Auckland Doctor's Wife is Well-known on the Air

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 22 February 1935, Page 12

Auckland Doctor's Wife is Well-known on the Air

ONE of the best-known singers, who broadcasts from 1YA is Miss Dawn Harding, mezzo-soprano, who in private life .is the wife of. Dr. Chisholm MceDowell, of Remuera. Born in Horsham, Victoria, she first demonstrated her young voice in 1927, when she sang and conquered in the vocal section at the South Street. .Bailarat,. competitions, in. 1927. Six first prizes on end was the record. she achieved, gaining the grand aggregate and with it the GovernorGeneral’s gold medal. ‘That year was

surely her lucky year, for in addition to her musical honours she won the Horsham golf championship, the Natimuk championship, and was runner-up at Warracknabeol and Rupanyup. At Dame Nellie Melba’s final performance in Meibourne in "La Boheme," Miss Harding was selected as a member of the sextette, her next engagement being’ to take a leading role in Fritz Hart’s opera, ‘The Woman Who Laughed at Faery," and his production of the Mozart opera, "Cosi Fan Tutte." After doing brilliantly ar the Melbourne Conservatorium, Miss Harding took leading parts with the Melbourne Philharmonie Society in ‘he Messiah." On many occasions her rich mezzo voice has been heard from 8L0) and 2K0. For some time she was on the permanent staff of 3.0. On another oceasion she successfully carried out fox the education authorities a series of lecture recitals in the schools. Miss Harding eventually joined the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Comic Opera Company which toured Australia and New Zealand about three years ago. When the Australian Broadcasting Commission took over national broadcastin::, Miss Harding was one of the ‘artists selected for the opening night, a distiaction which she also enjoyed récentv when 1YA was. officially opened. She loves her beautiful‘ garden at her home, is often seen in it, and she plays tennis and golf. But more important _ still, listeners-she has a beautiful baby girl, Helen Day, aged six months.