‘Talented man': Tributes for cinema owner's legacy of movies
Mr Siemiginowski died on April 27, leaving behind his wife Leticia, seven children and two grandchildren. His family described him as a 'multi-faceted, talented, loving, caring, kind, selfless and humorous man'.
The son of a German father and Polish mother, Mr Siemiginowski grew up in Merredin in WA's Wheatbelt where he began playing the piano at the age of nine.
His family moved to Albany in 1982, where his father Kasimierz (Kasey) Siemiginowski bought the local drive-in movie theatre in the suburb of Orana.
Around this time, Mr Siemiginowski had felt deeply connected to Europe and took on the trip of a lifetime, playing piano in jazz bars and restaurants across Spain and Germany before returning home to find drive-in theatres shutting across the country and the emergence of home videos.
Finding inspiration from the fancy multi-screen theatres in the big city, Mr Siemiginowski launched himself into the small business world and built a twin screen theatre with his father on Stirling Terrace in Albany — Orana Cinemas — the only fully Western Australian-owned cinema chain, with the Geraldton location opening in 1999.
Apart from his love for the cinema, in 2015 Mr Siemiginowski turned his passion for music into something amazing and, along with Albany musician Giles Watson, composed and produced the stage musical Mimma — about an Italian woman in Britain in the midst of World War II. Ron in his Geraldton home living room playing his piano. Credit: Fiona Della-Sale / RegionalHUB
The show spent two weeks at Perth's Regal Theatre in 2019 and later debuted in London's Cadogan Hall in 2022 and Italy's Teatro Verdi di Trieste in July 2024.
Speaking to the Geraldton Guardian 2023 from his Beresford home, Mr Siemiginowski said his life was busy and varied so much he didn't have the time to keep up with the latest films to grace the screen at his cinemas.
'I was a bit of a film buff once but don't have time to watch movies now,' he said.
Since news of his death, an outpouring of love and support for Mr Siemiginowski and his family has flooded social media, with Orana Cinemas Geraldton posting: 'Ron was greatly loved by the local community for his passion in films and the arts.'
'We will miss you Ron. Rest in peace.'
Chapman Athletic Soccer Club president Steven Streich said, 'Ron was a man of warmth, humour, and deep cultural richness. Always ready with a laugh and a helping hand, he was a gentle, kind soul who made a lasting impact on everyone around him. We will miss him deeply. Forever a Tiger. Forever a legend.'
A funeral service for Mr Siemiginowski will be held on May 16 at 10am, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Albany.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
8 hours ago
- West Australian
WA Music Week heads north with Broome West Kimberley showcase
Broome will be part of WA Music Week for the first time in 2025, as the festival returns after last year's postponement with organisers promising to blow away audiences across the State. Running from September 12 to 21, the 10-day celebration will feature more than 70 acts across 13 venues, with the West Kimberley Showcase at Goolarri Media on September 12 set to open the festival in regional style. The free-entry event at The Gimme Club will put the spotlight on local favourites including The Krui3ers, The Gray Brothers, Adele Oliver, Gugs Ranye, Lexyanna and Em and AJ. The wider program will have Perth host WAM's official Showcase across four Northbridge venues, with 20 emerging acts handpicked by industry judges performing to audiences and music professionals from across the country. WAM chief executive Owen Whittle said the return of WA Music Week was a major moment for the State's growing music industry. 'The return of WA Music Week is a significant moment for the music scene in our State that has been going from strength to strength and is producing by far the best music in the country,' he said. 'This is the chance for music lovers across the State to see the breakout artists out of WA. WA Music Week is your chance to brag for years about catching the next big thing early.' Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said the event was a chance to celebrate the State's talent and give new artists the platform to be discovered. 'We're proud to support WA Music Week — which is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all our talented Western Australian musicians and give them the chance to network, learn and connect,' she said. 'WA really has the best music in the country and this week is the opportunity to showcase our diverse range of musical talents.'
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
New La Bohème promises Aussie cast, 'dazzling fishnets'
Opera Australia is promising a "glittering reimagining" of La Bohème, Puccini's tragedy of star-crossed lovers in Paris, ahead of opening night at Sydney Opera House on Saturday. Performed by an all-Australian cast, the production moves the action of one of the world's most popular operas forward about 100 years from 1830s Paris to 1930s Weimar Republic Berlin. The company said opera-goers could expect the fresh take on the original bohemian love story to transport "audiences to the dazzling fishnets and fairy lights world" of the late Weimar era - a time of cultural flourishing in Germany. There would be glamorous costumes and grand sets to go with the "universal themes of love, friendship and loss", Opera Australia said. "La Bohème is a story that transcends time and place and has been moving audiences around the world for generations," it said. Opera Australia - the nation's largest performing arts company - hopes the fan-favourite can boost box office takings as it tries to turn around a 2024 slump in audience numbers and an operating deficit of $10.6 million. It is also trying to bounce back from 2024's loss of Jo Davies as artistic director, which it blamed on differences of opinion on artistic innovation and commercial imperatives. The company this week named Alex Budd, current director of Canberra Theatre Centre, as its new boss, seven months after Fiona Allan abruptly left the top job at the Sydney-based company. In announcing Mr Budd's appointment, Opera Australia said it backed him to strengthen its position as "the nation's premier opera company". Other key changes place Glyn Davis as board chairman and Italian maestro Andrea Battistoni as music director. Marking its 70th anniversary this year, Opera Australia has also recently announced a return to some of its milestone productions. Its Sydney 2026 program includes Moffatt Oxenbould's production of Madama Butterfly and Graeme Murphy's The Merry Widow. In Melbourne, highlights are the city's first new production of La Bohème in 15 years, as well as La Traviata directed by Sarah Giles. Opera Australia is promising a "glittering reimagining" of La Bohème, Puccini's tragedy of star-crossed lovers in Paris, ahead of opening night at Sydney Opera House on Saturday. Performed by an all-Australian cast, the production moves the action of one of the world's most popular operas forward about 100 years from 1830s Paris to 1930s Weimar Republic Berlin. The company said opera-goers could expect the fresh take on the original bohemian love story to transport "audiences to the dazzling fishnets and fairy lights world" of the late Weimar era - a time of cultural flourishing in Germany. There would be glamorous costumes and grand sets to go with the "universal themes of love, friendship and loss", Opera Australia said. "La Bohème is a story that transcends time and place and has been moving audiences around the world for generations," it said. Opera Australia - the nation's largest performing arts company - hopes the fan-favourite can boost box office takings as it tries to turn around a 2024 slump in audience numbers and an operating deficit of $10.6 million. It is also trying to bounce back from 2024's loss of Jo Davies as artistic director, which it blamed on differences of opinion on artistic innovation and commercial imperatives. The company this week named Alex Budd, current director of Canberra Theatre Centre, as its new boss, seven months after Fiona Allan abruptly left the top job at the Sydney-based company. In announcing Mr Budd's appointment, Opera Australia said it backed him to strengthen its position as "the nation's premier opera company". Other key changes place Glyn Davis as board chairman and Italian maestro Andrea Battistoni as music director. Marking its 70th anniversary this year, Opera Australia has also recently announced a return to some of its milestone productions. Its Sydney 2026 program includes Moffatt Oxenbould's production of Madama Butterfly and Graeme Murphy's The Merry Widow. In Melbourne, highlights are the city's first new production of La Bohème in 15 years, as well as La Traviata directed by Sarah Giles. Opera Australia is promising a "glittering reimagining" of La Bohème, Puccini's tragedy of star-crossed lovers in Paris, ahead of opening night at Sydney Opera House on Saturday. Performed by an all-Australian cast, the production moves the action of one of the world's most popular operas forward about 100 years from 1830s Paris to 1930s Weimar Republic Berlin. The company said opera-goers could expect the fresh take on the original bohemian love story to transport "audiences to the dazzling fishnets and fairy lights world" of the late Weimar era - a time of cultural flourishing in Germany. There would be glamorous costumes and grand sets to go with the "universal themes of love, friendship and loss", Opera Australia said. "La Bohème is a story that transcends time and place and has been moving audiences around the world for generations," it said. Opera Australia - the nation's largest performing arts company - hopes the fan-favourite can boost box office takings as it tries to turn around a 2024 slump in audience numbers and an operating deficit of $10.6 million. It is also trying to bounce back from 2024's loss of Jo Davies as artistic director, which it blamed on differences of opinion on artistic innovation and commercial imperatives. The company this week named Alex Budd, current director of Canberra Theatre Centre, as its new boss, seven months after Fiona Allan abruptly left the top job at the Sydney-based company. In announcing Mr Budd's appointment, Opera Australia said it backed him to strengthen its position as "the nation's premier opera company". Other key changes place Glyn Davis as board chairman and Italian maestro Andrea Battistoni as music director. Marking its 70th anniversary this year, Opera Australia has also recently announced a return to some of its milestone productions. Its Sydney 2026 program includes Moffatt Oxenbould's production of Madama Butterfly and Graeme Murphy's The Merry Widow. In Melbourne, highlights are the city's first new production of La Bohème in 15 years, as well as La Traviata directed by Sarah Giles. Opera Australia is promising a "glittering reimagining" of La Bohème, Puccini's tragedy of star-crossed lovers in Paris, ahead of opening night at Sydney Opera House on Saturday. Performed by an all-Australian cast, the production moves the action of one of the world's most popular operas forward about 100 years from 1830s Paris to 1930s Weimar Republic Berlin. The company said opera-goers could expect the fresh take on the original bohemian love story to transport "audiences to the dazzling fishnets and fairy lights world" of the late Weimar era - a time of cultural flourishing in Germany. There would be glamorous costumes and grand sets to go with the "universal themes of love, friendship and loss", Opera Australia said. "La Bohème is a story that transcends time and place and has been moving audiences around the world for generations," it said. Opera Australia - the nation's largest performing arts company - hopes the fan-favourite can boost box office takings as it tries to turn around a 2024 slump in audience numbers and an operating deficit of $10.6 million. It is also trying to bounce back from 2024's loss of Jo Davies as artistic director, which it blamed on differences of opinion on artistic innovation and commercial imperatives. The company this week named Alex Budd, current director of Canberra Theatre Centre, as its new boss, seven months after Fiona Allan abruptly left the top job at the Sydney-based company. In announcing Mr Budd's appointment, Opera Australia said it backed him to strengthen its position as "the nation's premier opera company". Other key changes place Glyn Davis as board chairman and Italian maestro Andrea Battistoni as music director. Marking its 70th anniversary this year, Opera Australia has also recently announced a return to some of its milestone productions. Its Sydney 2026 program includes Moffatt Oxenbould's production of Madama Butterfly and Graeme Murphy's The Merry Widow. In Melbourne, highlights are the city's first new production of La Bohème in 15 years, as well as La Traviata directed by Sarah Giles.
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Perth Now
New La Bohème promises Aussie cast, 'dazzling fishnets'
Opera Australia is promising a "glittering reimagining" of La Bohème, Puccini's tragedy of star-crossed lovers in Paris, ahead of opening night at Sydney Opera House on Saturday. Performed by an all-Australian cast, the production moves the action of one of the world's most popular operas forward about 100 years from 1830s Paris to 1930s Weimar Republic Berlin. The company said opera-goers could expect the fresh take on the original bohemian love story to transport "audiences to the dazzling fishnets and fairy lights world" of the late Weimar era - a time of cultural flourishing in Germany. There would be glamorous costumes and grand sets to go with the "universal themes of love, friendship and loss", Opera Australia said. "La Bohème is a story that transcends time and place and has been moving audiences around the world for generations," it said. Opera Australia - the nation's largest performing arts company - hopes the fan-favourite can boost box office takings as it tries to turn around a 2024 slump in audience numbers and an operating deficit of $10.6 million. It is also trying to bounce back from 2024's loss of Jo Davies as artistic director, which it blamed on differences of opinion on artistic innovation and commercial imperatives. The company this week named Alex Budd, current director of Canberra Theatre Centre, as its new boss, seven months after Fiona Allan abruptly left the top job at the Sydney-based company. In announcing Mr Budd's appointment, Opera Australia said it backed him to strengthen its position as "the nation's premier opera company". Other key changes place Glyn Davis as board chairman and Italian maestro Andrea Battistoni as music director. Marking its 70th anniversary this year, Opera Australia has also recently announced a return to some of its milestone productions. Its Sydney 2026 program includes Moffatt Oxenbould's production of Madama Butterfly and Graeme Murphy's The Merry Widow. In Melbourne, highlights are the city's first new production of La Bohème in 15 years, as well as La Traviata directed by Sarah Giles.
