Peter Dodds McCormick: born Port Glasgow around 1834; died in Waverley, Sydney 1916.
Having completed an apprenticeship in Joinery, McCormick arrived in Australia in 1855. He worked at his trade for a time and it is also recorded that he worked on a project as a stonemason before attending Fort Street Model School for a month before being appointed teacher-in-charge at St Marys National School. He taught in a number of other schools until his resignation in 1885 then continued to give religious instruction in schools until 1916. He took a prominent role in various Scottish Societies.
His great love was music and soon after his arrival in Australia, he joined the congregation of the United Presbyterian Church as precentor. Determined to form a choir, he worked hard towards that goal, despite vigorous protests from the elder members of the congregation and in time, was gratified to see choirs established in the majority of the churches. In 1880 he conducted a total of 20,000 voices at a Sunday School Centenary demonstration. In 1907, McCormick was awarded £100 by the Carruthers Government for his patriotic composition, now the National Anthem ‘Advance Australia Fair’.
I combined carpentry and conducting imagery in the writing of this song and also looked at how migrants prosper best who can be open to new experiences and opportunities.
Song sample
New Beginnings – Lyrics
Hands working with wood, learning his trade
Many ships to be built, employment guaranteed
Striking out instead for a new country
And turning them to anything he could
In new beginnings, for a joiner from Port GlasgowHands cradling the Psalms, Preceptor leads
Squeaking chalk on teacher’s board
But sharing music his greatest love
New songs penned and welcomed home
In new beginningsHeart longing to be Conductor too
Against the grumbling, glowering few
Dreams of descants, harmonies and parts
Faces mirroring his own
Coaxing the sound, rising loud, falling sweet and low
In new beginnings, for a joiner from Port GlasgowHands scribbling down words, humming a tune
Angry thoughts inspiration on the late bus home
Dashing off a new anthem of our own
Rallying Australia’s sons and daughters
In new beginnings, for a joiner from Port GlasgowHands carving the air, pulling it smooth
Eager eyes note every move
At his bidding, massed voices sing as one
Faith and longing, love and hope
In new beginningsAnd every now and then it comes,
A call for change to the Anthem
New words are found and like shifting sand
Lines and verses disappear
Yet, would he mind, for his kind changing was the key
In new beginnings, for a joiner from Port Glasgow
© Words and Music by Grace McC. B. Reid