by Fiona

I took this photo of Jack at the piano on 12 September 2017, when I first heard his music and saw him perform live. It also happened to be my first concert with Polyphony, where we sang alongside Jack and Sarah Blasko performing a duet of ‘Cloudbusting’ by Kate Bush, declaring the lyrics, “I just know that something good is gonna happen!”

Jack had co-organised the Unity Equality Campaign Concert, featuring a lineup of the best local indie musicians, which sold out, and all proceeds went to Australian Marriage Equality to advocate for LGBTQI+ rights. 

I was starstruck when he performed ‘No Mercy’ and taken aback by the strength and intensity of his voice, which could soar, screech, and softly whisper. He reminded me of Tori Amos’s prodigious talent when she performed her Little Earthquakes album live. He was a powerhouse!

Jack created a movement and mobilised diverse communities to advocate for social change and equality. On 9 December 2017, shortly after the Unity concert, something good indeed did happen. Australia voted in favour of marriage equality, and the right to marry was no longer determined by sex or gender. 

Jack showed us the power of music and community collectivism. He had always done so, especially with the transformation of Polyphony choir, where he mentored us all with so much laughter, joy and non-judgmental encouragement to help us perform repertoires we thought were impossible. 

We miss you, Jack: your stories, dancing, visualisations, singing, riotous laughter and kindness. Thank you for everything and your unswerving faith in us, even when we didn’t believe in ourselves. I hope we can make you proud in the spirit world tonight with Wild Combination, and keep your legacy and love of music and community alive, always.