I met Fay Pasky (or Mrs Pasky as we all called her) at Syndal Technical School back in 1987 where she was teaching string instruments. Already proficient at keyboard, I joined Fay’s weekly classes to learn guitar, which soon progressed onto mandolin and 5-string banjo. In 1989 when I became unhappy with the general academic standard of that school (which closed in 1993), on Fay’s recommendation I investigated Ashwood College and subsequently continued my academic and musical studies there. Although somewhat reclusive in the school scene, she was much loved and well regarded by her students. During the late 80’s she had quite a few months off due to illness, which caused much concern amongst the students; we were all very relieved and pleased when she resumed teaching. The white acoustic-electric guitar Fay is playing in the picture is called The White Falcon – by the time I saw and played it, the body was decidedly more cigarette-smoke-stained yellow than white from all the years of being played in pubs and clubs. The students would often invade Fay’s classroom during lunch, using the time for an extra group practice session – more music time the better! We were introduced to many Irish tunes that adapted well for many string instruments. Fay loved musical instruments – ones I am aware of that she could play include: keyboard, guitar, bass, banjo, domra, Irish harp, mandolin and mandola. Fay taught me how to strum and pick a banjo, but admitted she couldn’t get the claw-hammer technique working. I spent many hours figuring out the action and was able to show Fay, who then was able to proficiently use the technique in about all of ten minutes! Fay also taught me to sing; I make no claims to excellence, but am pleased to have gained some competence in the use of my voice thanks to her teachings. Fay was always recognisable by her distinctive dress style; patterned clothes and short boots, short-oval-rim glasses (that she would glare at you over the top of) and black hair streaked with white always tied back in a long pony tail. She wore what she liked and fashion she did not follow. Fay loved cars and was a member of the Austin Car Club. I was fortunate enough to have a ride in her white Austin A30 one time. Fay was my driving instructor (1992) and I still clearly remember some of the rules and lessons taught me while driving in her gold dual-control Ford Laser – there was no mucking around or half-measures with Fay! It was only many years later when I joined the Jaguar Car Club of Victoria, whose club rooms are in Rosalie Street, Springvale, that I thought of Fay, who lived only a few streets away (Gray St) and how much she may enjoy the meetings. I drove along her street and stopped near the house I remember as being hers, but the family living there did not match any detail I could associate with Fay. On checking the address and an internet search, it turned out I had the correct address, but Fay had passed away two years prior. Thank-you for the skills you taught me – my life would be far poorer without them.

Fay was my guitar teacher for three years, she was a wonderful beautiful lady who has always inspired so many people. My thoughts are with her family. Jacquie Wilkie

Best beatles jammer ever. rock on!

Such a great guitar teacher and a kind, gentle, patient person. You will be missed. Keep rockin' beatles songs, where ever you are! Holly

When I look back over the years of my friendship with Fay, and reflect how my life has been linked with hers, the thing I think about most is how grateful and pleased I have been that Fay gave me the gift of music. Fay kindly took me ‘under her wing’ and became both teacher and accompanist when she found out that I loved to sing; and for years we shared a lot of music, sometimes when it was just us and we made a tape of our favourite songs together; sometimes it was with other groups, such as at the Hildebrand’s home in Warrandyte, where fabulous musicians – such as Greg O’Leary - would gather, and, for me, they were magic nights. Not that I was a fabulous musician by any means, but Fay was, of course, and she took me there and made me feel part of that terrific world. Those evenings, gathered in front of a blazing open fire, were a ‘shared meal’ type of gathering, and Fay would come over to my house beforehand and give me strict instructions on how to cook the spanakopita – we always took spanakopita! I remember many of Fay’s birthdays, which we often celebrated at my house, both in Noble Park and later too, when I moved to Blackburn – such enjoyable evenings with fun and friends and, of course, music. I remember too, Fay’s last birthday, when she struggled to eat a few crumbs of the birthday banana cake I made her, with Mieke at her side, encouraging and caring, as she did so well and so lovingly. Fay was a ‘dropper-inner’; she would be roaming about in her car and call in to see me – sometimes I wouldn’t be home, so she would pick a single sea-side daisy bloom and tuck it into the front wire door – her little ‘calling-card’! I smile too, when I remember that when Fay was still working, as the holidays came around she would say “Don’t plan to go away during the holidays, I want you to come over and help me to CLEAN THE HOUSE!! That’s how she said it, in capital letters. So I would go over and we would tackle the tidying-up – first one room, then another, both of us singing along to Linda, Dolly and Emmy-Lou’s ‘Trio’ album on the record player. We’d have a scratch lunch, then, at the end of the day Fay would say ‘Let’s go out for Vietnamese tea” so we’d go off to downtown Springvale and enjoy a meal together. So many memories, so much music and sharing friends and happy times – thank you so much Fay – I will miss you.

When I look back over the years of my friendship with Fay, and reflect how my life has been linked with hers, the thing I think about most is how grateful and pleased I have been that Fay gave me the gift of music. Fay kindly took me ‘under her wing’ and became both teacher and accompanist when she found out that I loved to sing; and for years we shared a lot of music, sometimes when it was just us and we made a tape of our favourite songs together; sometimes it was with other groups, such as at the Hildebrand’s home in Warrandyte, where fabulous musicians – such as Greg O’Leary - would gather, and, for me, they were magic nights. Not that I was a fabulous musician by any means, but Fay was, of course, and she took me there and made me feel part of that terrific world. Those evenings, gathered in front of a blazing open fire, were a ‘shared meal’ type of gathering, and Fay would come over to my house beforehand and give me strict instructions on how to cook the spanakopita – we always took spanakopita! I remember many of Fay’s birthdays, which we often celebrated at my house, both in Noble Park and later too, when I moved to Blackburn – such enjoyable evenings with fun and friends and, of course, music. I remember too, Fay’s last birthday, when she struggled to eat a few crumbs of the birthday banana cake I made her, with Mieke at her side, encouraging and caring, as she did so well and so lovingly. Fay was a ‘dropper-inner’; she would be roaming about in her car and call in to see me – sometimes I wouldn’t be home, so she would pick a single sea-side daisy bloom and tuck it into the front wire door – her little ‘calling-card’! I smile too, when I remember that when Fay was still working, as the holidays came around she would say “Don’t plan to go away during the holidays, I want you to come over and help me to CLEAN THE HOUSE!! That’s how she said it, in capital letters. So I would go over and we would tackle the tidying-up – first one room, then another, both of us singing along to Linda, Dolly and Emmy-Lou’s ‘Trio’ album on the record player. We’d have a scratch lunch, then, at the end of the day Fay would say ‘Let’s go out for Vietnamese tea” so we’d go off to downtown Springvale and enjoy a meal together. So many memories, so much music and sharing friends and happy times – thank you so much Fay – I will miss you.

When I look back over the years of my friendship with Fay, and reflect how my life has been linked with hers, the thing I think about most is how grateful and pleased I have been that Fay gave me the gift of music. Fay kindly took me ‘under her wing’ and became both teacher and accompanist when she found out that I loved to sing; and for years we shared a lot of music, sometimes when it was just us and we made a tape of our favourite songs together; sometimes it was with other groups, such as at the Hildebrand’s home in Warrandyte, where fabulous musicians – such as Greg O’Leary - would gather, and, for me, they were magic nights. Not that I was a fabulous musician by any means, but Fay was, of course, and she took me there and made me feel part of that terrific world. Those evenings, gathered in front of a blazing open fire, were a ‘shared meal’ type of gathering, and Fay would come over to my house beforehand and give me strict instructions on how to cook the spanakopita – we always took spanakopita! I remember many of Fay’s birthdays, which we often celebrated at my house, both in Noble Park and later too, when I moved to Blackburn – such enjoyable evenings with fun and friends and, of course, music. I remember too, Fay’s last birthday, when she struggled to eat a few crumbs of the birthday banana cake I made her, with Mieke at her side, encouraging and caring, as she did so well and so lovingly. Fay was a ‘dropper-inner’; she would be roaming about in her car and call in to see me – sometimes I wouldn’t be home, so she would pick a single sea-side daisy bloom and tuck it into the front wire door – her little ‘calling-card’! I smile too, when I remember that when Fay was still working, as the holidays came around she would say “Don’t plan to go away during the holidays, I want you to come over and help me to CLEAN THE HOUSE!! That’s how she said it, in capital letters. So I would go over and we would tackle the tidying-up – first one room, then another, both of us singing along to Linda, Dolly and Emmy-Lou’s ‘Trio’ album on the record player. We’d have a scratch lunch, then, at the end of the day Fay would say ‘Let’s go out for Vietnamese tea” so we’d go off to downtown Springvale and enjoy a meal together. So many memories, so much music and sharing friends and happy times – thank you so much Fay – I will miss you.

FOR FAY 14.04.2011. I would like to share with you some of my memories of Fay; I first met Fay about 24 years ago; she would take me in her Ford Laser which had dual control foot pedals as she used it when teaching driving. It was a trick to keep your feet away from those pedals. I recall the happy times when I would accompany her to Camp Eureka at Yarra Glen, to the annual Fiddlers Convention; to small gatherings at Warrandyte, with Susan ,Hildebrand and Joy;. I recall her playing with Jane and Coral in the back garden of my home in Blackburn where I had women’s gatherings at least twice a year. I recall her frequent visits there after a day teaching at Mitcham; she was very partial to my home made gingernuts, particularly the burnt ones. I recall going to several concerts where she was playing with Sadko, the Russian Balalika orchestra. Fay loved Henry, a moth eaten old Labrador found near death’s door in a little park next to the Dan O Connell hotel in Carlton and rescued by the drinkers who paid his vet bills. We adopted him and Fay fell in love with him. She’d arrive unannounced at L Hill and no one was at home would sit outside and feed him the can of gourmet dog food she had bought him – needless to say the love was reciprocated by Henry who doted on her – Fay would always love to talk about her various dogs but would also tell stories of the pet cane toad she would take on a lead to school (and how she rode a horse to school? Before I finish, I would like to commend Mieke for her determination and devotion to Fay over the last few years in particular; this has been exceptional, I believe, and it was gratifying that Fay slipped away from this life so very peacefully. I am reminded that wherever Fay went, there was always someone who knew her through her music. She was a very clever musician, the pleasure she derived from this would shine through her eyes and flow through her hands to the strings of her instrument. Her music will live on; farewell Fay.

Fay, our dear musical friend, who is sadly missed. Fay could play anything, any time, on so many instruments. Yvonne

Mrs Pasky was my guitar teacher. She was an amazing woman! I'd like to know where her memorial is? Luke Williams