In August 2026, it was a lovely treat to meet Bryony Lewis, who brought along some wonderful historical treasures from the Paul family of Creswick Road Ballarat, who competed at the Royal South Street Society National Eisteddfod of Australasia (as it was known then) way back in 1918!
Bryony has generously donated several programs, textbooks and a Prize List to our archives, helping us preserve these fascinating pieces of Royal South Street history.
And there’s an extra special connection! Bryony’s aunty by marriage, May Paul, was friends and cousins with the wonderfully talented pianist and accompanist Elinor Morcom. 🎶
Bryony’s mother, Nancy Edwards (later Nancy Malseed) (née Nancy Bryon), was a wonderful pianist in her own right. She began competing in the Pianoforte sections at Royal South Street from the age of just 10, going on to win several major prizes at RSSS and study at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music after being awarded the J. A.Steele scholarship.
She later became the official accompanist for the Traralgon Eisteddfod for some years. Nancy also possessed the wonderful—and very rare—ability to sight-read anything, sight-transpose, and had perfect pitch.
Bryony is pictured here holding a prize list from the 1918 Eisteddfod.
