Ballarat's musical life will be the less for the death of Ted Lewis, as memories of his contribution to the Royal South Street Society, the Ballarat Jazz Club and other civic entities are celebrated.
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Mr Lewis died last week at the age of 90, after a lifetime working in the city's entertainment bodies.
He was described as a giant of the music world in Ballarat by RSSS chairman Peter Zala.
"He was very quietly spoken, but inspirational," Mr Zala said.
"Just an icon of the music world in Ballarat."
'A long-serving board member, discipline chair, writer/historian, and life member of the society. He was a... valuable mentor and confidant to many, and will be sadly missed,' Mr Zala wrote in an obituary.
Ted Lewis was on the board of the RSSS for almost 40 years, first serving as president in 1972. After retiring in 1994, he remained a valued adviser and was a life member. He introduced new disciplines to the RSSS including the Festival of Bands and Strings and the solo instrumental contest for schools.
A competitive basketballer for the YMCA, he was also a member of the Y's, an associated men's service club; he played brass with, and was musical director for, the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Memorial Band (now the Services Memorial Concert Band).
Mr Lewis was also a strong voice for the retention of Ballarat's Civic Hall.
"My first contact with the Civic Hall was when it was opened in 1956," Mr Lewis wrote in a letter to The Courier in 2013.
"At that time I had joined a jazz group titled the Garden City 7 plus 1. We ran a dance each Wednesday in the lower hall for some time... it was a very popular venue for band contests, deb balls, Queen of Begonias, home shows, car shows and, for years, a venue for Royal South Street.
"I am saddened to learn of the council decision to demolish the Hall. The Committee for Ballarat seems to have had undue influence on this decision and I suspect council administration may also have some input in this matter. Suffice to say neither of these groups represent the general public, but the city council does, and I would like to ask them to reconsider their attitude in this matter," Mr Lewis wrote.
Ted Lewis was also a foundation member of Ballarat Probus. He is survived by his wife Viv, his children and stepchildren; his first wife Beatrice predeceased him.
