.Hello everyone,
There is much happening as we approach the end of Term and Christmas so plenty to report; please bear with me if this newsletter appears a little long! Apart from our usual news, there have been some other interesting developments, so look out for the item on Russel’s company’s success, read the latest from Nepal from Malcolm, see what Lesley Winning is involved with, as well as her connection with Family Life, and check out the busy music scene, one item involving another Vocally Wilder, Jenny Ellison, plus many more items of interest!
| DIARY |
| SATURDAY, 23RD NOVEMBER |
BAYSIDE CAROLS REHEARSAl, 10.20. |
| WEDNESDAY, 27TH NOVEMBER |
CAROLS AT FAMILY LIFE 10.30 A.M. |
| SATURDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER |
BAYSIDE CAROLS REHEARSAL |
| TUESDAY, 3RD DECEMBER |
TERM 4 CONCLUDES. 'OPEN MIC' |
| SATURDAY, 7TH DECEMBER |
BAYSIDE CAROLS REHEARSAL |
| SUNDAY, 8TH DECEMBER |
FINAL CAROLS REHEARSAL, 7.30 |
| TUESDAY, 10TH DECEMBER |
BAYSIDE CAROLS IN THE PARK |
| FRIDAY, 13TH DECEMBER |
CAROLS AT MAYFLOWER 2.30 P.M. |
SATURDAY, 14TH DECEMBER &
SUNDAY, 22ND DECEMBER |
CAROLS WITH MOSAIC AT MYER SOUTHLAND (A SMALL GROUP OF V.W. BARBERSHOP SINGERS) |
| SATURDAY, 21ST DECEMBER |
CAROLS AT HAMPTON CRICKET CLUB |
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS
STOP PRESS:
MAGGIE HAS SOME MORE BAYSIDE CHRISTMAS CAROLS MUSIC FOR DISTRIBUTION, SO SHE WILL HAND THEM OUT AS YOU ARRIVE IN THE MORNING!
BAYSIDE CAROLS – first rehearsal this Saturday, 23rd November. Please be ready at the Brighton Town Hall for warm up at 10.20 a.m. Vocally Wild to provide food for morning tea break on 23rd November and 7th December. The next rehearsal dates are:
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Saturday, 30th November – 10.30am – 1.00 p.m.
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Saturday, 7th December – 10.30am – 1.00 p.m.
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Sunday, 8th December – 7.00pm – 10.00 p.m. (Sausage sizzle will commence at 5.30 p.m.)
- Bayside Carols - Tuesday, 10th December - 7.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m. (call time is 6.30 p.m.
FAMILY LIFE CAROLS - Wednesday, 27th November at the Cheltenham Op Shop, Nepean Highway. Information has been sent to those on the list, but please let me know if you would like to come along.
CAROLS AT MAYFLOWER – Friday, 13th December, 2.30 p.m. If you haven’t already, please add your name to the list at Tuesday night rehearsals if you would like to join us. You will be contacted shortly with details. This will be a fun, relaxed and very satisfying event.
CAROLS AT HAMPTON CRICKET CLUB – Saturday, 21st December. Performance commences at 7.30 p.m. Choir to arrive at 6.30 p.m. Edwina will forward further information shortly.
OPEN MIC SESSIONS AT REHEARSALS
Everyone is welcome and invited to participate in the Open Mic session that runs for the last half hour of each term. There is one 3 minute spot left for this term, so hop in quickly if you would like it. Please have a chat to Dianne (2nd Soprano) to express interest and let her know what song/which term you would like to perform or if you want suggestions or guidance. Dianne is happy to arrange rehearsals for items either before choir or at another time if you feel it would be useful. It is necessary to book your spot early in the term so we can have a fun, flowing night of entertainment. Dianne’s contact details are at the top of the newsletter.
WWII VETS' LUNCH, BEAUMARIS RSL – FRI. 8TH NOV. Sue Beazley’s Report
Thank you to those who gave their time to share this Remembrance Day celebration with the Beaumaris RSL World War II veterans. What good voice we were in under the leadership of our Choir Director for the day Patrice, who made sure we never missed a beat as the running order went out the door we just kept adding songs as necessary.
Lots of good feedback from our audience of around 90 including local State MP for Sandringham, Brad Rowswell, who we managed to coerce into singing Waltzing Matilda with us. It was interesting to see people singing along to our unofficial anthem, they all knew the words. Beaumaris RSL President, Clarke Martin passed on his thanks to Vocally Wild for their support over the years adding that everyone always enjoyed having the choir perform at their events. Cr Martin was last week elected the new Mayor of Bayside. Also pleased to report that our Anzac Day Parade Convenor, John Douglas was awarded Life Membership of the RSL in recognition of his 20 years of organising the Beaumaris RSL Anzac Day Parade and Service.
Sue also wishes to say ‘thank you’ to the Choir and Committee for the Arts Centre voucher given to her earlier this year marking her 20 years with the choir. She said that on the 8th of February she will be front row of the Dress Circle to see Gladys Knight, her favourite female singer of all time…..”Midnight Train to Georgia” here she comes! Sue is very excited to be able to get such great tickets.
VOCALLY WILD END OF YEAR SOCIAL - SUNDAY, 10TH NOVEMBER
Approximately 75 people came along to the Social/Barefoot Bowling afternoon and evening. It was a great success - a cheerful, happy end of year occasion and a great opportunity for members to socialise in a friendly environment.
Thanks go to all who helped - the Committee of course, but there were many other willing
volunteers, in particular our four fabulous gourmet chefs, Claude, Clint, Richard and Robert.
Must say the hamburgers,
bangers, rissoles and chicken wings were beautifully cooked. Don’t the aprons
look great?!
Thank you also to Maggie for conducting the entertaining ‘Raffle’ draw and, for your interest, winners were: Raffle Winners of the day raffle - Richard, Jenny and Maggie
Winners of the main raffle - Caroline Dunn, Justin Cleaver, Joan Marshall, Robyn Stevens, Stratis Arranitakis, Andrea B, Helen Ambler, Liz Duell, Maryann Spottiswood, Kate Olsen, Tony Stone, Alison Bell, Lara Srour, Louise Jarvis, Kate Jarvis.
MESSAGE FROM EDWINA
Changes to message giving before break time.
In the past we have noticed there have been numerous people popping up to give messages to the choir prior to the break and often many have been committee member. You will have noticed that we have made some changes! We have been allocating the message giving task on behalf of the committee to Edwina.
If you want information read out, email me your info or talk to me on the night and preferably give me the written info as the committee will also do, and I will gladly read it out on your behalf. If you feel strongly that you would like to give the information yourself, let me know so I can try to co-ordinate the amount of people getting up. Hopefully, this will speed up the process of information giving so that we can move onto the social part of the evening, catching up with friends, which is really important to us all.
Returning to seats quickly following the break
Rather than Diana singing us back to our seats, Patrice has been playing loud, rousing music, which heralds break time over! Patrice starts playing around 12 mins into the break knowing that it will take people some minutes to return to their seats.
Getting in touch with the Committee
If you have questions/comments that you would like addressed by the committee, you are so welcome to email these to any one of us on the committee and we will discuss it at the next meeting. Edwina McLachlan edwinamclachlan@hotmail.com
PEOPLE’S CHAMPION AWARD!
 WELL DONE RUSSEL, BRODIE AND COLLEAGUES
Russel’s telco company, Better Life, recently won the
ACCAN People's Champion Award, 2019.
The People's Champion Award recognises the telco that has demonstrated a strong social conscience
through the creation of a product or service that is designed for those on limited incomes. 'The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is Australia’s peak communications consumer organisation that works to empower consumers to make good choices about products and service
Better Life’s other awards were:
Finalist in the Telstra Business Awards in Social Change Maker category
And Finder.com gave Better Life first place for "Best prepaid plan under $40"
These are amazing results for a local company that started 7 years ago as a small project to help people stay connected, and now they have been recognised as Australia's People's Champion for Mobile Plans. Russel reminds us that anyone can arrange a mobile phone plan with his company, it is not just for those on limited incomes, and may I say, the fees are extremely competitive. Contact Russel if you’re interested or www.betterlifemobile.com.au
CAKES, PUDDINGS, SHORTBREADS
Yes, the cooks are at it again. Maggie (Christmas Puddings), Toni (Christmas Cakes) and Pat (Shortbreads) will have their produce for sale at the second Bayside Carols rehearsal at Brighton Town Hall, on Saturday, 30th November. Maggie also has a pre-order sheet available at Tuesday rehearsals. Any profits will go towards the Festival of Voices Hobart trip in 2020.
MESSAGES FROM LESLEY WINNING & FAMILY LIFE
Lesley would like to thank the Vocally Wild members who supported her at Family Life’s Drop In Wednesday (for the Catch Up program) on the 23rd October. The play reading, “The Way of All Fish” by Elaine May, was a great success and everyone who attended enjoyed a good laugh. Many stayed for a cuppa and a shop at the Op Shop. One V.W. member, who shall remain nameless, (Edwina!), went home laden down with goodies. A very successful morning all round!
Lesley is looking forward to joining those of you who have offered to sing Carols at the Family Life Cheltenham Op Shop on Wednesday November 27. (Further details later).
Lesley writes: I am helping the Victorian Women’s Trust sell a book, which is about periods, called About Bloody Time, an important topic and the book is a great Christmas present for members’ daughters or grand-daughters. We all know how difficult a topic it is, and how we might feel shame around this natural function of our bodies. Wouldn’t it be great to have that stigma and taboo lifted? That’s what the book is about and is based on a survey and discussions with more than 3,500 girls and women about the negative emotions they feel about this part of life which is, after all, the key building block of human life. It offers a positive way to look at this issue, and is a tool for helping young girls and women to feel good about themselves. You can purchase the book at https://www.vwt.org.au/projects/about-bloody-time/ or call Lesley on 0411486837 for a wholesale price on multiple copies.
You might also be interested in a web series that Lesley produces. It’s an interview series called Tete-a-Tete. She interviews people making a living – or trying to – in the entertainment industry. There are about 25 interviews online already, and the interviewees range from an actor starring in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to the 50 year old Miss Burlesque Australia. There are interviews with actors, producers, directors, music and acting teachers, and a psychologist who was a professional child actor. If you are interested in the industry, or just like to hear people’s stories, you might enjoy this series, which is a cross between One Plus One and Julia Zamiro’s Home Delivery. You can find Tete-a-Tete at https://mysticaldog.com/TeteATete/.
MALCOLM IN NEPAL
Malcolm Peck’s support for his Nepal communities continues apace. He has given us the following link which takes you to a drone shot video taken last November of Sildu primary school, Nepal, his latest project. The school is getting a complete renovation inside and out that will be finished shortly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwVqPqWArrI
If you are interested, Malcolm would be very happy to discuss these projects with you. Tel: 0438 887 689.
SINGING LESSONS
Katrina (Mosaic’s M.D.) is offering singing lessons in her private studio during January, 2020. There will be an opportunity for one-off lessons, or a discounted rate for blocks of four. If you are interested, please contact Katrina on her email address:
THE LOCAL AND CHORAL MUSIC SCENE!
- Jenny Ellison will be singing with the Jazz Trio “Jumbalumba’ on Friday, 20th December at Hobsons, Sandringham. You may wish to book a table for a meal and enjoy some Jazz, Blues and Latin from the 50’s to the 70’s. Bookings and further detail contact 95210370.
- Diana’s Chantsong Singing Circle continues on Sunday, 24th November, 2.00 p.m. at the Castlefield Community Centre, Hampton. Contact: trybooking.com
- The Australian Chamber Choir will present “Keys to Heaven’ directed by Douglas Lawrence at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park, 3.00 p.m. on Sunday, 24th November performing Gregorio Allegri Miserere, Christus Resurgens, Josquin des Prez Ave Maria, Tomás Luis de Victoria O magnum mysterium, Luca Marenzio Crudel, perché mi fuggi? (1587) Scaldava il sol (1582), Non vidi mai dopo notturna pioggia (1585), Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Tu es Petrus (Delivery of the Keys), Missa Aeterna Christi Munera Bookings : https://www.auschoir.org/whats-on/keys-to-heaven/ They need people for the following tasks if you are happy to volunteer: putting out chairs - setting out glasses and pouring drinks at the post-concert reception - packing away chairs - washing glasses and clearing up after the reception. And, it's usually lots of fun! Please contact Eleanor Bridger if you have any preference for tasks.
- Kingston Arts – ‘Kings of Queen’ will be championing the music of Queen in ‘A Queen Extravaganza’ for one night only on Friday, 29th November at the Kingston City Hall. Cost: $35/Concession $30. Bookings and further detail: kingstonarts.com.au
- Christmas with the National Boys Choir of Australia. Saturday, 21st December, 7.30 p.m. This concert will feature the 180 voice Boys’ and Men’s Choir, with orchestra at Hamer Hall. Tickets: $61.20/Concession $51/Children $27.50. Bookings and further detail contact artcentremelbourne.com.au
Singing Soldier – Fred Smith. A note for your diary next year – Fred will be getting together with Liz Frencham in February, 2020, to play songs from their new records. Fred's new record is called "Domestic". Date: Saturday, 22nd
- February, at The Spotted Mallard, 314 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Doors open at 7 p.m. Music starts at 8 p.m. If you’re interested, Fred has his Christmas CD offer – due early December. melbourne@fredsmith.com.au
Enjoy all the rehearsals and events leading up to Christmas.
Love this vintage Leunig:
Best regards, Pat.
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