Perth Modern School’s new 700-seat multipurpose auditorium is to be named the Cyril Tyler Auditorium.
The name has been chosen by Modernian Don Tyler in acknowledgment by the school of his significant donation to the project. The name is in honour of Don Tyler’s stepfather, Cyril, who raised Don from a small baby after his biological father died when he was only 28 days old. Don said he wanted a legacy for Cyril who had been a loving stepfather and who had taught him to give back to others in order ‘to lift people up.’
The Upper Level Foyer is to be named the Sir Paul Hasluck Foyer. This name was chosen by School Patron and Modernian Malcolm McCusker and his wife Tonya as an acknowledgment of their very generous donation to the building.
Malcolm said he chose to honour Sir Paul Hasluck because he was a highly distinguished graduate of Perth Modern School.
“Sir Paul Hasluck was a prolific author, historian, and Australia’s first permanent Representative to the United Nations,” Malcolm said.
“He served as Minister for Defence and Minister for External Affairs in the Federal Government, and on retiring from politics became Governor-General of Australia, a role he performed with great distinction.”
“The Federal (WA) division of Hasluck was named in his honour. It is most fitting that he should be recognised in this way by his alma mater.”
The multipurpose room to be used for a lower foyer, warm ups before performances and also for wellness activities such as yoga and Pilates is to be named the Harmony Room, chosen by Dr Nicholas and Dr Heidi Waldron in acknowledgment by Perth Modern of their donation to the venue.
“We choose Harmony Room as it can have multiple meanings like the room will have multiple use,” the couple said.
“Harmony has significance when the room is being used for orchestra tuning and warmup.
“Harmony can be the reward of meditative practices such as Yoga or Pilates – another use of the space. Harmony also positively respects indigenous and multicultural importance valued by the Perth Modern community.”
Building of the auditorium is currently underway with an expected completion date of mid next year.