Dindy is a writer, educator and composer whose life has centred on cultural and community development, focussing particularly on education, environment, and the arts. Her compositions have been performed on the ABC and 3MBS FM, and she has had numerous commissions from performers and theatrical productions. She also publishes books on contemporary Australian culture. Her work has been recognised by a major award from Sydney University (Sydney University Alumni Association Award for Achievement In Community Service, 1996) and by selection to appear In Who's Who In the World 2000 Millennium Edition and subsequent editions. She has also been selected to appear in the worldwide publications Outstanding People of the 20th Century and Outstanding Intellects of the 21st Century.

Dindy grew up in the bush and worked initially in jobs available to teenagers of that era. In 1967 she graduated B.A. (Hons) Sydney University and in 1970 Master of Arts (Flinders University, S.A.).

She held tertiary lectureships at Melbourne RMIT and Footscray Institute (now Victoria University) where she developed many extra-curricular programs for students, as well as introducing innovative courses. One of these extra-curricular programs enabled students to research, write and perform their own plays, which were toured country and interstate. She has also worked extensively in theatre, adult education in the community, in community house programs with children, and as a Community Arts Officer (Nunawading City Council).

Her primary focus in life has been community and cultural development, focussing particularly on individual self-discovery, self-expression and innovative group programs. She has written music for performance by young people (including a full-length children's ballet) and is currently developing string playing and orchestras in local primary schools.

Dindy Vaughan is also very active in working with young musicians; and a member of Melbourne composers' league. In 1996 she founded the Burnt Bridge Orchestra and has developed and orchestrated Australian Violin Tutors and Orchestral scores for children, focussing on Australian music and culture.

A member of Melbourne Composers' League, she regularly produces music for public performance. Two C.D.s of her work are currently in preparation, and will be available in coming months.

Selected Works

Ocean, Salt's Handkerchief (1984)

Poetry of Levantai, reading & improvisation performed by Dindy Vaughan.

Out of Home Volume 1: Piano Music and three short songs

1. Maribyrnong: The River From My Window. At the bend of the river. Ancient Sea Bed. Lacrymae.
2. Yanagang to Kingfisher.
3. On Elouera Ridge

Available for sale.

Illawarra 1 (1990)

Insert something here.

Out of Home Volume 2: Eight Songs to Poems by Roland Robinson.

1. Casuarina
2. Plum Tree
3. Celtic Harp
4. Jacaranda
5. And the Blacks are Gone
6. Call on the Sea to Be Still
7. Native Orchid
8. Invocation

Available for sale.

Beloved Eternal Spirits (1990)

Piano Solo .

Wimmera Quartet (1992)

For flute & strings.

Reconciliation Octet (1996)

For wind & strings.

Esperance (1996)

Suite for Violin and Cello. Commissioned VUT .

Sonata for Violin & Piano (1997)

Commissioned for Mariana Green .

Kununurra (1998)

For choir & baroque instruments Setting of a poem by Anne Edgeworth.

The Water Spirit (1999)

For voice, strings & percussion. Commissioned & performed for the Mullum Festival, 1999.

Our Songs (1999)

To poems by Roland Robinson. Requested by Andi Garing.

Orpheus (2000)

A dramatic poem by Moira McAuliffe. (Voice, Flute, Percussion, Chainsaw & Axe).

Del Espiritu Santo (2000)

Clarinet Solo in 4 Movements. Requested by Craig Hill.

Three Choral Songs (2000)

To poems by Judith Steele.

Prelude & Fugue in C for Harpsichord

Requested by Peter Hagen

Prayer for the Restoration of Our Rivers (2001) in six movements

Shakuhachi & Harpsichord. Requested by Peter Hagen & Anne Norman

1. Lacrymae
2. Pound Bend -Yarra River
3. Murray River, Pental Island, Swan Hill
4. Goulburn River
5. Wimmera River, Lake Hindmarsh
6. Snowy River

In Memoriam & Celebration for Ross Hartnell (2001)

Clarinet, Viola & Cello

Fiddledeedee Vol. 1 & 2 (2001)

Violin tutor for Australian children

Elouera I No 1, 2 & 3 (2001)

For Shakuhachi and Didjeridoo

Invocation for Sheng (2002)

Requested by Wang Zheng Ting

Bureaucratic Backstep for Wind Quintet (2002)

Requested by George Dreyfus

Kooraban Darangan for Shakuhachi , Sheng and harpsichord (3 movements)

Five solos for shakuhachi

Numerous works

for Junior Orchestras