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"A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR"
LET’S BE POSITIVE AND HOPE IT IS A GOOD ONE FOR EVERYONE
Some important news to start off with. Sadly, after deliberating at our Committee Meeting yesterday, and taking into account all opinions and views from many of you, including well respected friends in the medical profession, we have decided to postpone commencement of choir for four weeks. We plan, at this stage, to start up on Tuesday, 1st March, but will review the situation at a meeting on 16th February. You will be advised of the decision in good time. We’re sure most of you will understand this postponement and welcome it!
Some exciting, Hot Off The Press info: Sarah Barnett will become our new accompanist at start of Term 1, or whenever we do start up! Happily for us Sarah has agreed to commit to six months with a view to continuing with us into the future. This is wonderful news and we look forward to welcoming Sarah in our usual way.
There is plenty of other news too, so here goes! Firstly, though, may I mention here that two of our long-term choir member ‘couples’ have ‘retired’ gracefully – Ken and Heather, Bob and Trish. Another retiree, Ilse, has penned one of her .gems’ (printed at the end of the Newsletter!) We will miss you all; your smiling faces, friendliness, kindness, creativity and valuable input into all aspects of Vocally Wild life.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Thank you to all of you who took part in the community carols events during December. They were joyful experiences. On one or two occasions our audiences were small, but we did benefit from some delightful dancing from children who twirled and whirled to our stirring offerings! We received grateful thanks from Black Rock House, the Hampton Cricket Club and Sandringham Hospital. The hospital staff's Christmas lunch was very much a last minute arrangement, so those who attended at such a busy time a few days prior to Christmas, are to be put on a pedestal. Cherry commented that ‘choir applauded the staff, the staff applauded the choir’. Wonderful.
Bill and Jamie were fabulous in their commitment, enthusiasm, energy, performances and professionalism; we are so grateful to them. It was quite a family affair when Bill's wife Kate sang with us at the Cricket Club! Bill expressed his thanks to everyone involved and commented on how well we performed!
I will endeavour to post photographs on the choir website photos page shortly. If you or your friends/family have any photos of choir you would like to be posted up there, please forward them to me.
END OF YEAR SOCIAL GATHERING
Our farewell to Patrice was a happy, friendly occasion. We met outside at the rear of the Beaumaris Hall 'among the gum trees' and it was a very pleasant conclusion to the year. Patrice and her sister Joan appreciated it very much and we had a bit of fun when Russel took us down ‘memory lane’. Patrice thanked everyone for the special messages and gift.
SAFE SINGING IN 2022
As you are very much aware, we are still mindful of the problems associated with singing in groups, especially indoors. The following is Vocally Wild’s current policy for safely getting together to sing when the time is right. Please read, because it affects all of us.
- All safety procedures to be carried out, as per advised in 2020 and 21
- Evidence of Vaccination status (double and booster) required
- Masks to be worn indoors, including whilst singing
- Appropriate distancing to be observed.
- QR checking to continue
- Adequate ventilation of the Hall to be strictly observed.
It is acknowledged, and understood, that one or two people have concerns regarding mask wearing and vaccination status. They have explained their medical problems and exemptions, but we do need to consider the safety and comfort of all, therefore it is important that we adhere to the above policy.
Cherry has written to all returning members regarding our Covid requirements, advising that:
‘There has been a Covid19 tab added within your Member details on the website
www.vocallywild.org.au To update or enter any new information just click Update
Member Details (under your name) and you’ll see where to, very easily, enter your
information. If you have any problems, or have forgotten your Password, please
contact Cherry on and she can reset your LogIn.”
Fees: Cherry also advises that, taking into account the delayed start for Term 1, fees will be adjusted accordingly in Semester 2.
MUSIC IN 2022
We’re looking forward to starting off with many of our well-known songs for the first six weeks, so we can sing with joy whilst regaining our singing voices and confidence. If you would like to dig out your sheet music for any of the following titles, please do so. Approximately 8 songs will be selected from these and Maggie will advise which ones to put in your folders closer to the start-up date.
If you have any particular favourites from this list do let either of us know, so we can make sure they are selected!! If you need emailed copies of music, words or, in some cases, audio recordings, please contact me , or Maggie on
Goodnight Sweetheart
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Jerusalem Morning
Long and Winding Road
A Place in the Choir
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
May the Road Rise (Irish Blessing)
Life in a Northern Town
House of the Rising Sun |
Thank you for the Music
Rolling in the Deep
People Get Ready
All You Need is Love
We Built this City
This Little Light of Mine
Skyfall
I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing |
ROADIE REQUIRED
During 2018 and 2019 Vocally Wild acquired some extra sound equipment for use during rehearsals and performances. To help Russel set it all up, we were fortunate that Dave Snowdon took on the ‘Chief Roadie’ role, leading his willing band of helpers! Sadly, Dave is not available now, so we are looking within our membership for a new Roadie in Chief! (We need the t-shirts!! – design opportunity Penny Wolf!!) Allan Lowry was temporary Roadie for the Carols events, and did a great job, but ideally we would like someone from Choir. Please contact Russel on if you would like to become Chief Roadie or commit to being one of the very valuable helpers. Most of the equipment is stored at the hall now.
FACEBOOK
Jenny Ellison has been the administrator of the Vocally Wild Facebook page, but as Jenny is no longer a V.W. member, we are seeking someone to take on the administration of this page and keep it up to date. If you love being a Facebook user and are skilled in this area, please contact Cherry on or Sylvia on
WEBSITE
The Vocally Wild website address is: www.vocallywild.org.au It is a mine of information, so please get used to using it and making it your first port of call to update your profile, gain up-to-date choir news, music recordings, photos, videos of performances past, profiles, history, etc. If you would like to add any of your choir photographs, recent or historic, to the website, please forward them to me.
LASTPASS
Another ‘mine of information’ is Russel!! He tells us that it is advisable to have a different Log In/Password for all our cyber stuff, and suggests that if we have trouble remembering them all, we should try ‘Lastpass’ which holds all passwords and we need only remember the Grand Master one!! Good luck – let me know how you go!
FAREWELL FROM ILSE
Here is Ilse’s letter to Cherry (we don’t get many ‘retirement from choir’ communications like this one!
Bravo Ilse!!
Thank you for inviting me to make up my mind about my position as singer.
Vocally Wild extended my appreciation for the great varieties of songs.
Organised presentations with professional artists joining for general exhibition at
Dendy Park, and so much more.
Friendships I think of …
Repeat Lockdowns have taken its toll.
A new chapter is on your agenda dear Cherry.
My voice is by now untrained.
I’m waiting for knee repairs.
Chances are slim to be a worthwhile voice.
BUT - lockdowns sped up further studies in historical facts and writing.
I’m part of our forceful group, writing beside diverse eclectic Creatives.
Please let me join your energetic singers by just listening in when invited.
No refund necessary.
I know Vocally Wild will do exceptionally fine!
See you one day again,
Yours,
Ilse ifz
We hope you, too, do ‘exceptionally fine’ Ilse!
Kindest regards to all and watch out for more news in February!
Pat.
Bill Miles (Music Director)
Sarah Barnett (Accompanist)
Russel Barnes (President)
Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)
Pat Lowry (Secretary)
Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary
Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)
Sylvia Ring
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