Sizzling at Bunnings ...

 

One of our regular fundraisers is the sausage sizzle at Bunnings.
Here are some of our Sizzlers - Judith and Barbara are busy here dealing with customers while Nerida is supervising!
Many thanks to our members who give of their weekend time to help out at the Sizzles,the proceeds of which top up the Chorus coffers.

Quartet tag ....

Here is Vivace - plus Virg and minus Helen... having fun.

 

Now Louise and Lyn join in ........ Jan is enjoying it too.

 

 

Then Karen, Jane and Nerida have a turn - is Gae singing tenor?
Everyone had a great time and maybe stepped a little out of their comfort zone while enjoying singing with their chorus friends.

The launch of BAZINGA!

Here is our newest quartet BAZINGA

 

They just blew us away at their debut performance at retreat 2010.
Jessica singing bass, Sam tenor, Ellyse lead and Karen Baritone.

 

GO GIRLS!

We just have to sing ...

Even on our party night we cant stay off the risers!
Not sure what we were singing here but Jill was sure getting into it - watch out Karen!

 

Maybe there are some future chorus competition costumes here?

 

It was a great retreat, we learned heaps and it was good to get to know each other better.
Now it's back home to our families and reality again.

It's party time - this year its a "P" party!

 

We all love to dress up and get into the swing of things.
Here are some amazing "P" people - all having fun.

 

Virg gives us some ideas for keeping fit...

Here are some PJ clad beauties learning the ins and outs and ups and downs of ZUMBA

 

After retreat a series of physical activities were organised from walking groups to zumba classes - lets get fit for convention!

Retreat 2010

A great time was had by all participants at our Chorus Reatreat held in August.
Once again we travelled to Stanwell Tops just a short drive (for some) away from home.
Virginia was our resident coach winging in from Christchurch in NZ.
This was the first reatreat for some of our newbies but as you will see, they all entered into the activities especially our fun concert on the Saturday night.

 

Of course the 'young ones' Ellyse and Sam were energetic in the early morning on the climbing frame outside the building.

 

We learnt lots from Virg as she coached us in the intricacies of Barbershop singing including this 'lead lesson' - we have to get our mouths right to get the vowels the same to achieve that unit sound.

Remembering Pat ....

 

It's been a year since we lost Pat Southall to cancer.
The chorus sang last night at Ribbonwood Centre in Dapto at the memorial service for the Palliative Care Unit, Port Kembla Hospital.
It was very moving service for us and very significant that we were able to acknowledge our memories of our friend Pat.
Cobie and Pat had a very special relationship so it was great that Cobie was able to join us to sing and remember with us.
Anne Hsu lite a candle in Pat's memory and Stephanie spoke on behalf of the chorus.

We would like to remember Pat Southall, a beloved
member of our chorus who died 12 months ago last week.
Pat was actually in the Palliative Care unit when the last memorial service was held.
One of our members, Anne was visiting her before she came here to sing that night and she was having trouble tying her scarf.
Pat reached up from the bed to help her tie the scarf.
That's just how Pat was.
She was 'mother figure' to all of us.
She was one of those quiet achievers who always worked unassumingly behind the scenes getting things done and helping everyone else. Pat was a member of our chorus for nearly 10 years and we all have very special and fond memories of her.
We miss her smile and her quiet presence on the risers.

One of the songs that we sing is called 'Friends' and the words really reflect our friendship with Pat.

It goes like this…
…. Friends just friends, always friends, to the end – we're friends.
But we’ll keep you close as always, it won’t even seem you’re gone,
Cause friends are friends forever, if the Lord’s the Lord of them,
It’s hard to let you go but in the Father’s hands we know
A lifetimes not too long, it’s not too long - to live as friends…..

We miss you Pat.

Our new yellow shirts make their debut at the Blood Bank

And don't they look great?

 

Here is what the media release to the Advertiser had to say about the event.....
About 50 more people now have a bit of musical blood running through their veins, after the ladies of the Wollongong Harmony Chorus lined up on Monday to answer the call for donors to help replenish the Blood Bank’s supplies.
It was standing room only as a sea of yellow-clad singers made their entrance into the waiting room, and in no time the blood was flowing.
“This is the quietest I’ve ever seen them,” laughed Musical Director Jan McCarthy. “Usually as soon as four or more of them get together you can’t stop them singing.”
Ms McCarthy says when the Blood Bank put out the call for additional donors to help them through the winter months, her members had been keen to do their bit, and their resolve was strengthened recently when the husband of one of the members was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, requiring twice weekly blood transfusions.
“Of course you become even more aware of the need for blood when it is someone close to you whose life is at stake, but whether or not you know the recipients personally, the need is just as great. It is something that those of us who are fortunate enough to be fit and well can share with those of our fellow Australians who are not.
“The Wollongong Harmony Chorus has received an enormous amount of support from our community over the years, and this is one way we can give something back.”

 

Well done to all these lovely ladies who gave of their time and their life's blood to help others.
What a great way to advertise our Chorus!

Jan signs up for another 12 months...

Jan has agreed to continue as our Musical Director for another 12 months.
We are getting into full swing for Convention in Newcastle next year.
Thanks Jan for all your hard work over and above the 'call' we appreciate it.

 

Our numbers are growing ....

Our numbers continue to grow as more ladies hear about our great Wollongong Harmony Chorus!
Last week we welcomed two more new members, Beverley Marks and Valerie Edwards.
Here they are (L to R)Ilona Team Leader, Beverley, Sue our Membership Co-Ordinator, Valerie and Jan our Musical Director.
Welcome ladies .....

 

Are we having fun?

We are all getting a chance to take part in singing in small groups at rehearsal.
Here are some faces from last weeks group - I wonder what Jan was saying?

 

Most of us look as though we are having fun.
Expressions are really important aren't they?

 

Memories of Kiama Concert May 2010

Teri Pinkis writes about the concert ....
It was the first Sunday in May - a bright sunny Indian summer day when the Wollongong Harmony Chorus descended on Kiama to introduce local residents as well as the family and friends of the February 2010 intake to the wonders of 4-part harmony – barbershop-style singing.
From around the suburbs of Wollongong a steady stream of cars made their way to Kiama’s newly refurbished Showground Pavilion. Weeks of preparation were coming to an exciting climax as our new Chorus members assembled in the dressing rooms to apply stage makeup – some for the very first time. Our seasoned performers dispensed friendly advice and helpful hints, in between traipsing up the stairs for sound checks and riser allocations with the Lamplighters’ Mens Choir.

 

Kathy McDonald, our newly appointed Ways & Means manager , was set up at the Pavilion entrance together with one of the ladies from the Kiama Uniting Church to sell tickets for the concert, raffles and afternoon tea. Our hard-working Chorus “groupies” set up the risers, organised the sound equipment and decorated the stage.
The Men’s Choir began the concert with some Gilbert & Sullivan pieces. For some numbers they were accompanied by local soprano, Hannah Rodwell.
Our first song, Footloose,was one designed to get the audience tapping their feet. With the Chorus dressed in black and silver outfits the other numbers for the first half included I Got Rhythm, Once Upon a Time, Good old A Cappella, Steppin’ Out and Summertime.
After a short interval the Chorus went “below stairs” to change while the Lamplighters entertained the audience once more. Then, with an entirely different persona the ladies of the Chorus returned to deliver our Aussie package dressed as menfolk from Australia’s early days. These songs were accompanied by a backdrop of slides depicting Australian icons and scenery. The men joined us onstage for the final number - “I still call Australia Home”.
The Pavilion was packed – we had to bring in extra seating. Among the audience were some of our founding members – Betty Parsons, Betty Nichol and Jan McNeil. Some other retired members were also there to support us. These stalwarts of the Chorus were full of praise at the conclusion of the performance and stated that there was a noticeable increase in the richness of sound when the newbies joined us for some of the songs.
One of our newest members, Gillian Deller was celebrating her birthday together with her Dad and her sister. At the end of the concert the Chorus sang Happy Birthday to Mr Deller who was 80 that day.
Altogether it was a successful concert and much enjoyed by Chorus members new and “old” and by the enthusiastic audience.

 

We are REAL WOMEN ... one of our number, Cheryl sang with us in the concert just two days prior to facing surgery for suspected bowel cancer! She had previously told our Director Jan that she wouldn’t be there, after getting the diagnosis in the week leading up to the concert. After initially deciding not to participate, she changed her mind, phoned Jan on the Sunday morning and said “I'll be there!” None of the ordinary members knew (or suspected) anything about her ordeal until Jan told us on the Wednesday night AFTER the surgery! That’s dedication for you. Cheryl came through the surgery well and was back on the risers a week later! GO GIRL

 

Robyn writes ..... As a newbie of the Class of 2010 the up and coming concert was a very exciting happening. There was so much hype about it - we had songs to learn, costumes to get right, makeup to perfect and "sparkles" to find. On top of all that I wondered if we would get a good audience. I just decided to go with the flow and see what happened - this wasn't the first concert the Chorus had been in and hey, they had won National medals!
I thoroughly enjoyed performing in the concert even though I was only in three songs. That was enough to concentrate on and next time I will do the lot! It was wonderful to see how it all came together and it made all the hard work of practising worth while. It was so inspiring to see how well the "old hands" sang especially the quartets

 

The Lamplighters wear many hats as does their Director Doreen.
Here are a few shots of them in performance along with Hannah Rodwell,who is the granddaughter of Mary Matthews a former Chorus member.
Thank you to Chris Dunn for taking the photo's.

Jan and Tonic at Mandurah WA - Convention 2010

 

Jan writes.....
On Friday 14th May 2010 Jan & Tonic Quartet took part in the Regional Quartet Contest for the 7th time. We sang “You Turned the Tables On Me” (a new uptune for us) and “If I Had My Life To Live Over” (we'd done this ballad before). 27 quartets from all over Australia, including one from Darwin, took to the stage to try to impress the judges and entertain the audience, so it was a tough competition! BlackJaQ Quartet from Perth were the winners with a score of 600 (the first quartet from our Region to achieve this score) and we placed 13th with a score of 466. The judges comments have given us plenty to work on for our next trip to comp in Newcastle next year and we've already started to work on improving our performance standard.
It was good to relax on the Saturday and enjoy watching the Chorus Competition, won by Perth Chorus with a score of 616. There were some very entertaining performances, especially from Bathurst Chorus who came 2nd with only 40 singers on stage and a score of 595.
Mandurah, where the Convention was held, is a very pretty place to visit and we enjoyed our time there, with the support of 7 other WHC members and Barbara's sister Jackie, cheering us on.
GO GIRLS!

HAPPENINGS ....

Last Wednesday at rehearsal our newest quartet 'JUST US' entertained us when they gave their audition performance.
Well done to 'Just Us' - Pamela, tenor, Lesley, lead, Lorraine, baritone and Sue as bass.

 

Each year chorus' are asked to nominate one of their members for the 'Quiet Achiever' award for Region 34 and this is presented at Convention.
Our chorus presents this years popular nomination - Judith Shoobridge.

 

One of Brenda's last tasks as Management Team Leader for 2009 was to congratulate Judith and read out the nomination for 'Quiet Achiever'

 

Here she is - our 'Quiet Achiever' for 2010

 

The Management Team for 2010 - ready to lead the Chorus for the coming year.

Edie joins the BASSES!

Welcome Edie - to swell the numbers in the bass section.

 

Here we have "Gecho minus One" and debut of "Just Us" - I think......
Well done girls .. another quartet in the making and didn't they sing well????

 

Welcome to more newbies ....

 

Last week we welcomed more new members to the risers.
Peta, Kathy and Sue were presented with their music and badges along with a welcome back to Rosie one of our terrific tenors who has come back to the fold after some time away.
Lori was welcomed a few weeks ago but missed out on a photo - so welcome Lori to swell the number of our baris.

RMT Visit ....

Last Wednesday night, it was our turn for a visit from a member of the Regional Management Team.
Our visitor was Jo Oosterhoff who is Co-Director of A Cappella West Chorus and member of the Region 34 Education Faculty. Jo gave the chorus some tips and instruction during rehearsal and then the next day members were given the opportunity to have a PVI with Jo.
Here we are 'warming up' with Denise.

 

Jo joined Sweet Adelines as a member of Perth Harmony Chorus in 1993 and sang with them for 7 years becoming their youngest Tenor Section Leader and then Assistant Director. Jo has coached around the country as a member of the Regional Education Faculty and has served an interrupted term as Australian Education Coordinator.

 

Now what was Jan saying here I wonder?

 

Here's happy faces - singing makes you feel this way!
Great work girls and thank you Jo!