Face-to-Face Lesson -
it's always great to see these kids in-person to break up the screentime we otherwise depend on to learn!

As the year kept on rollin' our SOTA Keyboard Students continued to enjoy their Online Lessons
beaming in via satellite to Ali "from Stations, farms and far away!"

Every week it's such an honour to teach these kids who are located in incredibly remote locations
as far away as the NT border & SW Queensland - any given lesson might bring tales of a new pet camel,
the desert floods in north eastern SA, or a recent Flying Doctor emergency in the middle of the night!

JUNE

June saw a lot of Stormfronters heading off to see Katy Perry in concert - what an exciting experience,
and we hope you took notice of everything an International Superstar puts into her performance!

More Online Students swung by Whyalla for a Face-to-Face Lesson -
all of them showing enormous growth and confidence since last we met off-screen!

Our Samaritan College Bands were starting to focus on their Samaritan Spectacular gig coming
up in October at Middleback Theatre - and they were sounding great!

June also saw Alison commence her second year on the Australian Women In Music Awards Juror Council -
as she set about judging a host of Australia's leading Music Industry talent.

JULY

Term 2 finished up - and Term 3 got started - as we completed some extra-curricular PD
in the field of "Inclusive Teaching" via CQ Uni.

At Sunrise Christian School Whyalla we were forced to move rooms again due to on-going construction -
thanks heaps to Bec M. for juggling timetables to squeeze us in!

Alison wrapped her judging duties for the Australian Women In Music Awards Juror Council
as she participated in her final Australia-wide Online hookup to finalise results for 2025.

CHECK OUT the AWMA's here!

Sadly, July also saw the passing of Mark's former Manager Daryl Scott back home in Queensland -
that was an innings well played Daryl, you'll be missed by everyone left behind.

AUGUST

8th August saw KT Stott release her new Single "Together Forever" -
what an amazing young talent KT is - we're SO proud of everything she does!

CHECK OUT "Together Forever" here!

....proudly fully produced & sponsored by Stormfront.

(As usual in recent years!) August saw both Mark & Ali struck down for a week with
the latest viral infection circulating in Whyalla - never much fun at such a busy time of year.

As 2025 Music Exams drew near we fully sponsored our Mock Exam Day which gives all upcoming Exam Students the chance to
experience, and prepare for the nerves and unpredictabilities that will come when sitting a Music Exam in front of a live Examiner.

Continuing health issues for both of us saw us attending appointments overnight in Adelaide yet again -
2025 was becoming quite a difficult year to fully settle into, and there was even more to come!

Meanwhile our new Stormfront Polo Shirts were continuing in popularity as a steady
stream of student orders kept coming in!

SEPTEMBER

The month began with our AMEB Music Exam Day sponsored & hosted by us
to enable this year 12 of our students to sit their Music Exams in Whyalla, in front
of an AMEB Examiner without needing to travel to Adelaide or other Regional centres.

In 2025 we are delighted to see EVERYONE Pass with an "A Grade"!

CHECK OUT our 2025 MUSIC EXAM DAY here!

As Term 3 raced by our (seemingly) annual donation of time and talent to the
Whyalla Combined Primary School Choir concert at Middleback Theatre was yet another highlight.

Each year students from all Whyalla Primary Schools, along with (in 2025) Cleve Area Primary School
kids spend much of their year preparing to take centre stage to sing a selection of Choir songs
shared from Adelaide's amazing Festival Of Music.

In 2025 we were spoiled to stage 2 of our brilliant Senior Students as Guest Acts.

KT Stott blew everyone away with her brand new Single (sponsored & recorded right here at Stormfront)
"Together Forever" as well as the powerful and beautiful "I'm Not That Girl" from "Wicked".

Sam Kade brought the house down with his smooth and impressive renditions of
Vance Joy's "Riptide" and the Noah Kahan hit "Stick Season".

Adding to our input were our 4 Choir Soloists who did an awesome job -
congratulations to Pippa, Scarlett, Noah & Aston!

CHECK OUT our 2025 WHYALLA CHOIR page here!

Meanwhile our Samaritan College Band Programme was in final Rehearsals to polish their impressive
setlist ready for the Middleback stage in October as part of the 2025 Samaritan Spectacular.

The last weekend in September (once again!) brought Mark sheer euphoria as
his beloved Brisbane Lions claimed a "Back-to-Back" AFL Premiership and
his lifelong heroes the Brisbane Broncos rode a miraculous path to win the NRL Grand Final!

An era ended as we said "Farewell & Good Luck" to a long-term supporter of what we do at Samaritan College
as Principal Damien Judd took permanent leave heading towards his new Principal's position in Adelaide.

OCTOBER

October & Term Four dawned with the 2025 Samaritan Spectacular fast approaching at Whyalla's Middleback Arts Centre

Our Samaritan School Bands along with Soloists, Singers and Dancers would comprise
our nearly 50-strong Stormfront contingent at this year's show!

AND WHAT A SHOW IT WAS!

Making her Solo Debut Layla performed a fantastic version of
Leonard Cohen's iconic song "Hallelujah" to a wonderful response
from the 2 mightily impressed "Full House" audiences.

Sam just oozed "Cool & Easy" with his stellar version
of the runaway Vance Joy hit "Riptide".

Returning from Interval our Samaritan College Bands took everyone on
a Rockin' and Rollin' "Trip Down Memory Lane".

Stormfront has written and delivered this hugely successful Programme since 2018 and
to say this year's 9-song Set was exceptional is an understatement!

Our team of young Musicians ranging in age from Year 4 to Year 12
simply blew everyone away with their groove and showmanship!

Next up was our brilliant Song & Dance troupe the Samaritan Fifties" who
took everyone on a rollicking journey through the classic Rock 'n Roll music of the 1950's.

Then - to close an already awesome night - our Year 12 graduating Soloist
KT Stott brought the Theatre to a silent stop with her heartstoppingly
emotive performance of "She Used To Be Mine" from the
Sara Bareilles award-winning stage musical "Waitress".

The entire 2025 Spectacular Cast & Crew were fabulous to work with -
and special mention goes to our Sound & Lights team at MAC -
THANK YOU so much Paul, Kevin & Ned!

CHECK OUT our 2025 SAMARITAN SPECTACULAR page here!

Ali's 2025 Spectacular was tempered by the awful news she received just a few days prior -
her Mum was about to embark on fighting advanced Ovarian Cancer.

We made a pact to make every second count - and to begin fundraising come November towards
any research working towards treatments for this insidious cancer.

We pay special appreciation to the brilliant & compassionate Flinders Medical Centre who
are going "above & beyond" to assist us all through this difficult time.

Before we could blink an unbelievably busy November was hurtling towards us -
with more frightening news than you could ever imagine.

NOVEMBER

For the first time since Mark's catastrophic spinal fracture interrupted our service in 2008,
November '25 threatened to run aground many times due to a ridiculous set of unavoidable obstacles.

Monday/Tuesday 10th & 11th saw Alison having to make an overnight bus trip to Adelaide for medical treatment
while Mark stayed home to teach, and be available for Ali's mum and dad.

Thursday 13th saw us stage Samaritan Shines which once again provided an impressive outlet
for a big cast who showcased Whyalla's only Reception-to-Year 12 school immaculately.

In 2025 our 10 Guest Artists joined our incredible Primary & Senior Bands as they
turned what had looked like a rained-out event into a stellar success!

CHECK OUT our 2025 SAMARITAN SHINES page here!

Saturday 15th brought a "Best Ever!" McHappy Day - in 2025 with a
record Stormfront crew performing an enormous range and quality of music
as we all worked to help Ronald McDonald House Charities raise funds for sick kids.

CHECK OUT our 2025 McHAPPY DAY page here!

As Ali held the fort, Monday/Tuesday 17th took Mark to Adelaide for mouth surgery to
biopsy continuing growths that no Professional singer ever wants to find, or require surgery for.

Meanwhile Ali's mum bravely began her second course of chemotherapy.

Term Four was flying away!

Suddenly life stops and everything else vanishes -
we were now potentially facing the gravest challenge of our lives.

Immediately we began fighting a medical system not willing to hurry, as Mark forced the issue again
and again to eventually get Ali booked into an MRI scan in Adelaide prior to Christmas.

This poignant commemoration is attended by so many familes, and each year so many more victims have passed away.

As the end of November dawned we began wrapping up our 2025 Tuition at Samaritan College,
and issuing our 2026 Enrolment Forms in the hope our 2026 would be able to proceed, as planned.

Our Stormfront Polo Shirts continued to be popular as new orders filtered in prior to Christmas.

Now much more relevant than we'd ever wanted it to be, Ali completed her Workout 4 Women month -
in 4 weeks raising nearly $1200 for Ovarian Cancer Australia

DECEMBER

2nd December saw Stormfronter Noah starring as Guest Perfomer at Sunrise Christian Scool Whyalla's
annual Presentation Night - Noah's become a real Star in 2025 through his talent, and absolute dedication.

As Ali's mum underwent her third round of Chemotherapy, 4th December saw Mark's mouth pathology
latest results returned a benign result - one tiny relief on our list of worries.

Saturday 6th took us to Port Augusta to stage our SOTA Piano Recital as our PASOTA kids
rolled into town from all over SA for their final Face-to-face Get Together.

Another great SOTA year - we hope to do it all again in 2026!

CHECK OUT our 2025 PASOTA YEAR here!

Our Graduating Year 12 KT Stott signed off from her school years as Guest Perfomer,
and (for the SECOND time!) Winner of our Stormfront Award For Musical Excellence.

KT embodies EVERYTHING we try to impart at Stormfront -
being not just a wonderful Musician & dedicated Student - but also an amazing PERSON!

Stormfronter Sam Kade was also announced as Winner of the 2025 Middleback Arts Award
in recognition of his outstanding progress & successes on-stage!

Our 2025 Samaritan Band Programme wrapped with the presentation of our annual
Excellence In Band Awards with seven worthy Winners who've contributed so much this year.

CHECK OUT our 2025 SAMARITAN BAND PROGRAMME here!

3 days later - on our 20th Wedding Anniversary - Ali was in Adelaide having her MRI to further clarify her already
identified ovarian mass, as we now awaited those results which would take a very long week to arrive.

Mark & Studio Cat Gypsy video called Ali in Adelaide for a strange Anniversary get together!

The next day Ali also had her next (and already booked in) oral surgery
performed in Adelaide, followed by a long & lonely bus ride home.

As Term 4 closed we were already nearly booked out for Private Lessons in 2026 -
and our attendance at SOTA & Sunrise Christian School was confirmed.

Our "holiday break" would also see us write and print up our 2026 Samaritan Band Programme,
ready to (we hoped) resume this ever-adapting initiative in the New Year.

While we were incredibly relieved to have bypassed the Cancer threat (for now) - we would begin the
very next day towards having extensive preventative surgeries performed to treat the Endo, and the
massively present lingering threat of female reproductive Cancers genetically linked to her mum.

Leading into Christmas '25 Ali began school holidays study with a Musago Music Theory course -
a wonderful opportunity for PD in partnership with St Cecilia School Of Music International.

We'd seen so many Stormfront highs across the huge range of Music initiatives we manage -
yet these were now tempered by the significant on-going health issues both we, and Ali's mum now fought.

The unspeakable evil, and horror of what had just happened at Bondi Beach also demanded a quiet Festive Season.

Some more morning coffees, a few birdwatching trips - and yet another year had arrived!

2025 - nobody saw all that coming.
We hope for more positive times come next December!

Peace, Love & Care,
Mark, Alison & Studio Cat Gypsy!