Sebastian Calderon, Murray Pioneer

Community contribution through music, mentorship and quiet leadership has earned Loxton’s Karyn Skewes the District Council of Loxton Waikerie (DCLW) Citizen of the Year award – recognising more than three decades of shaping the region’s cultural life and strengthening local connections.

Mrs Skewes said the honour reflected the value of relationships built through music, rather than personal recognition, and described the award as a shared effort.

“I already feel very blessed by the relationships I’ve been able to make through music and through the organisations I’ve been part of,” she said.

“In that sense, I’ve already been richly rewarded.

“I don’t need recognition, but it is nice to know that other people value what I do.”

Mrs Skewes said she hoped music would continue to play a meaningful role in the lives of young people across the district.

“We teach a lot of students each week, so there’s a lot of seed planting happening musically through Music Alive,” she said.

“I would love for music to have made a difference in their lives, helping them grow in confidence and learn how they can bless other people through what they’ve learned.”

Mrs Skewes and her family arrived in the Riverland in 1988, initially on what was meant to be a short-term basis.

However, immersion in the Loxton community quickly turned a six-month contract into a lifelong commitment.

“We joined the tennis club and a church, and immediately felt part of the community,” she said.

“It’s been really easy to fit in, and we were allowed to give back the gifts and talents we have.”

After completing a music degree in the early 1980s, Mrs Skewes began teaching music from home while raising her children, later establishing Music Alive in Loxton.

The organisation has since grown to support around 250 students each week, offering lessons across a wide range of instruments and vocal training”, Mrs Skewes said.

Alongside teaching, Mrs Skewes became a cornerstone of the Riverland performing arts scene, contributing her skills as a pianist, musical director and composer to numerous local productions.

“In a country town, if you can play piano, you get asked to do a lot of things,” she said.

“I’ve always tried to fit that around work and family, supporting organisations like the Riverland Musical Society and Little Town Productions by using the gifts I have.”

Her 20-year tenure as musical director with the Riverland Musical Society remains one of her most significant contributions, a period she describes as deeply rewarding.

“I loved helping people shine on stage and grow in confidence,” she said.

“Putting people at ease and helping them perform is one of my gifts.”

Mrs Skewes has also played a major role with Little Town Productions, composing original music and directing performances, including the development of Little Town Junior, where she created and produced an entire musical score.

“To have a vision and then see it come to fruition through young people’s energy and enthusiasm is an amazing experience,” she said.

Another defining moment was the IlluminArt Shine Project, initiated by John Gladigau and Little Town Productions, on the facade of St Peter’s Lutheran Church, for which Mrs Skewes composed the full soundtrack.

“That was probably one of my defining moments as a composer in the town,” she said.

However, she said her most cherished involvement has been the community choir, now known as the Riverland Community Choir, which has brought together singers from across the region for nearly two decades.

“We’ve had almost 20 years of laughter, highs and lows, bonding and singing,” she said.

“Those friendships will last a lifetime. That’s what makes a community.”

Mrs Skewes said the arts play a vital role in regional wellbeing, particularly in supporting mental health and social connection.

“When you spend half an hour one-on-one with a person every week, you build a strong connection,” she said.

“Music lessons can be a safe place for people to be themselves. Once they feel safe, their confidence and self-belief grow, and then creativity can flourish.”

Mrs Skewes said teaching multiple generations within the same families had been one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

“In some cases, I’ve taught grandparents, parents and now grandchildren,” she said.

“That kind of continuity and trust is a real blessing.”

In a DCLW council statement, the organisation said Mrs Skewes’ recognition as Citizen of the Year “reflects not only her artistic talent, but her enduring commitment to nurturing confidence, connection and community through music”.

“Her dedication, warmth, and leadership have left an enduring legacy in Loxton’s arts and community life,” the council said.

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 7 January 2026.