IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM RUSSEL, PRESIDENT
You may be wondering when we can resume choir activities, now that the COVID 19 pandemic numbers are on the wane in Australia. Your Committee met this week to look at this question and to weigh up the evidence regarding the safety of performing in a choir.
I am sorry to say the prospects of getting back together in 2020 are very bleak. The main reason is the high infection rate seen overseas in large groups which meet for extended periods, as we do when we rehearse on a Tuesday night. We are also not expecting the Carols in the Park to go ahead, although Bayside Council has not announced a decision at this stage.
We may be able to resume meeting if either a vaccine is widely adopted or there is no virus anywhere in Australia for a period of at least a month.
The Committee will meet every two months to review the situation and you will be notified if there is any change. In the meantime, we wanted you to know that Vocally Wild will be suspended for the rest of the year, unless there is an unexpected end to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Best wishes to you all from President Russel and the Vocally Wild Committee
Thank you to Russel and the Committee - this was a very sad and energy draining meeting and all of us are extremely sorry that this decision had to be made.. We looked at the plentiful material available to choirs, including experiences of ones from overseas and accepted the solid evidence that choral singing was the most dangerous of group activities. The Committee feels a huge responsibility towards our 100 members, bearing in mind: our median age group, the extra social distancing space needed and the technical reasons for it, the fact that choirs have a 70% greater likelihood of spreading infection than other groups, that one person in a room with people singing and expelling the droplets and aerosoles we read about, could create a highly infectious situation, and that air conditioning would certainly aggravate the problem.
As Russel mentions, things may change and we will be alert to any positive information available. In the meantime, take care everyone! Here are a few general items of news - hopefully there will be a newsletter after our bi-monthly Committee meetings and of course other information will be emailed if necessary.
SPECIAL BIRTHDAY
It's a shame we couldn't all celebrate Diana's 50th with her - a special milestone - but thank you to all of you from Vocally Wild and Viva Melbourne who sent emails which were 'glued' into two huge cards. Diana was especially delighted with the surprise visit by the ten, as she describes it, "brave souls" who gathered around her gate with balloons, cards, presents and sang Happy Birthday - still quite illegally at this stage, but don't tell anyone!! Vocally Wild (thanks to Dianne who organised it) sent her a box of "beautifully organically grown Holistic essential oil, massage oil and chakra/energy balancing tea" from Wagga Wagga and Viva Melbourne gave her a Voucher which she and Doug spent on some Dr. Dan Murphy 'treatments' of sparkling and red wines'. Diana sends her sincere thanks to everyone concerned and said that these gestures lifted her spirits!
We have another very special birthday coming up, on the 9th June, when Judy (Alto) will celebrate her 90th birthday. All the very best to you from us all Judy.
PEP-UPS FROM DIANA
Thank you to Diana for her fortnightly Pep Up emails and attachments. Hopefully you have enjoyed these during Term 2. These won't continue for the rest of the year, but Diana hopes that they have assisted some of you to continue to sing a little, listen and reminisce good times in the past. We have considered Zoom group singing meetings, but decided against it - they present quite a few problems, for example the organisation, technicalities, etc. which for a large group would be quite difficult for us.
VIRTUAL SINGING MESSAGE AND SONG GIFT - Message from Dianne.
Hi Everyone
I really miss seeing you all and especially my aged care residents, where I have been entertaining for the past 8 years. With these fulfilling connections currently unavailable, I am offering a personalised Virtual Singing Message & Song gift. The sender lets me know the message they would like their friend/family member to receive and chooses a song from my repertoire of over 100 songs. I then record that message and song and forward it to you by email for you to then onforward to the recipient. There is a fee of course, but feedback is that it is very reasonable. In these times, and especially as a gift for people you can’t readily see (especially overseas), sending a personalised message and chosen song for your loved one is a stand out gift that they will remember. Whether it be in celebration of congratulations, Mother’s/Father’s day, friendship, birthday, wedding, anniversary or departure, there are many occasions for which to show how much you care. Russel gave me this idea and was my first customer. He happily shares his birthday message to his sister Maureen here. Please feel welcome to email me at mazbirch@bigpond.com to discuss and please do share this with your friends and family.
Very best wishes, Dianne Birch - Mezzo Soprano “Music is the Language of Memory”.
GENERAL NEWS
- Did anyone see Soprano, Jo Mansutti, singing 'Waltzing Matilda' with the MSO in a wonderful Zoom?
- Thanks to Cherry for her Law Week information. It's still on, so if you're interested, have a look - there are so many activities. On until 24th May.
- Here's a painting by Jan Gooding of her dog Harvey!! Isn't he gorgeous? And next to him is Jan's painting of Minnie!!!
 
- I can't fit in all the photos, but here is one of Sylvia's 'Sunflowers' - very cheerful and bright.
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Many of you have sent 'funnies', photos and pictures, but It's difficult to put them all in here. Thank you anyway!
Finally, I can't resist Leunig's Social Distancing Rules!!!: Take care, and 'We'll Meet Again"!!!!
Kind regards,
Pat
Diana Clark de-Vries (Musical Director)
Patrice Marshall (Accompanist)
Russel Barnes (President)
Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)
Pat Lowry (Secretary)
Cherry Tunnock (MembershipSecretary) |
Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)
Dianne Birch (Music Adviser)
Edwina McLachlan
Graham Mitchell
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