How quickly the holidays passed and here we are in Term 3.  A 'warm' welcome is extended to you all, especially our recent new members.  We hope you're enjoying choir and looking forward to a stimulating and exciting semester.  It was heartwarming to see so many of you at rehearsal last Tuesday on such a chilly night. 

Vocally Wild is on a 'Membership Drive'!!  To secure the viability of the choir, we need to be proactive in this area.  We are a 'performance choir' receiving excellent direction and musical accompaniment, so if you have friends or acquaintances who love singing, mention that they are welcome to come along for a complimentary visit on a Tuesday night.  Please contact Cherry, or suggest to your contacts that they visit the Vocally Wild Website for further information.
 

DATE	DETAIL
Friday, 19th August - 1.00 p,m.	Sing for Friday Social Club, SandyBeach
Sunday, 11th September - 7.30 to 11.30 a.m.	Connor’s Run
Tuesday, 13th September	Last Rehearsal for Term 3.
Tuesday, 4th October	Term 4 commences
Saturday 8th October	Bayside Healthy Ageing Expo
Sunday, 16th October -  3.00 p.m.	Annual Concert, Brighton Town Hall,.
Tuesday 1st November	No Choir – Melbourne Cup Day
November and December	Carols - Saturday rehearsals (TBC)
Tuesday, 6th December	Last Rehearsal for Term 4
Tuesday, 13th December ?	Carols in the Park (TBC)

A little more about some of the dates above:

SANDYBEACH CENTRE FRIDAY SOCIAL CLUB - Friday, 19th August.  1.00 p.m.
We are looking for singers to perform to a small group at the Social Club.  As this will be one of our local community offerings, on a smaller than usual scale, we will be unaccompanied and sailing under our own steam!  We'll sing a selection of about 7 or 8 items from our repertoire; hopefully uncomplicated pieces, but we know the Social Club members will love every minute!

So if you're happy to 'give it a go' and join in the fun, please pop your name on the sheet Cherry will place at the rear of the hall.  Thank you!  The sheet will be available each week.

BAYSIDE HEALTHY AGEING EXPO - Saturday, 8th October
This will be at the Brighton Town Hall and Vocally Wild will have an information table.  We we will have more detail closer to the time but we hope that some of our members might like to volunteer to be at the venue to chat to visitors and promote the choir.  Bayside Healthy Ageing are to present many activities during the month of October, so watch out for the information as it appears.

CONNOR'S RUN - Sunday, 11th September
It will be an early start - to catch those quick off the mark runners as they flash past!  7.30 a.m.  We'll be singing on and off during the three hours to 11.30 - the faithful and loyal stragglers need to be seranaded too!!  We are so grateful that Bill and Emma will be directing us.  Taking part in this event is always a rewarding experience, so we hope many of you will be happy to come along.. 

Cherry will have a sheet on a table at the rear of the hall for you to indicate your willingness to take part.  Thank you!  The sheet will be available each week.

VOCALLY WILD'S 'SPRING' CONCERT - BRIGHTON TOWN HALL - Sunday, 16th October. 
We are starting to plan this 'musical treat' for the community!   For those of you who are new to Vocally Wild, we were awarded a small grant by Bayside Council to arrange a 'renewal' event post Covid, and our concert's focus is to 'celebrate the choir's return to singing after a couple of years of disruption and to showcase young, local, and exceptionally talented musicians'.

The 90-minute programme will commence at 3.00 p.m., followed by afternoon tea.  As the full running costs will not be covered by the grant, there will be an entry fee of  $15.00  (Adult) and $8.00 (12-16 yrs), Children free.  The event should conclude before 6.00 p.m.  As the date draws closer we will arrange for most ticket sales via Try Booking but other arrangements will be made for ticketing if necessary.

Further details will emerge in due course.

Cherry will have a sheet on a table at the rear of the hall for you to indicate your willingness to take part.  Thank you!  The sheet will be available each week.

ADMINISTRATION

• Fees Refund Policy:  With effect from today's date, the Committee regrets to point out that once fees have been paid for the Semester, there will be no refunds given.  We remind members of Vocally Wild's many running costs which are constant and need to be paid in advance and it is not financially viable, these days, for us to return funds.
• Website:  Please note that the Committee has purchased a SSL Certificate for the Harmony Site (Vocally Wild Website) which makes it a safe and secure https place.  You will see the 'lock' symbol at the top of the page.  By the way, if you are having trouble accessing anything on the website, please contact me on 0437 697 009 and I will try to assist you.

WHAT'S ON AND WHAT'S  BEEN HAPPENING?
Look what Cherry's been up to:  Amazing!!

Rising : 2022 Festival Singing in the Night Chorus – 26 May to 18 June at
The Wilds, Sidney Myer Music Bowl beside the Rinky Dink (ice rink)
by Cherry Tunnock

In March I joined a group of 120 singers from all over Melbourne to rehearse every Saturday at the Australian Institute of Music in King Street.

What a fun challenge to learn ten 80’s & 90’s songs completely by heart with many tricky harmonies and riffs for all three parts – Rolling in the Deep, Time After Time, Don’t Stop Me Now, Dancing Queen, Dancing on My Own, Sweet Dreams, Say My Name, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Rosanna, In Your Eyes – under the enthusiastic instruction of talented music directors, Alex and Elisha.

Our first nervously exciting performance was at St Paul’s Cathedral and it was live streamed to Fed Square. We wore beautiful wool felt costumes designed by RMIT Fashion Design students. Next was a private thank you performance at the Bowl for staff and families of Royal Melbourne Hospital. Then followed 12 more performances at the Music Bowl where, in groups of 25 on each side of the ice rink per night, we belted out and danced our way through each set. This was no standing still choir and I was thrilled to finally be able to move and sing to my heart’s content.

Afterwards a few of us would head to the Up-High Bar for hot Negroni’s, from where this photo was taken, and we’d be mobbed by people overwhelmed with emotion at the joy we had brought to them. Young men were even asking for selfies with us – hilarious! So many laughs, so many steps on my FitBit (between 18,000 – 23,000 per night). This was truly the most enormous and thrilling experience that I’ll never forget.

MORNING MELODIES - VICTORIAN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS -  Monday,1st August.
Some of you may be interested in this.  Graduating V.C.A. students of 2020 to 2022 will explore the great love songs, exciting choruses and powerful ballads that have defined musical theatre over a hundred years.  For further information, and to book, please access www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
 

And finally, what a splendid language we have!!

Kindest regards,
Pat and all the Committee.

Bill Miles (Music Director)
Emma Lippa (Accompanist)
Russel Barnes (President) 
Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)  
Pat Lowry (Secretary) 
Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary 
Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management) 

Kerry Holmquest  
John Barlow  
Geoff Peters  
 

Vocally Wild Choir  proudly acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Firstly, may I give you the great news that Bayside Carols in the Park will be taking place this December and Vocally Wild will be performing?  Heard from Robert (the horse’s mouth) so life as we knew it is starting to return!

Secondly, thank you to Emma who played two wonderful pieces for us on her birthday three weeks ago.  Wow, Emma, we all loved it and appreciate what you did very much.

This Tuesday, 21^st June, will be our last rehearsal for this Semester when our plan is to:

1) Finish "Leaps and Bounds"
2) Refresh/rehearse "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"
3) Refresh/rehearse "Long and Winding Road"
4) Refresh/rehearse "House of the Rising Sun"
5) Refresh/rehearse "Lean on Me"
 
Term three commences on Tuesday, 12^th July.  (See Diary dates below). Date for the Carols is usually the 2^nd Tuesday in December with four weekly rehearsals on Saturday mornings prior to the performance.  All dates/venues to be confirmed of course but this is just to give you very early advice).

Maggie will be away after the holidays until late September, so Cecilia and Teresa will look after the music and visitor/new member folders until she returns.  Thank you Cecilia and Teresa – we know you’ll do a great job!  Russel returns late June.  All the very best to all of you who plan to travel, or are already away.  Enjoy safe and happy journeys.

FOR YOUR DIARIES

DATE	DETAIL
Tuesday, 21st June	Last Rehearsal for Term 2.
Tuesday, 12th July	Term 3 commences
Friday, 19th August	Sing for Friday Social Club, SandyBeach
Sunday, 11th September	Connor’s Run
Tuesday, 13th September	Last Rehearsal for Term 3.
Tuesday, 4th October	Term 4 commences
Sunday, 16th October	Annual Concert, Brighton Town Hall, 3 p.m...
Tuesday 1st November	No Choir – Melbourne Cup Day
November and December	Carols - Saturday rehearsals (TBC)
Tuesday, 6th December	Last Rehearsal for Term 4
Possibly Tuesday, 13th December	Carols in the Park (TBC)

SANDYBEACH FRIDAY SOCIAL CLUB – Friday, 19^th August
Miranda Turner, who used to be a Vocally Wilder, works for SandyBeach and has invited us to sing for the SandyBeach Friday Social Club.  We’re looking for about 15 people to come along to sing about half a dozen songs for this wonderful community group, so if you’re interested, please fill in the form we will have on the table at rehearsals.  It will be there for next Tuesday night and after the holidays.  Our time to sing should be 1.00 p.m., but this will be confirmed.  As a community choir, we like to do some of these events, so hopefully you can join us.

CONNOR’S RUN – Sunday, 11^th September - Sth Melbourne Lifesaving Club, Middle Park
During Term 3 will be inviting you to put your names on the list for this amazing event.  Challenging starting time – 7.30 a.m. til 11.30 a.m. and often it’s chilly and windy, but this is a very worthwhile charity to commit to.  For those of you who are not familiar with Connor’s Run, it is a fun run to raise funds for research into brain cancer in children.  Vocally Wild has participated in the entertainment part of this annual event several times now and 2022 will be its 10^th Anniversary.  Bill and Emma have very kindly offered to direct and play for us.

VOCALLY WILD ANNUAL CONCERT – Sunday, 16^th October.  3.00 p.m.
Next term we will be starting to plan seriously for this event, which promises to be extra-ordinary, what with our singing, of course, but we’re also showcasing some very special young talented guest performers.  We will have much to say about this concert next term, but in the meantime we need to think about our invitation lists, etc. so if you know of someone you feel would like a special invitation, please let me know.  Bayside Council will be directly involved - they have granted us $1,000 towards our ‘recovery’ concert.   We will be able to give you more information shortly. 

Regarding our performance – the programme will be developed next term and the Committee is very keen for us to be able to sing confidently without needing to refer to our music and words, if this is at all possible!  I’ll shortly be sending out the words for all of our repertoire, if this will help.  In the meantime, don’t forget that many of our songs have our ‘parts’ recordings on the Vocally Wild website, which should help us enormously.  Bill suggests we sing along with the recordings, following the music. (Remember that most of the recordings don’t include the piano intro., they begin a few bars before the singing starts).

If you're unfamiliar with the Vocally Wild website, here is how to access the recordings:
 
·Open the website – vocallywild.org.au  
·Sign in with your name and password.
·Go to the Dropdown heading ‘Members’
·Drop down and click on ‘Songs’.
 
You will see them all there either on Page 1 or Page 2 (in alphabetical order).   (If you have a problem with your password, please let Cherry or I know - 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM CHERRY (MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY)
It’s nearly our six-monthly membership renewal time.  Watch out for your Invoice for the next Semester, which will be emailed during the last week of June.  Please note that this payment will secure your membership for our very welcome return to singing at Bayside Carols in the Park.

Fees:  I am currently singing in the “Wilds” choir with the membership secretary from Melbourne Singers of Gospel, a very similarly run choir to ourselves, with usually around 100 members …a little less since Covid, also like us.  We’ve had some lovely discussions together.  They also use the Harmony software for their website.  Interestingly, she was shocked that their fees are nearly double ours … $280 per Semester!


See you on Tuesday and we hope you all have a wonderful winter break. 


Kindest regards,

Pat and all the Committee





Vocally Wild Choir  proudly acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.





 

Hello all,
Firstly, many of you will know that we now have a wonderful new piano accompanist – Emma Lippa. 

Emma has played with us for the past two weeks and we are loving the music!!  A huge welcome to Vocally Wild, Emma, from all of us.  Emma and Bill have hit the ground running and, together with our very loyal choir members, they are proving that Vocally Wild has now well and truly bounced back from the past two years or so of uncertainty and is now ‘Up and Singing’ again with joy and confidence.

Emma, who lives locally, has had a stellar career – twenty eight years with the Bolshoi Ballet, twenty years with the Australian Ballet during which times she attained many high awards, travelled extensively and worked with numerous luminaries from the dance world.  Her full Profile is on the Vocally Wild website under the dropdown headings “About” or “Home.”  Please read this impressive resume of her career – Emma has much more, of course, to tell!  There are some delightful photographs there too.

Some flyers will be placed in community areas in the next few days advising that Vocally Wild is well and truly up and singing again and that our membership is currently open for new male and female singers (soprano, alto, tenor, bass/baritone).  (See Cherry’s report below).

We are letting people know how much we are enjoying singing with Bill and Emma; that we have a varied repertoire and how we’re looking forward to our exciting concert in October.  At present there is no waiting list, so we are encouraging past members, those considering returning, or anyone interested, to come along and try us out.  If you would like a flyer to forward on to friends, please let me know on Pat Lowry, or contact Cherry on cherry@cham.com.au

Now here is the latest news.  I won’t repeat the Diary dates at this stage as there is no change, apart from:

• confirmation that Connor’s Run will be going ahead on Sunday, 22^nd September (10^th year) and we will be stationed at the South Melbourne Life Saving Club, Middle Park as we have in more recent times..
• Miranda Turner has confirmed our booking to sing at the SandyBeach Centre during their Friday Afternoon Social Club on 19^th August.

However, we do hope soon to be able to put some very special dates in for our Christmas ‘Carols in the Park’ – please all keep your fingers crossed!!

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The A.G.M. went well last Wednesday with a record attendance, as far as I can remember!!!  We even had two members attend via telephone!   Minutes of the Meeting were sent to all present, but if any choir member wishes to receive the Minutes or the Reports attachments, please let me know on.  I’ll send them to you.  The Music Director and Membership Secretary reports are, however, shown below.

Thank you to Russel for chairing the meeting and to Sue Beazley who conducted the Election of Office Bearers.  We now have two new members, John Barnes and Geoff Peters.  Welcome to you both!    Sylvia has resigned from the committee but is happy to continue offering her help with greeting visitors and new members and providing their folders.  Thank you Sylvia.

The new Committee comprises:

Russel Barnes:  President	Maggie Cripps:  Music Production & Management
Julie Serglienko:  Treasurer	Kerry Holmquest:
Pat Lowry:  Secretary	John Barlow
Cherry Tunnock:  Membership Secretary	Geoff Peters

Thank you to you all for being part of this busy yet very worthwhile committee for the year ahead.
If you read the Minutes you will note some timely messages regarding the ANZAC Service and March, the thanks to so many people who have assisted during the past year, some remarks on the general direction of the choir, discussion on fees and how we can keep them at the low rate they currently are, and our beautiful old lady Piano, etc.  This newsletter would be too long if these were printed here, so do read them if you care to

MUSIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT
VOCALLY WILD INC. ~ Annual General Meeting Report from the Music Director
18^th May 2022

It is great to be back into it once again. I wish to report that everything is proceeding noticeably well and according to plan.
The 2021 Christmas Choir presented outstanding performances and were emphatically congratulated for each of them by organisers and audiences alike. A hearty well done to all members involved.
The 2022 ANZAC Service Choir did a fine job and were very deserving of the congratulations bestowed upon them by attendees and the Beaumaris RSL.

Once again this year, I commend the membership for their willingness to follow my guidance and suggestions and willingness to learn new material, techniques and perspectives. Thank you to the committee for managing the ensemble with dedication, diligence, persistence and insight during very difficult times. Special thanks are extended to accompanist Sarah Barnett for her hard work and commitment.

Positive development continues to occur in a range of domains, notably

 1) intonation
 2) phrasing
             3) rhythmic accuracy
             4) diction
             5) observation of dynamics/volumes
             6) balance
             7) blend
             8) breath control
             9) breathing & support techniques
10) music-reading skills.

Please bring a pencil to rehearsals for making annotations on music where requested. This should ensure that everyone is doing the same things(s) at the same place(s).
Dr W. E. (Bill) Miles

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT – Cherry Tunnock
Vocally Wild has had another difficult 12 months, due to Covid.  We had one rehearsal in July, 2021, then had to shut down for the rest of the year.  Then we delayed our return in 2022 for one month, which was not ideal, but necessary under the Covid climate.

There are currently 69 fully paid up members.  Sadly, for a wide assortment of reasons, 29 members have left the choir over the last 12 months.  However, we have acquired eight enthusiastic new members, with 3 more about to join.

I have cleared the Waiting List and it’s been quite a treat to say “Yes” whenever someone enquires about joining Vocally Wild.  A first since I became Membership Secretary in 2018. 

There are 13 prospective members who have contacted me, expressing interest in trying us.  Most of these people are yet to visit a rehearsal, due to being away on holidays, work commitments or getting Covid.

I am not disheartened by the lessening of numbers, as there are constant enquiries about joining and I know, as we are settling into singing again, there is still a lot of interest in people joining choirs.

Thank you to all on the Committee who have assisted me in the peripheral needs of the Membership role.

Vocally Wild Facebook
I have also been looking after the V.W. Facebook page since February, 2022 and try to put in an update every week, usually on a Sunday.  I’d be thrilled to receive any ideas or suggestions of content going forward.

FACEBOOK
Reiterating Cherry’s message above - have any of you been viewing Cherry’s Facebook messages lately?  They are original, inspiring messages, giving important information together with delightful photographs, so please take a look.  

WEBSITE
Communication takes many forms these days, so if you want to find out anything about the choir, its leaders, what’s happening currently, songs to be sung, look at photos/videos, if you wish to practise songs via recordings, see profiles, see Cherry’s Facebook posts, refer friends to the choir; etc. please look up the Vocally Wild website – vocallywild.org.au   Years ago Teresa set this website up for us – she did a wonderful job and now we are attempting to make full use of it.. So do give it a go!!  Cherry is happy to assist anyone who has forgotten their password!

SONGS FOR REHEARSAL – TUESDAY, 24^TH MAY
This information was forwarded recently, via Bill, but it’s repeated here if anyone missed it.  Our songs for Tuesday will be – Revisit ‘You’re The Voice’, Finish – ‘Don’t Dream it’s Over, Start – ‘Keep a Dream in Your Pocket’ and Start ‘Leaps and Bounds’. 

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

• I love to mention concerts by people we have sung with in the past!!  David Hobson will be singing with the wonderful Victoria Welsh Choir and Bhan Tre (all female Celtic band) on Sunday, 29^th May (2.00 p.m.) at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, so if you’re interested, please look up melbournerecitalcentre.com.au  Tickets from $80 ($75 concession).
• Another reminder about ‘Let’s Get Loud’ (Sat. 11^th and Sun. 12^th June) = Gospel, Contemporary, World, Opera, New Works, Rock and More.  Join Melbourne International Singers’ Festival for a weekend of amazing vocal workshops with Australia’s finest choral conductors.  Enquiries:  0419 337 283 or misf@playitforward.org.au
• Mairi McIntosh, OAM, wrote to us on behalf of John de C Douglas, OAM, thanking Vocally Wild for taking part in the ANZAC Service Wreath and Book Laying at the Beaumaris R.S.L.  Mairi advised that the book has been donated to St. Leonard’s College.

Kindest regards,
Pat and Committee
Vocally Wild Choir

 

Welcome back! 
Term 2 is now under way and we look forward to much singing and enjoyment.  We warmly welcome two new members, and also we’re pleased that two interested ‘songbirds’ came along to try us out last Tuesday, so we do hope we passed the test!!

Thank you to those of you who attended the Beaumaris RSL ANZAC Parade and Service – it is always an atmospheric and memorable experience and it was so pleasing to see such a huge crowd in attendance, with many young people.  Our male voices were a bit low in number this year, but Bill magically arranged instant ‘ring ins’ - three St. Leonard’s College staff members - to join us, which was wonderful and they certainly boosted the lower voice sounds. 

Many of you will have the pleasure of travelling during June/July this year, so you will be pleased to hear that we have postponed our Annual Concert at Brighton Town Hall from 26^th June to the afternoon of Sunday, 16^th October. Full details will follow.

We now have a few more Diary Dates for you.  Fingers are crossed that we can soon add our exciting preparation and performance dates regarding the Bayside Carols in the Park, if all our Gods are lined up!

DATE	DETAIL
Wednesday, 18th May	Vocally Wild Annual General Meeting.
Tuesday, 21st June	Last Rehearsal for Term 2.
Tuesday, 12th July	Term 3 commences
Friday, 19th August	Sing for Friday Social Club, SandyBeach (TBC)
Sunday, 11th September	Connor’s Run (to be confirmed)
Tuesday, 13th September	Last Rehearsal for Term 3.
Tuesday, 4th October	Term 4 commences
Sunday, 16th October	Annual Concert, Brighton Town Hall, afternoon.
Tuesday 1st November	No Choir – Melbourne Cup Day
Tuesday, 6th December	Last Rehearsal for Term 4

TUESDAY, 3^RD MAY - REHEARSAL MUSIC

• Re-visit "Siyahamba"
• Tighten "House of the Rising Sun"
• Start "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
• Start "You're the Voice"

Hello everyone,
It's so good to be back at choir and a very warm welcome is extended to you all, including our accompanist, Sarah Barnett and three new members.  We hope you have a happy and rewarding time with Vocally Wild. 

Last Tuesday's rehearsal was busy, productive and sounded wonderful by all accounts.  Bill is very pleased with how things are coming along and he thanks everyone for their attentiveness, focus and fine attitude.  Our Covid-safe systems seem to be working and as we navigate the weeks ahead, we trust that everyone remains safe and cared for. 

Sarah's profile is posted on the vocally Wild website, but briefly Sarah is a local from Sandringham, she holds a B.Ed. Music (Piano Major) and has taught piano privately and in classrooms.  Sarah has also spent many years in the U.S.A. and in Caribbean nations.  She performs professionally on the Caribbean Steel Pan and has much experience in this field, founding and directing the Caribbean community of Victoria's Steel Pan Band.  Do read her full and interesting profile on the website.  Go to drop down menu ABOUT and then CHOIR DIRECTOR when you get an opportunity.

We're very happy with our newly acquired piano - soon, thanks to Russel, it will have new wheels, for ease of movement, and have a re-tune (it had one earlier this month, but a second is normal for elderly pianos).  May we also say a big thank you to Rob Tunnock who is our new Choir Roadie!  Rob comes early each week to assist Russel with all our equipment set up.  We are very grateful.  Also, thank you to all of you who help set up and put away the equipment and chairs, at the end of the evening.  It's quite a task.

As you know Term 1 had to be delayed by four weeks, so we wll need our skates on in preparation for the ANZAC commitments.  More on this below.

We have plenty of news, so here goes ... first, some Diary Dates:

DATE	DETAIL
Tuesday, 12th April	Last rehearsal for Term 1
Sunday, 24th April	ANZAC Parade and Service (from 1 p.m.)
Tuesday, 26th April	Choir Term 2 commences, normal rehearsal
Wednesday, 18th May	Vocally Wild A.G.M.
Tuesday, 21st June	Last rehearsal for Term 2
Sunday, 26th June	Tentative date for V.W. Concert, B.T. Hall
Tuesday, 12th July	Choir Term 3 commences, normal rehearsal
Tuesday, 13th September	Last rehearsal for Term 3

ANZAC DAY PARADE AND SERVICE
 
Next week, after the tea break, we will commence rehearsals for this annual event which we always love attending.  Cherry will provide a sheet for names of those who will be singing, so we can ascertain seating numbers, etc.  Please could you complete this in the next two weeks?  Thank you.  If you are not able to attend and don’t want to join in the rehearsals of the songs for the Service, you are of course welcome to leave after or at tea break. 

Hopefully our new members will decide to come along as it is a wonderful community event to take part in.  Maggie will have all the relevant music available.  It is the Army’s turn this year turn to conduct the service - the songs/hymns will be: 

The Recessional (God of our Fathers),
O God Our Help in Ages Past,
I Vow to Thee My Country,
I am Australian
My Country,
N.Z. and Australian National Anthems.

Vocally Wild will donate $60 to Beaumaris RSL for tthe purchhase of book/s for the Wreath - Book Laying Ceremony.  (The books are generally given to local schools.)  Bill or Russel will present the gift on our behalf.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – WEDNESDAY, 18^TH MAY
The Vocally Wild AGM will take place in the Beaumaris Tennis Clubrooms (next to our rehearsal hall) at 7.30 p.m. on 18^th May when one of the main items on the Agenda will be the election of our choir committee.  There are two extra places vacant, so please give it some thought and consider becoming a member yourself or nominating somebody;  we would be more than pleased to hear from you.  More detail to follow.

BAYSIDE GRANT FOR CONCERT – SUNDAY, 26^TH JUNE 
We have received a $1,000 grant from Bayside Council which is to be used to plan and present a community concert to showcase Vocally Wild ‘in recovery’ after Covid and to introduce young local musical talent to the community.

Brighton Town Hall has been tentatively booked for this date  (we’re familiar with this venue for concerts) and an afternoon timeslot, 2.30 p.m. is planned, followed by afternoon tea (and scones?!!)  We have already started learning some of the pieces for our repertoire and we’ll no doubt have the usual fun and excitement during our preparation for this event later in June.  More to follow of course, but it’s wonderful to have something to plan for.

MEMBERSHIP
We have 71 paid up members with up to 7 possible newcomers.  However, we can now open up our ‘Waiting List’ so if you have any friends or family who may wish to join us, do let them know.  They can come along for a ‘visit’ during our Tuesday rehearsals – Maggie has made up Visitor Folders for their use.  Contact is easily made via our Website or via Cherry direct, or any committee member.

Please note Cherry’s item below:

• Our good friends and loyal V.W. choristers for many years, now retired, Ken and Heather have sent this message: "Thanks for heartwarming messages.  We are missing the enjoyment of choir and singing with you and want to convey our thanks to all of the choir for over 12 years of singing."
• Lesley Winning, our tireless and enthusiastic community member, is now on the Board at Pets of the Homeless and a volunteer at the Lort Smith Pet Therapy Programme.  Lesley is no longer a Board Member at Family Life, but continues to support this wonderful organisation.

COVID SAFETY MEASURES
With the likely increase in Covid infections because of a new strain, we feel it important that we continue our vigilance and follow health and safety guidelines as far as possible, for example - doors to be left open, masks optional, bottles of hand sanitiser readily available, distancing re chairs, etc. and we do ask that if you are not well, or have any symptoms at all, in the interests of everyone, please don't attend choir.

MUSIC
If you are thinking of rehearsing our songs at home, this is a reminder that practice recordings, in parts and together, of many of our current songs are on the website.  For example, our new song 'A Place in the Choir', plus Bridge Over Troubled Waters', 'Jerusalem Morning', 'Long and Winding Road', etc. are all there.  Go to the website, pull down the Members list, then go to Songs.  Easy, and the recordings are very helpful - just have your folder, look at the words and music and listen and sing along to your part.  Fun too!!

A list of all the songs we are currently learning, plus the ANZAC ones, is posted on the website, under ABOUT, then "Have a Listen"!

MORE MUSIC OUT AND ABOUT

• Did you happen to read Tony Way's article in the Age on 22nd February, 2022 - entitled "Marvellous Tchaikovsky fundraiser?"  He was referring to the Melbourne Recital Centre's annual Tchaikovsky Marathon.  Bill's daughter Charlotte took part and Tony Way's comments were, "Young cellist,Chalotte Mies, embraced the elegant restraint and good humour of the variations on a Rococo Theme with assured technique and honeyed tone."        Well done to Charlotte, what a brilliant career ahead!.

• Who could forget MIRUSA and her wonderful rehearsal and performance with us at Carols in the Park?  Under What's On at the Arts Centre you'll find she is performing as Special Guest for Tenor MARK VINCENT's concert at Hamer Hall on 1st May.  They will be performing musical hits from London's West End to Broadway.  Go to www.artscentremelbourne.com.au to book.
• Also in May, another wonderful artist we have performed with, David Hobson, joins the Victoria Welsh Choir to perform once again at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, M.R.C. in the St. David's Day Concert on Sunday, 29th May, 2.00 p.m.   For further information contact enews@melbournerecital.com.au or www.melbourner.om.au
• Janet Bassett-Smith has forwarded information (via her friend and ex-choir member Jennifer Coghlan Bell) about forthcoming concerts at St. Andrew's Church, Brighton,.  The next one will be on 22nd May - Johann Sebastian Bach's Musical and Spiritual Odyssey - Dr. Calvin Bowman, Organ.  A short lecture and complete performance of Bach's great masterpiece which is based on Luther's Catechism.  See more detail regarding this and other concerts throughout the year on - www.standrewsbrighton.org.au
• MoJo - Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra - Big Band Sunsets.  These have already started!  For further informatiion  contact publicity@mojoswingcom.au  or google Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra.

AND ANOTHER THING!

• Our choir belongs to A.N.C.A. (Australian National Choral Association). The magazine "Sing Out" is now being delivered on line, so if you are interested, Vol. 39, No. 1 is now available.  If you would like me to forward you a copy, please let me know.  
• Bayside Healthy Ageing.  Bayside Council is committed to supportting older residents to participate, contribute and connect with a sense of belonging to the Bayside community and their Healthy Ageing Team is undertaking a survey to better understand how to support people 55+ years to 'age well'.  The survey will take about 10 minutes, so if you would like to take part, please contact www.surveymonkey.com/r/HealthyAgeingBayside2022
• Ukraine and Floods.  The world and local news is so devastating at the moment.  If you feel the need to donate, here are some links to reliable organisations:
  • www.unrefugees.org.au/donate
  • www.redcross.org.au
• Maggie's Maggie and Moggie!!   If you can, look at this - it's amazing.  VID-20200524-WA0000.mp4

 
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   Kerry Holmquest   Website address:  www.vocallywild.org.au

• To give you confidence, Covid-safe practices, as last year, need to be followed.  Unfortunately they are necessary., but hopefully this situation won't last too long:
  • Masks need to be worn whilst indoors and singing.  (Even though some indoor wearing of masks may soon not requiired, we still feel it is important to continue with them initially.)
  • Proof of double vaccination is required.  Boosters of course, are preferred but proof not required to be shown..
  • All safety equipment will be available - masks, shields, gloves, sanitiser, etc. for your use.
  • Your temperature will be taken on arrival by a hands free thermometer.
  • Electric fans will be placed strategically around the room to direct the air flow to the outside.
  • Doors will be open.
  • Chairs will be spaced 1 metre apart. 
• Timing
  • 7.30 p.m. prompt start.
  • 8.40 p.m. - announcements if there are any.  (Please advise Russel if you have an announcement and try to keep it to 2 minutes if possible).
  • 8.40 to 8.55 p.m. - Tea Break.  (Carolyn McIntyre will bring the usual tea, coffee, milk, but please could you bring your own cup.   Just go into the kitchen and make up your own brew!  Plenty of hot water. Thank you).
  • 9.30 p.m. Close.  (Lock up to be complete by 10.00 p.m.)
• Chairs
  • Chairs to be placed in same positions, in a semi-circle, as last year.  We plan to publish a chair roster shortly, but on the first night we will endeavour to set out as many chairs as we can;  if you do come early it would be wonderful if you could help.  Chairs will need to be packed away in stacks of 10.  There is a trolley to assist.
• Music
  • Bill has set out the following songs.  Maggie will provide the music for newcomers and they will be handed a folder.   Some of us may not have all the music, so if you don't have them at home, Maggie will have a sheet on her music table for you to indicate which sheets for the future nights you don't already have.  It is very useful for her to have an idea of how many extra copies will need to be printed.  So, please check your cupboards and files and dig out as many of these as you can and put them in your folders:

                        First 2 or 3 rehearsals
                ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    Bridge Over Troubled Waters
                        House of the Rising Sun
                        Lean on Me
                        Long and Winding Road
                        A Place in the Choir

    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    Second 2 or 3 rehearsals
    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    Goodnight Sweethears
    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    Jerusalem Morning
                        Siyahamba
                        Thank You for the Music
                        This Little Light of Mine

                        Third 3 or 4 Rehearsals
    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
                        New Material:
    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    ​​​​​​​    Don't Dream it's Over
                        Keep a Dream in Your Pocket
                        Leaps and Bounds
                        You're the Voice

• Badges.  If you can remember where it is, please could you wear your name badge - this will help us all and in particular our new members and visitors.  Thank you.

ANZAC DAY PARADE AND SERVICE
We are once again invited to take part in the Beaumaris RSL ANZAC Day Parade and Service on Sunday, 24th April (ANZAC Day being the next day, the 25th).  Full details will be sent in due course, but choir will be required to attend from 1.00 p.m. for joint rehearsal with the St. Leonard's Band.  The March steps off at 2.45 p.m. and the Service commences at 3.00 p.m.  This year the Army will conduct the Service.  Please put this date in your diary if you enjoy taking part in this, always wonderful, community event.

VOCALLY WILD CONCERT
Bayside Council has awarded us a $1,000 grant.  This is to be used to plan and present a community concert to showcase Vocally Wild in 'recovery' and for us to introduce some young musical talent to the community.  We will confirm the date shortly, but it could be late June/early July, or October.  The venue will be Brighton Town Hall.  This will be an exciting event for us to prepare for.

OTHER MUSICAL EVENTS
We will of course have further news of events for our diaries, but first things first, let's get started and let our voices freely soar!

FACEBOOK - WEBSITE
Cherry is now the Facebook Administrator, and I look after the Website.  We will endeavour to keep both these platforms up to date, so you will know where to look for information if you need it.

If you have any choir photographs you would like to see on either of these sites, please let Cherry or I know.  If you want to read about the Choir's 'glorious'  history, see some recent photographs, listen to recorded practice music, look at staff profiles, look at past music videos of Vocally Wild, etc., do check out the website.  Just go to www.vocallywild.org.au and go to the Home Page.  From there you can look at the various pull down lists.  The website is a work in progress, so any icomments you make will be welcome.  I will endeavour to get round to adding song words, etc.  all good fun and there are endless possibilities!

If you have forgotten your website password, please contact Cherry and she will organise a new one for you.

Cherry would love you to write a 'Post' for Facebook, so do let her know.  It is better to add a photograph to a post - this makes people take notice!  To find Vocally Wild in Facebook, just enter Vocally Wild Choir!

YOUNG, AMAZING TALENT
Bill has a very talented family.  Some of you who sang in the community carols in December will have met Jamie, Bill's son, who plays a magical Viola.  Bill's daughter, Charlotte, is a brilliant Cellist who is constantly in demand with requests to play in various parts of the country.   This weekend, for example, Charlote will be playing Tchaikovsky's 'Variations on a Rococo (Cello Concerto) in the closing concert of the 3MBS Tchaikovsky Marathon at the Melbourne Recital Hall on SATURDAY NIGHT, 19th February, 8.00 p.m.   It is a live concert being streamed through Australian Digital Concert Hall.  Subscription for the 72 hour streamed broadcase (Saturday to Tuesday) can be purchased from ​​​​​​​: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2022/tchaikovsky-marathon-concert-5/, and tickets for the live performance from this site: https://www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2022/tchaikovsky-marathon-concert-5/. 

CONNOR'S RUN
Hopefully Vocally Wild will be singing at the annual Connor's Run event later in the year, but Cherry has brought to our attention this news of a very worthy Australia Day Honours recipient.  Many of you will be very interested:

Medal (O.A.M.) of the Order of Australia in the General Division was awarded to Mrs. Mary Elizabeth DAWES, Sandringham, Victoria for her service to the community through charitable organisations.  Mary is the founder (in 2013) and Chief Executive Officer of the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation and funds are raised for The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.  Mary's other awards and recognition include:  Local Hero, Electoral Division of Goldstein in 2016 and Bayside Citizen of the Year, 2015.

LESLEY COLEMAN (WINNING)'S NEW PROJECT
Lesley is such a community minded and talented person!  Amongst other things, she supports and leads the Family Life Charity, she supports Dogs of the Homeless, and Lesley now has a new project which she thought Vocally Wild might be interested in.   In her words:

I am making a short film about family violence, told from the point of view of the survivors of violent relationships.  We know that family violence has become even worse over the past two years, so this project is both timely and very important.

The film will be accompanied by an eBook that details the psychological underpinnings of the issue and provides advice on where and how to get help. It will include teaching materials.  We have worked with Family Life on the script and counselling psychologist, Meredith Fuller OAM is our associate producer and will write the eBook.

If anyone would like more information, here is the website address:    https://home-truths.com.au
We are running a crowd funding campaign to help us make this film.  If you would like to contribute to this project, please click on this link  https://www.pozible.com/profile/lesley-coleman-4    The funding campaign ends on February 25.  

CHATTY CAFE - Come for a Chat - by Penny Repse
We all know Vocally Wild members love to chat, so this sounds perfect for you.

Chatty Café is a community organisation which is all about helping people connect for a chat. It’s a simple concept which started in the UK in 2017 with the focus on providing ways to bring people together of all ages and from all walks of life.

Bayside locals started the Australian arm a couple of years ago but, unfortunately, the covid lockdown restrictions slowed it down but now it’s up and running again locally. The importance of the program has been recognised with Bayside Council and the State Government’s South East Metro Partnerships supporting Chatty Café as a way of helping the community reconnect.

Bayside’s initiative will be used a model to get the program up and running in other parts of the state.  Venues as diverse as the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Éclair, Our Casa and Paperboy cafés in Hampton, Castlefield, Cheltenham, Highett and Hampton Community Centres, Sandringham Library, Bayside Nursery, RAW Garden and Sandy Beach Kiosk are all hosting Chatty Café tables. See below for local venues, days and times, plus new venues and days are being added all the time.
Initially the tables are hosted by volunteers, including Vocally Wild member Penny Repse, who welcome and encourage visitors to get to know each other. Then it’s up to people to chat.

The program has been so successful in the UK that more than 1,400 venues take part around the country, and it has now spread to Poland and Gibraltar with interest growing the Canada and the US.  You might like to be involved as a volunteer, or just come along for a ‘chat’. Everyone is welcome so tell your friends, family, neighbours, anyone who might like a chat.  Check out the website at chattycafeaustralia.org.au or, if you’re interested in volunteering,  email Helen Boulton, the Volunteer Manager, at helenb@thechattycafe.com.au or talk to Penny Repse on 0439 995 850 to find out more.

Also, calling any cake-makers!  Chatty Cafe like to provide a snack for the 'chatters' at the community centres.  If anyone is willing to make a cake, or similar, for morning teas, on a Roster basis, it would be very much appreciated.  Please contact Penny.on her phone number above or  pennyrepse@gmail.com

Local Chatty Cafes

Monday	Cheltenham Community Centre, 8 Chesterville Road, Cheltenham from10.00am
Tuesday	A W Oliver Pavilion, Summit Avenue, Hampton East !0.00am - 11.00am Highett Neighbourhood House, 2 Livingston St, Highett from 10.00am
Wednesday	Hampton Community Centre, 14 Willis Street, Hampton 11.15am-12noon Eclair Cafe, 275 Hampton Street, Hampton 10.30am - 12noon Sandringham Library, 8 Waltham Street, Sandringham 11.30am-12.30pm
Thursday	Cheltenham Community Centre, 8 Chesterville Road, Cheltenham from 10.00am
Friday	Castlefield Community Centre, 505 Bluff Road, Hampton East 10.00am - 11.30am
Plus extra sessions	Monday 28 February: special session at Bay Road Cafe, Bay Road Nursery 112-114 Bay Rd, Sandringham from 10.00am Early March - Beaumaris Concourse. details TBC Royal Brighton Yacht Club – weekly sessions coming up, details TBC Sandy Beach Kiosk – weekly sessions coming up, details TBC

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, 1^st March, but will review the situation at a meeting on 16^th 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:


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.

 

 

This is the last newsletter for 2021, as we gear up for a couple of weeks of busy choral activity!  It seems that in the blink of an eye we’re making up for the past inactive year!  Without our usual wonderful Carols in the Park involvement for yet another year, we’re now ‘Getting in the Mood for Christmas’ with Bayside’s Community Christmas Programme, starting with “Light the Rock at Black Rock’ this Friday and concluding with the Hampton Cricket Club Christmas party on Sat. 18^th December!  See below our gig dates. 

If any of you would like to join in the fun, who haven’t already committed, please let me know and come along to sing – you’ll know the carols and a songbook will be provided!  (37 singers will sing at the various gigs, with 27 coming to Black Rock House and 23 to Landcox Park, etc. so you won’t be singing solo at any of them!)  If you can’t commit to any of the dates, but you do happen to hear joyful sounds in the community and see your colourful Vocally Wild choir, wave ‘hello’ and join in anyway!

I assume many of you are now aware that our dear Patrice has resigned from Vocally Wild – I don’t think she will mind me saying that her thumbs and wrists are suffering more with arthritis lately.  Knowing Patrice, she always likes to play at her very best and with such painful hands, it must be so difficult.  We will be saying farewell to her on Sunday, 12^th December at our Social gathering.  Details below.  Bill is currently searching for a replacement for Patrice, so that we will be ready for 1^st February Term 1 start.

DIARY - DECEMBER

Thur. 2nd	6.00 pm	1st Rehearsal (Use Small St. crossing to be safe!!)	Shelter – opp. Small St. Hampton
Fri. 3rd	5.00 pm	Black Rock Village - Bluff Road.  Decision on set up space to be made at 4.45 p.m.	‘Light the Rock at Black Rock’ (Meet near 22A Bluff Road)
Mon. 6th	6.00 pm	2nd Rehearsal	Shelter, as 2nd
Wed. 8th	5.45 pm 7.10 pm	Peg Gill/Sue Hardy’s – Warm up. Black Rock House, Ebden St. Near Second Street.	2 & 3/14 Fourth St. Under Morton Bay Fig Tre
Sat. 11th	5.00 pm	Sandringham Foreshore	Location, time etc. TBA
Sun. 12th	4.00 pm	End of year Social, Beaumaris Hall
Tue. 14th	5.00 pm	Landcox Park, East B’ton Off Milroy	Location, time etc. TBA
Wed.15th	5.00 pm	Black Rock Foreshore	Location, time etc. TBA
Sat. 18th	7.30 pm	Hampton Cricket Club	Party commences earlier

Note: 
A Carols songbook to be distributed to singers for their use at each of the gigs.  If you wish to bring your music sheets, please do so and if you are missing any, let me know so that I can send an email copy.  Maggie will bring a set or two to rehearsals. 

At Black Rock House we sing three items – Mary’s Boy Child, Hark the Herald and Rudolph.

At our other performances, the Carols sets are:   Set 1 - Joy to the World, We Three Kings, Mary’s Boy Child, Deck the Hall, Rudolph, Away in a Manger, Ding Dong.  Set 2 – O Come all ye Faithful, Holly Jolly Christmas, Silent Night, 12 Days of Xmas, The First Nowell, Good King Wenceslas, Santa Clause is coming to Town.  Set 3 - Hark the Herald, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Once in Royal David’s City, Jingle Bells, While Shepherds Watched, Angels We Have Heard on High, We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  Bill will advise which sets we will be doing. 

Singers will be advised via email re time-slot and exact location for the Foreshore gigs.

Thanks indeed go to everyone involved in organising these Carols, in particular Bill and his son Jamie, who have put in much preparation and made themselves available for all these events during a very busy time for musicians.  May I also mention that Rod Cripps has come to our rescue (again!); this time re the Carols Songbooks?   One of the printer’s machines wasn’t able to staple them together, so Rod went to his ‘special place’ where he has an industrial sewing machine and we will see the results tomorrow (Thursday)!  Allan Lowry is to be Russel’s ‘roadie’ apprentice for all the gigs, so a big thankyou goes to Allan too!

SOCIAL – SUNDAY, 12^TH DECEMBER   - 4.00 to 7.00 p.m.

• Beaumaris Community Hall.  We will set up under the tree behind the hall - we have access to the hall if weather’s inclement and the kitchen, washrooms etc. are for us to use.
• Please bring a plate for the share table/drink/glasses/nibbles.  Tea/coffee, etc. will be available, plus a few nibbles to start with.  I will bring some cups, but if you have a keep cup handy, please bring!  (If you prefer not to bring a share plate, due to health concerns, that’s fine – just bring something to nibble anyway for yourselves.)
• We will use the white chairs belonging to Bayside (from small hall) so you don’t need to bring chairs.  We should be able to carry out some of the larger tables, but if you want to bring your own collapsible table, please do so.  There will be plenty of room.
• Farewell to Patrice.  We’ll have a card for you to sign when you arrive, if you wish to.  Patrice’s twin sister, Joan, will be joining us too.
• As per Cherry’s flyer, we will need to safely check in, and follow Covid safety guidelines.  All attending will be double vaxxed, as per regulations.

PATTY CHAPLIN’S UKULELE BAND
Last week four of us sang with Patty’s Ukulele band (led by wonderful Ron Leigh playing brilliantly on his own melodic uke) at Mayflower Aged Care Home’s independent living residents.  It was a happy and exhilarating experience to be singing once again, and by all accounts, the residents thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  They loved all the ‘golden oldies’ and I still can’t get “Pearly Shells” and “Maggie” out of my head!  Thank you indeed Ron, Patty, Pat and June – the ‘best band in the land’, together with singers Carolyn, Sue B, and John B – I feel we did a good job, and oh boy, was it fun to be singing again!

FAMILY LIFE HAMPERS
Christmas is certainly a time for giving, and Family Life were delighted at your generosity!  Maggie and were able to thank most of you, but there was one ‘mystery’ donor who left very yummy looking goodies at my place and I didn’t get chance to see who it was!  Please identify yourself to me, as I would love to say thank you, personally, for your thoughtfulness.  Eight rather large bags were delivered to Family Life for their Hamper campaign.

Zoe from Family Life sent a huge thank you … “for Vocally Wild’s generosity toward our Community Christmas Drive”.  

GIVING DAY FOR PETS OF THE HOMELESS
Lesley says a big ‘thank you’ on behalf of the Pets of the Homeless charity to those of you who donated to this very worthy cause.

MESSAGE FROM SUE BEAZLEY
Our past Alto member of many years Nell
Jackson  has just been awarded has just been
awarded 1^st Prize in the Craft Section at the Ballarat Show for her Christmas Tree teapot Class 17000 - Craftwork - Any Article.  Sure still many in choir would remember Nell and would be interested in knowing of her success.  Nell and Ross now live in Ballarat and she is heavily involved in the wonderful Adam Lindsay Gordon Craft Cottage located in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and the Crafts Council of Ballarat.  Nell now has a whole room set up for her craft work at her house, filled with bits of material, ribbons, buttons, dressmaker’s models, etc.  and markets her creations via her business called The Rats Pyjamas.  Very excited for her, she is such a lovely lady.

PLANNING FOR 2022
Term 1 commences Tuesday, 1^st February.  It seems a fair way away, but time will fly of course!  We are looking forward to starting off with many of our well-known songs for the first six weeks, so we can sing with fun and joy whilst getting back into the swing of things after such a long break.  So if you want to dig out your sheet music for any of the following titles during the break, please do so.  Songs will be selected from these and we’ll advise during January which ones we’ll need for our folders.
 

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

It will be a busy month ahead for everyone, so enjoy the Christmas festivities and the carol singing if you’re taking part.  Thinking of you all over the festive season, especially some who are coping with health concerns; may the next couple of months be good to you all.  A Very Happy Christmas and let’s hope there is much:









Very best wishes, Pat, Bill and Vocally Wild Committee

Bill Miles (Music Director) Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President)    Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)   Pat Lowry (Secretary)  Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  Sylvia Ring   Kerry Holmquest

Hello everyone!

Many of you have probably been wondering if there would be a possibility of choir resuming this year, but Committee has agreed that the best thing to do under the circumstances is to plan a cheerful, happy, safe and joyful singing return for our “recovery choir” in 2022.  Therefore, the start date will be Tuesday, 1^st February, 2022 at the Beaumaris Community Hall.  Our decision of course is based on caution, but also guided by the current regulations for the hall which restrict numbers to 55 (one person per 4 sq.m.).

PATRICE
More information is below regarding our safe start up, but our news at this moment is that sadly, but completely understandably, our wonderful Patrice has decided to ‘hang up and rest her twinkling fingers’ and retire from being our accompanist.  Patrice has kindly mentioned that she will be available for us until we find another pianist; a very thoughtful gesture.  We’ll have the opportunity to give her an appropriate ‘farewell’ in the New Year when I know there will be many complimentary words spoken about her.  We will all want to express how much Vocally Wild has benefitted and flourished musically because of her excellent musicianship and beautiful, sunny personality.

RESUMPTION OF CHOIR – REGULATIONS AND PLANNING
When choir resumes on Tuesday, 1^st February, in order to protect our choir community and ensure that everyone attending feels comfortable and safe, we will be following the Vic. Government safety guidelines to the letter.   Our activity is regarded as ‘high risk’, so we feel we must ensure the following:

• On arrival, members will need to show their QR Code with their up-to-date double vaccination certificate. 
• If proof of vaccination cannot be provided, it will be assumed that you are not double vaccinated and unfortunately won’t be allowed into the hall.
• Names and vax status will be marked off on our Membership Role and a nominated Covid Marshall will be on hand.

Committee hopes that you will all understand the above directives and realise that they are announced with everyone’s well-being in mind.  (We do acknowledge that there may be an extremely rare medical exemption to the double vax ruling).

END OF 2021 SOCIAL
We have an opportunity to get together for an end of year social for members, partners and children on SUNDAY, 12^TH DECEMBER, 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.  We will confirm the inside/outside venue shortly, but it will be a BYO plate to add to the ‘share’ table and BYO drinks.  Tea/Coffee and snacks will be provided.  More detail to follow, but put this date in your diaries!!  It will be really good to at least catch up with one another face to face even if we haven't sung a note for months!!!

(Note: to attend this event, all eligible attendees will need to be double vaccinated, as per the information above.)  

FAMILY LIFE HAMPERS
Some donations have been received (thank you!!)  If you too would like to join in this drive to assist Family Life in their continuous efforts to help those less fortunate than ourselves, please drop off your offerings before Thursday, 18^th November to:


Containers are on the front porches to welcome your goodies. Maggie, Sylvia and I will make up the hampers and if necessary add some items not already included, and drop them off to Family Life in good time before the 1st December.  Please select from any of these items, ensuring they are within use by date: 

Pasta/rice/noodle Long life milk Spreads (Vegemite, honey) Pasta sauce Fruit cake/mince pies Chocolates/lollies

Sweet/savoury biscuits Olive Oil Condiments (mustard/sauce) Stock/stock cubes Gravox/gravy Chips/pretzels/popcorn

Cereal Tea/coffee/milo Muesli bars/snack bars Canned legumes Canned vegetables Dried/canned fruit

Hopefully we will be able to provide some wonderful Christmas assistance and cheer.  I am happy to come and collect items if you’re unable to drop them off.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

   


LOCKDOWN ACTION!
Many other talented Vocally Wilders have been really creative recently.
 



Also, if there is news from Bayside Council about the possibility of us taking part in any local community outside Carol singing, I’ll be in touch with those who have said they’d like to be involved.

Let me know if you want to be added to the list!



Kind regards,
Pat and V.W. Committee.
patlow5@bigpond,.com

 

 

Bill Miles (Music Director) Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President) 0409 090448    Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)    Pat Lowry (Secretary) 0437 697 009    Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management) 0458 669 883   Sylvia Ring   Kerry Holmquest

Hello everyone!
This is a 'keeping in touch' newsletter - sorry but that's all we can do at the moment.  News doesn't look too good for choirs in Victoria, alhough the general direction regarding vaccination levels is moving upwards week by week..  Apparently South Australia doesn't permit choirs to sing indoors yet, without a mask, so we still have a little way to go!  Our newly acquired piano is sitting there waiting patiently for Patrice to come along and give it some of her brilliant attention!

Sadly, at the end of August, Bob Adams, a kind, friendly, lovely man, and enthusiastic Broken Voices and Vocally Wild member some years ago, passed away after being unwell for a little while.  Bob was an original chorister with our choirs and so loved singing; he had a beautiful voice.  He actually went on to sing with one of the Melbourne classical choirs and in the early days, when V.W. numbers weren't so large, returned to join us for Carols in the Park on some occasions.  A message of condolence was sent to Wendy and family from us all.

It was disappointing that we couldn't take part in Connor's Run this year - it being cancelled, as we had expected.  However, it should be all systems go for a bigger and better occasion in 2022.  

Did any of you see the recent Bayside Council video about the Thomas Street Park, Hampton?  Our very own John Barlow had a starring role - great John!  What a wonderful asset to the community this park is (and you too of course, John) - there's something for everyone there!

Message from Cherry 
Dear Members,
It's so disappointing that we can't sing our cares away at present.  Fingers crossed we'll be back together again this year.  Please be assured that the time we've missed will be reflected in our fees going forward.  In the meantime, do think of choir and have a bit of a sing to our practice songs.  If you can't access our website for any reason, please don't hesitate to contact me and I'll reset your Login.  
Warmest,
Cherry (Membership Secretary)
cherry@chyam.com.au

Message from Bill and Patrice
Bill and Patrice send their very good wishes, they are thinking of you all and looking forward to returning when possible.  They both say "Stay safe and well."

As spring has arrived, with 'sun and
shower and blossom', let's hope
you are all feeling positive and looking forward to better things. 

Here's a touch of Leunig to add to our spring feelings!

Do keep in touch, hang in there, and enjoy
all the beautiful music around us. 

For example, Marg Brown sent me a
wonderful video of Handel's Hallelujah Choris with a difference.  I'm unable to add it to this Newsletter, but for your enjoyment will send it as an attachment  in an email shortly.

Good  thoughts to you all and if you would like to share any news in a newsletter, do let one of us know..
Pat and the Committee.



 

Hello everyone,
This is a 'keeping in touch' newsletter - sorry I can't announce a 'getting togethre' date yet, but this is to say hope you are all doing ok and making the most of this current situation the best you can!  

We do have some lovely news though!  Let me tell you the "Piano' story!!

"OPTIMISM"
As you know, we haven't had the use of a piano in our Beaumaris venue and Patrice was doing wonderful things with the Yamaha Keyboard.  However, we wanted her to have a piano - Patrice and the Piano just go together, - so, we started planning how we could get one, investigating prices etc. Firstly, we had to receive permission from Bayside Council and, thankfully,they confirmed we could place one in the hall, as long as we agreed to protect it, be responsible for any damage, etc.   Great news!

Second!  Acquiring one!  Russel had said originally that he owned an 'old' piano that he had been given, but he didn't think it was good enough!  So, Maggie nominated her amazing "engineer/musician/organ-fixer extraordinaire/fix everything" Rod (who is a very active member of the Organ Society of Australia, Victorian Branch) to go to Russel's and check the piano out.  He did this and gave it a definite thumbs up!  Next was to ask Patrice to try it out.  This she did, taking along her twin sister Joan.  Russel thoroughly enjoyed their beautiful 'duet' live concert and was thrilled when Patrice and Joan gave their approval!

Third step (amidst lockdown) as you can see 'Optimism' (Russel's name for the piano) was moved to the Beaumaris Hall, and as soon as is safe, we will arrange for a piano tuner.  

Sorry this is becoming the 'dog's tail' story - but then we needed a piano stool for Patrice!  Well, believe it or not, Russel was out on his bike and saw one on a nature strip!  "Ideal." he thought, (mechanics working well, just needed a bit of upholstery work).  So, he took it home!  Voila!  (Upholstery work is now being carried out as we speak!.

In the meantime, Russel had ordered a cover on line, which has now arrived and we 're considering how to secure and label it.    So, all we have left to do is get back to choir and sing!  Perhaps a bottle of champers is needed for Optimism's Christening when the time comes!

CONNOR'S RUN
Susie Forbes, who is organising Connor's Run for 12th September, has been in touch..  The Run hasn't yet been cancelled, but she's not confident that it will go ahead.  However, if it does, she has changed our location to the front of the South Melbourne Life Saving Club, where she thinks we will be better protected from the winds (remember last time?);  More on this in due course.

POPPIES
Rose Olson (Kate's mum) is organising Red or Purple poppies to be sold for 'Remembrance Day'  (11th November) to raise money for Legacy.  Legacy is a wonderful organisation which looks after soldiers and their families.  If you are happy to knit or crochet any poppies, Rose would be so grateful.  She has quite a number of the red now, but is keen to have more purple ones.  The purple poppies represent all the animals that have been slaughtered in all wars - horses, donkeys, dogs, pigeons.  It's a wonderful gesture and if you'd like to help, please contact Rose on rosie@hillgrove.com. (Rose has some purple wool if you need any.  The purple ones usually have a black or green centre;  the red ones have a black centre).  I have a knitting pattern if you would like a copy.

AUSSIE MUSIC
Creative Learning, Arts Centre, Melbourne, have generously provided us with free Aussie music arrangements, which we have gratefully saved for a time when we can sing again!  The songs are:  'Don't Dream it's Over', 'Leaps and Bounds', 'You're the Voice' and 'Keep a Dream in your Pocket'.  Can't wait to exercise our vocal chords again!!

MEETING
The Committee will have a 'zoom' meeting on the 25th August, so if there is anything you'd like to mention or ask, please let one of us know.  We all miss choir and look forward to being together again. 

STAY POSITIVE
Did you happen to hear Dr. Steven (not sure of his surname), Mental Health practitioner last week on the ABC morning radio?  He had some excellent positive messages and did recommend that we try to look on positive side and not to get too bogged down into the negatives.  Pretty sound advice if we can do it.  Penny Wolfe and Sylvia  Ring have wonderful ways of keeping calm and carrying on!  See Penny Wolfe's beautiful gum flower followed by Sylvia's Central Australia painting.  Amazing.


A couple of cartoons to cheer you up, especially if you're dog lover!

TAKE CARE.  
TRY TO KEEP SINGING.

PS - if you want a bit more of a giggle, see the attached "Eating in the Fifties".  I can definitely relate!

Kindest regards,
Pat.



....

 

Bill Miles (Music Director) Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President)  Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)    Pat Lowry (Secretary)  Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  Sylvia Ring   Kerry Holmquest

As we continue getting used to being 'flexible', none of you will be surprised to hear from me that we can't meet next Tuesday for our choir rehearsal - let's hope there's more positive news for the following week.

There's not a lot of news this month and, as we had our A.G.M. last Monday, Committee decided to skip our regular monthly meeting in July and meet up again in August.  However, as many of you heard from Russel last Tuesday, there are two vacancies on Committee, so if you are at all interested in joining this very amiable and active group, please give it a bit of thought; we’d love to recruit fresh faces bringing new ideas and diversity.  If you are a little uncertain, you would be most welcome to come along to one of our congenial meetings to see what goes on!  Please let one of the Committee members know if you'd like to 'try before you buy'!

A.G.M.
Last Monday the A.G.M. was held in the Beaumaris Tennis Club Rooms - an ideal venue and thank you to Russel for organising it.  Grateful thanks to the small group of non-committee who also ventured out on that wet, chilly night - much appreciated - we were very pleased to achieve a quorum!!  If anyone would like copies of the Minutes or any of the Reports therein, please let me know on Pat@ and I'll forward them on to you.

Thanks are also extended to outgoing Committee members, Edwina and Graham, for their invaluable contributions.  The current 2021/22 Committee members are as printed in the table above.  "Welcome back" to all of the elected members - it is a busy but most enjoyable role endeavouring to care for this large and enthusiastic group of choristers!  Vocally Wild Choir Inc. is a wonderful community group and a joy to belong to!

MEMBERSHIP
Cherry has been very busy lately with membership and fees management - she does a sterling job and is most appreciated.  Last Tuesday Bill warmly welcomed new members, and guests who, hopefully, may soon be members. We do look forward to you all enjoying and sharing the singing, music and companionship!

VACCINATION
This topic is a continuing one, but as we 'journey' on in this Covid world of ours, we are very keen to ensure the safety, confidence and comfort of all our members,  With this in mind, and of course we can't regulate, we strongly encourage vaccination and feel that vaccination of the majority (at least 80 to 90% of us) is highly desirable.

SHEET MUSIC
Maggie reminds us that if we have any unwanted sheet music, doubling up of copies, etc., in particular Christmas carols and songs, please return them to the music table on Tuesday nights.  They get sorted, filed and reused when needed.  This saves a lot of paper and money re printing, so, while we have some lock-down time, perhaps we could check our music drawers, folders, boxes!  Thank you!

Talking of music/folders, etc. ... if you haven't put your name on your music folder, it might be worth doing.  Sometimes folders are left behind and it's so much easier to return them to their owners!!

LOOK WHO'S BEEN BUSY!

Jan Gooding, Alto and long-time member of Vocally
Wild, is also an artist.  She is a member of the Glen
Eira Cheltenham Art Group which, under normal
circumstances, holds a couple of exhibitions every year, plus they join with other art groups exhibiting
at the Flower and Garden Show. 

Last year the artists were given short notice to include
entries for the Glen Eira Exhibition.  Here are a couple
of Jan's creations, both in pastel - one is in Bayside
Beaumaris and the other is a sunset.  Beautiful! 
Thank you Jan.




















WHAT'S HAPPENING SOON?
 

Bill Miles (Music Director) Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President) 0409 090448    Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)  Pat Lowry (Secretary) 0437 697 009   Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary

Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  0458 669 883   Edwina McLachlan (Music Liaison)   Sylvia Ring  0402 217 344 Kerry Holmquest

Dear Members,

At the time of writing, and if all our stars are in alignment and Bayside Council’s regulations allow it, we should all be singing again on Tuesday, 13^th July for Term 3, at Beaumaris Community Hall, 7.30 p.m.  So, unless you hear from us to the contrary, see you there!  (Bill has some exciting new/old music for us, see details below). 

Don’t forget to bring your keep cup!  Also, Rob Tunnock will be joining us on our first night back to take some photos for our Website, so please wear something bright and cheerful!!

The A.G.M. will be going ahead on Monday, 12^th July, 7.30 p.m. at the Beaumaris Community Tennis Clubroom, which is adjacent to the car park.  Please come along if you are able to and if you would like to nominate someone for Committee, this is a good opportunity.

DIARY

TERM 3
(Tues. 13th Jul. – Tues. 14th Sept).
Sunday, 12th September	Connor’s Run, singing engagement.  Details TBC

I won’t repeat our full Calendar here, but please note that there has been a change to our Concert date.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t book the Brighton Town Hall for Sunday, 29^th November (no bookings available there for November or December this year), so our Concert will now be held on our last Tuesday rehearsal night, Tuesday, 7^th December, at our rehearsal hall in Beaumaris, 7.30 p.m.  It will be a Christmas theme.  Even if we are hindered because of Covid during the next few months, we will certainly be able to string together some Christmas Carols and Songs and, along with the beautiful songs we are learning at the moment, this should be a joyous ending to the year.

Please note also that the dates mentioned for our Carols in the Park rehearsals and performance are tentative at the moment.  We have had no confirmation yet that Carols will be going ahead at this stage, which is perfectly understandable.  However, we will let you know as soon as there is some news.

FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
Bill has been busy arranging a ‘Crazy for You’ Medley for us to learn in the coming weeks.  Maggie will bring along the sheet music at the start of term and Bill asks if you could please (particularly Sops 2, Alto and Tenor) bring a highlighter pen with you so that when he explains which pieces of music are relevant for these parts, you can highlight them.  Bill will have created practice recordings too, so this is something else to look forward to.

Bill is also keen to follow up on an offer to us from The Australian Music Vault, who are involved with a project providing free music arrangements for community and school choirs to encourage more people to sing great Australian music.

We will be guided by the songs you would like to sing from the list below, so please let me know which ones appeal to you: 

John Farnham “You’re The Voice”
Drapht “The Magic”
Crowded House “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
Sia “Diamonds”
Emily Wurramara “Black Boy”
The Seekers “Keep a Dream in Your Pocket”
Killing Heidi “Weir”
Paul Kelly “Leaps and Bounds”

MEMBERSHIP (Message from Cherry)
Payment for Semester 2
Invoices for Semester 2 (Terms 3 & 4) will be coming soon.  Since we only attended for half of Term 2, the Committee has decided to charge pro rata fees for this Semester to compensate all those who paid full fees for Term 2. Therefore, instead of $160.00 for the six months, those members will be invoiced $120.00.  If you have any queries about this, please don’t hesitate to contact our Membership Secretary, Cherry Tunnock  

Thanks Cherry.  Not many of you will realise what a busy role Membership Secretary is.  Cherry is very dedicated and does a wonderful job looking after everything to do with membership with everyone’s interests at heart: managing the intricacies of the Waiting List, arranging for new member arrivals, name badges, recording attendances, etc.  Cherry is also in the process of preparing a Vocally Wild archive, both digital and hard copy, covering all relevant documents so that these can be accessed by current and future committees.  Once again, thank you Cherry.



To end on a lighter note:

........this is a hoot (for those of us who have
Facebook concerns!!


See you very soon.

Please email me on patlow5@bigpond regarding your Australian song choices!!

Kind regards,
Pat.and the Committee.

Bill Miles (Music Director) Patrice Marshall (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President) 0409 090448    Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)    Pat Lowry (Secretary) 0437 697 009

Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  0458 669 883   Edwina McLachlan (Music Liaison)   Sylvia Ring   Kerry Holmquest

Dear Members,
What a shame we had to call last Tuesday off - a huge thank you to Cherry who tootled along to put a notice on the door!  Hope most of you received the sms and email messages.  Oh well, a bit more time for us to practise our songs!  Fingers crossed that this is just a slight blip and we'll soon be able to announce our return.  Bill has been working on some terrific music for us - so there's a great deal to look forward to.

Apart from this latest Covid concern, it's been a wonderful start to the term.  We seem to be settling into our new rehearsal space well and most of you will appreciate the safe parking spaces and easy access.  Thank you to all our helpers with setting up and clearing away.  Cherry's start-up chair roster worked well and Russel appears to have a willing band of technical assistants.  Although the chairs are very comfortable, they are a little on the heavy side, so please take care when lifting them; we recommend only lift one at a time.   

Carolyn brings along milk each week; there is a plentiful supply of tea, green tea, coffee, etc. so don't forget to BRING YOUR OWN CUP if you want a cuppa during the break.  We don't want to purchase disposable cups, in our endeavour to save the planet (!), so please try to remember! 

It's always such a pleasure to welcome our new members and we hope that Sandra Busch (alto), Helen Kezilas (alto) and Geoff Peters plus of course our returned members, Sue McBeth (top sop) and Sarah McVeigh (top sop) are all settling in.  We have a healthy 'waiting list' and over a dozen members are on leave of absence this term.  Please see Cherry's report below.

Bill and his son Jamie are very proactive in providing our practice recordings, so hopefully you will all now be able to access them on either the Vocally Wild website (Harmony) or via your emails.  Bill has provided some very useful hints on how to make the most of these recordings (see below).  Please let me know if you are having any access problems.

DIARY
Please note the change of date for our Annual General Meeting - now on Monday, 21st June, 7.30 p.m. to be held at the Beaumaris Community Tennis Club (next to the main Community building).  Nominations are called for regarding Committee positions, so if you would like to nominate someone, on our return, please use one of the nomination slips at the entrance table and place your nominations in the box provided.  Or you can nominate by email if you wish. 
 

Note: Bayside Carols Rehearsals/Event - all TBC and info only at this stage
TERM 2
Mon. 21st June	A.G.M. 7.30.  Beaumaris Community Centre T.Club
Tuesday, 22nd June	Last rehearsal for Term 1 – singing and social
TERM 3
(Tues. 13th Jul. – Tues. 14th Sept).
Sunday, 12th September	Connor’s Run, singing engagement.  Details TBC
TERM 4
(Tues. 5th Oct. to Tues. 7th Dec.)
Tues. 2nd November	Cup Day, No rehearsal.
Sat. 20th Nov. (Carols reh.)	Morning
Sat. 27th  Nov. (Carols reh.)	Morning
Sunday, 28th Nov.	V.W. Annual Concert, Brighton Town Hall (TBC)
Sat. 4th Dec. (Carols reh.)	Morning
Tues. 7th Dec.	Last Tues. rehearsal for year.
Sat 11th  Dec. (Carols reh.)	Morning.
Sun or Mon 12th/13th Dec.	Final full rehearsal.
Tuesday, 14th December	Bayside Carols in the Park (Dendy)
Other carols fixtures to be advised.

FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
We are extremely fortunate that Bill's teenage son is able to make the recordings for us - thank you from us all to Jamie who really does spend hours working on these pieces.  Bill is very keen for us to make the most of these gems and I'm sure once you have got used to the process, you'll find them so helpful.  Here are Bill's hints:

How to get the most out of the mp3 practice recordings

1. Listen to the combined recording while following the printed music.
2. While reading the music, listen to the recording for your part.
3. Sing along with the recording of your part (while reading the music, of course).
4. Sing your part with the combined recording.

Advanced work -

• Play the recording for a part other than your own and sing your part with it.  
• Consult the printed music with a view to establishing where your “entry note” is ‘coming from’ … the piano, another section (soprano, alto, baritone, tenor or bass), the same note that you sang recently / a specific interval distance away (major 3^rd up or down / perfect 4^th up or down, etc.) from the last note you sang (if none of the above can be used, that is). Once you work with the rehearsal recordings you will have a pretty good awareness of your part(s) so that when you come to rehearsal, not as much time will be needed for going over the separate parts; you will soon come to appreciate the significant worth of having individualised practice parts, as well as the combined recordings.

MEMBERSHIP (Cherry)
Hi Vocally Wilders,
This is a forewarning of changes coming to how our fees are paid.  Our Choir members are fortunate to belong to such a well-run, professional style choir and due to our membership size, the fees are extremely reasonable.

There is no intention of increasing fees at this present time.  However, the Committee has decided that as from Term 3, 2021 fees will no longer be payable by term and only bi-annual or annual fees will apply.

Therefore, the coming June invoices will cover Term 3 and Term 4 (six months) membership - $160.  Of course, if you paid annually for 2020, you’re still in credit until the end of the year.
Kind regards, Cherry.

WEBSITE
The Vocally Wild website is in the process of having an update.  I’m hoping to upload more photos for the slide show (Home) so if you have any that you’d like to see up there, please send them along.  Thanks.

CREATIVE MEMBERS
Sylvia was following her dreams in the last lockdown and here are two of her many creations.  The parrot has a very cross look in his eyes!  Wonder what Sylvia will come up with next – maybe something new this week?!!



For all you dog lovers and walkers:



Take care during this current lockdown - if you hear of anyone who needs a bit of help, please let one of us know.

Fingers crossed we can return to normal again soon.

Cheers for now,
Pat and all Committee.
(0437 697 009)

Bill Miles (Music Director) Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President) 0409 090448    Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)   Pat Lowry (Secretary) 0437 697 009

Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary)   Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  0458 669 883   Edwina McLachlan (Music Liaison)   Sylvia Ring 0402 217 344 Kerry Holmquest

What a happy and successful start to Term 2!   67 of us met to sing with gusto!   We were fortunate to have two extremely talented and well qualified aspirants audition for our Music Director role and are now delighted to announce that Dr. Bill Miles was comprehensively selected by you as our new M.D.  If you wish to view Bill’s profile it will be available shortly on the Vocally Wild Website – vocallywild.org.au   

Bill will commence with us next Tuesday, 27^th April and we all wish him a long and happy relationship with Vocally Wild.  (See another aspect of Bill’s musical life below - under 3MBS Radio).

We are of course delighted that Patrice will continue as our accompanist and thanks indeed go to Fran for being our excellent M.C. last Tuesday evening.  Fran will surely be called upon again!!!

A very warm welcome is extended to our new and returning members – Sarah McVeigh (1^st Sop), Sandra Busch (Alto) and Ian Littlehales.  We hope you enjoy your association with us.  Some additional new members will be announced shortly.

Our new venue, Beaumaris Community Centre, proved to be more than adequate last Tuesday; it’s a warm, inviting hall with good amenities, safe car parking and easy access, so we hope you all find it a good place to be.  The acoustics appear to be fine too.

Please remember to bring your own cup if you want to have a cup of tea or coffee at rehearsals.

HELP NEEDED - Chair Roster Volunteers (from Cherry)
We need volunteers to assist putting out chairs at the beginning of the evening.  Please Contact Cherry – cherry@cham.com.au – ASAP to volunteer.  Hopefully you will only be rostered two or three times per term if plenty of people volunteer.

Whilst being very comfy, the chairs are a little heavy and should only be carried one at a time for safety reasons. So, four volunteers per night will be rostered.  You will need to arrive by 7.10pm at the latest.
Also, please let Cherry know if you want to be rostered on with particular friends.

Thank you, in anticipation.

CALENDAR 2021
Some diary dates to start us off!  At this stage the Bayside Carols in the Park dates are tentative, but the schedule will give you, and especially our newcomers, an idea of some of this year’s commitments.  These will be confirmed in due course.
 

DIARY
TERM 2
Tues 20th April to Tues. 22nd June	Bill Miles (M.D.) commences 27th April
Sunday, 25th April	B.R.S.C. ANZAC Family Day, 1.00 p.m.
Wed. 23rd June	A.G.M.  7.30 p.m. Venue TBA
TERM 3
Tues. 13th July to Tues. 14th Sept.
TERM 4
Tues. 5th Oct. to Tues.7th Dec.
Sun. 12th September	Connor’s Run - Choir to Sing
Tues. 2nd November	Cup Day, No rehearsal.
Bayside Carols Rehearsals/Event	(TBC and info only at this stage)
Sat. 20th Nov. TBC	Morning
Sat. 27th  Nov.	Morning
Sat. 4th Dec.	Morning
Tues. 7th Dec.	Last Tues. rehearsal for year.
Sat 11th  Dec.	Morning.
Sun or Mon 12th/13th Dec.	Final full rehearsal.
Tuesday, 14th December	Bayside Carols in the Park (Dendy)
Other carols fixtures to be advised.

BEAUMARIS RSL ANZAC SERVICE
Thank you to the 45 or so Vocally Wilders who marched and sang at the Beaumaris RSL ANZAC Parade and Service.  This was a very successful event with good attendance and much favourable comment was attributed to Vocally Wild and the St. Leonard’s College Band.  Bill’s contribution was immeasurable – he certainly ‘raised us up’ for the occasion. 

Thank you also to Sue Beazley for her liaison with the RSL.  Sue reported that the Beaumaris RSL was very happy with the turnout on Sunday; she also confirmed the many compliments from those in authority, councillors (including The Mayor) and audience members regarding the performance of Vocally Wild, the St. Leonard’s Band and respective leaders Bill Miles and Mark Ford.

Bill, you led us so professionally and enthusiastically; we all appreciate how willingly you made yourself available to us when we were leaderless!!!

The Service was followed by afternoon tea at the Beaumaris Bowls Club, and thanks are sincerely extended to Reg Black and all the helpers from the Beaumaris RSL Ladies Auxiliary.  They are a dedicated and fabulous group who always put on a splendid spread; in fact thanks go to everyone concerned at the Bowls Club.  Vocally Wild, on your behalf, donated $60 to the Ladies’ Auxiliary - a book was purchased which is to be presented to a local school. 

BLACK ROCK SPORTS CLUB ANZAC DAY – THIS SUNDAY
We have been invited to sing the two National Anthems (Australian and New Zealand) at 1.00 p.m. so if youare available and would like to join in, please come along at 12.30 p.m. for warm up.  Wear black, with poppy if possible.  We will be backed by ‘Harry’ on piano.  There’ll be plenty of food and entertainment throughout the afternoon.  

BILL MILES AND “THE 3MBS FM RADIO STATION”
Do you listen to 3MBS Radio?  It’s a wonderful ‘community’ classical music station which caters for all types of classical music, including jazz, light classical, easy listening radio music from the 30’s to the 70’s, film music, some live concerts and ‘feature’ programmes.

So, if you would like to hear and enjoy more from Bill, he presents a programme every Sunday night from10.00 til midnight called, not surprisingly, ‘Sunday Night Late’.  His brief is ‘hidden gems’ - lesser known music from known composers, music from lesser-known composers and hidden gem recordings.  Bill includes plenty of music by Australians and performances by Australian musicians.

The program is broadcast on 103.5 FM, 3MBS - Fine Music Melbourne, and is also streamed over the internet.
This is the link to the home page ~ https://3mbs.org.au/. Once it opens, right click on the blue box labelled "3MBS 103.5 FM" ("Now Playing" will show "Sunday Night Late" starting from 10pm). The "how-to-play" window will open which instructs one to click on the play button (arrow/triangle) at the bottom and start listening.  If you would like to hear previous programs, here is the direct link ~ https://3mbs.org.au/programs/sunday-night-late/.

MEMBERSHIP – FEES
We don’t like to lose anyone from our V.W. membership, but if it becomes clear that sadly you won’t be able to return to Choir at any stage, please could you advise Cherry so that one of the many very patient people on her waiting list can be offered a place?  Thank you.

Notices
If you don't appear to be receiving notices re fees or any other items recently, please check your Junk Mail or Spam – the inactivity during time out last year may have made your computer forget about us!!

COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Now is an opportune time to remind you that V.W. Committee meetings are held on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month, so if you have anything you wish to be discussed, please let a Committee member know.

FOR INTEREST - Free Concert
University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - 5.00 p.m. 2^nd May, Hamer Hall.  Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Britten feature in this exciting return to Hamer Hall by the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, led by world-renowned conductor Associate Professor Richard Davis. For more details contact artscentremelbourne.com.au

TALENTED MEMBERS
We have so many amazing people in our midst – have a look at these paintings by Judy Bellesini!

  













If you would like to share what you’ve been up to during the COVID time-out, do let me know!

And last, but not least, check this wonderful video clip from Rad https://youtu.be/_vvMTlDr7jw This young fellow has definitely been signed up as Bill’s deputy whenever he is needed!!! 

Thank you and see you either on Sunday, or next Tuesday.
Cheers,
Pat Lowry
0437697009






 

Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President) 0409 090448   Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)   Pat Lowry (Secretary) 0437 697 009  Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary)

Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  0458 669 883   Edwina McLachlan   Sylvia Ring   Kerry Holmquest

Only a brief Newsletter this month, but this is to say how wonderful it was to return to singing again last Tuesday for our first ANZAC rehearsal and to see so many of you there.  Thank you to Bill who led us so generously and enthusiastically, taking everything in his stride.  It was such fun.  The venue’s acoustics weren’t the best, but at least it is somewhere to meet up for our two rehearsal sessions.

Grateful thanks go to all the Committee and all helpers in preparing for last Tuesday night, in particular Cherry’s merry band of helpers!  It was amazing how quickly and efficiently they cleaned down the chairs, spaced them out and organised the clearing away too.  Fabulous!  We will follow similar safety measures next Wednesday too, just to be on the safe side, but wasn’t it good not to wear a mask for singing?

Sue Beazley has sent the RSL 2021 versions of: the Naval Hymn, I Am Australian words and music and Song of Australia words and music.  I will email these to you separately. You may wish to either print them out or alter your own sheets, so that we are all ‘singing on the same page’ so to speak!  Maggie won’t be copying out any more, so please check your copies against the emailed attachments.  Thank you! 

You will have received the flyer with all details regarding the ANZAC March and Service on the 18^th April.  Bill Gleadall, who usually plays the World War 1 melodies on the piano during the singalong at the end of the afternoon, sadly won’t be able to be there this year, so if you are a pianist and can play these oldies, or know someone who can, Sue would be really happy to hear from you.  Please contact her on  If you missed the flyer, please let me know and I will send you one.

Term 2 will commence on Tuesday, 20^th April.   We won’t be using the Holloway Road hall but our new venue hasn’t yet been confirmed, so please wait patiently to hear more detail.  You will also soon be hearing about the recruitment process for our Music Director!

Caroline Dunn thought some of you might be interested that the Boite Singers’ Festival returns to the Abbotsford Convent on the first weekend in May.  There will be more than 30 singing workshops and concerts catering for all skill levels and interests.  The festival runs from Friday, 30^th April to Sunday 2^nd May.  For full programme and ticket prices, etc. visit boite.com.au/2021-singers-festival     bookings - trybooking.com/BPPSX

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Wednesday, 31^st March at Sandringham College Hall, Holloway Road, Sandringham.  7.30 start.  To all Vocally Wild Members, keep a look out for more exciting information about our start-up on 20^th April.

Kindest regards,
Pat. 0437 697 009
 

Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President) 0409 090448    Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)   Pat Lowry (Secretary) 0437 697 009    Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary)

Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  0458 669 883   Edwina McLachlan   Sylvia Ring 0402 217 344 Kerry Holmquest  h

Hello!
Many of you were disappointed that we couldn’t resume Choir this week, but things are now looking positive for Term 2 and we are very happy to announce that we will be taking our usual part in the Beaumaris RSL ANZAC Parade and Service – see more detail below.

V.W. MUSIC DIRECTOR
Firstly, we have commenced our ‘recruitment’ campaign for our new M.D. - you may have seen the advertisement in various places.  The deadline for applications is Friday, 12^th March, so hopefully we will have our new Director early in Term 2.

ANZAC PARADE AND SERVICE – SUNDAY, 18^TH APRIL
As mentioned, we are thrilled that the Beaumaris ANZAC event will go ahead and we have the privilege, once again, in being asked to take part in this very special and significant community event.

We are particularly pleased that our choir leader for the parade and service, and for the two rehearsals, will be Bill Miles.  Bill is a candidate for the M.D. role and he has kindly agreed to help us out.  This is an ideal opportunity for him to find out a little about us at Vocally Wild, and of course a perfect ‘audition’ opportunity for us all.

Bill will rehearse with us at 7.30 p.m. on:

• Tuesday, 23^rd March, and
• Wednesday, 31^st March (Tuesday 30^th not suitable)

The venue will be confirmed shortly.  The songs/hymns for the service are:

• O God Our Help in Ages Past
• Eternal Father Strong to Save (Naval Hymn)
• Song of Australia
• I Am Australian
• My Country
• New Zealand National Anthem
• Australian National Anthem

so now is a good time to start preparing your folders.  If you haven’t all of the sheet music and words in your stockpile, don’t worry, Maggie will have spares available at our first rehearsal.  Confirmation of the words to ‘Song of Australia’, which were adjusted prior to the unfortunately cancelled event in 2020, will follow soon. 

We will sing most of the songs with the St. Leonard’s School Band, led by Mark Ford.  Patrice will also be accompanying us, so it will be like old times again!

The confirmed programme will be forwarded in due course, but we are likely to meet, as usual, at the Beaumaris Community Centre at approximately 1.45 p.m. for rehearsal with the Band. 

We will ask you to please wear the usual black (long sleeves and skirt/trousers) and if you have a ‘poppy’ it would be very special if you could wear it.  There are many knitted poppy patterns around, if you want to make one.  If you don’t have a pattern, let me know, I have a good, easy one.  (If you really can’t knit and would like one, let me know and I’ll knit it for you, they don’t take long – community service!!!)

The Committee and all concerned hope you will come along to the rehearsals and take part in this community event – it is always a meaningful thing to do.  If you’re unable to attend on the 18^th April, but still would like to have a ‘sing’, do come along to the rehearsals anyway. 

A BIT OF OPTIMISM
Reading that we are about to start up again should certainly help with those Covid ‘doldrums’ but if that’s not enough, our wonderful ‘vintage’ Leunig hits the right note here:


Please watch out for more information coming to your 'gadget' soon!

Kindest regards,
Pat Lowry

  
 

 

Patrice Marshall - (Accompanist) Russel Barnes (President) 0409 090448    Julie Sergienko (Treasurer)   Pat Lowry (Secretary) 0437 697 009   Cherry Tunnock (Membership Secretary)

Maggie Cripps (Music Production & Management)  0458 669 883   Edwina McLachlan   Sylvia Ring   0402 217 344 Kerry Holmquest

Dear All,

Today, there's not a great deal to relate, but please keep all your communication channels open as there should be some uplifting news shortly!

In the meantime, please be reassured that the Committee is doing its utmost to work out a safe and secure way for us to return to singing, taking into account the recommendations by appropriate bodies for a choral group of our size.

Our 'Covid Canary', Maggie, has researched at length and put together many documents from the relevant authorities and with this wealth of information, we will create a Vocally Wild Safety Plan for 2021.

BAYSIDE COUNCIL GRANT
Russel submitted an application to Bayside Council for a Re-activation Grant and we are happy to advise that $2,000 has been awarded to us for assistance with re-activation costs.  This will be of great help and we thank Bayside City Council for their generosity and continued interest in Vocally Wild Choir.

Russel was interviewed recently by a reporter from the ‘Bayside News’, so this will be something to watch out for!

SEARCH FOR MUSIC DIRECTOR
An advertisement is currently appearing on the ANCA (Australian National Choral Association) website and a copy has been placed on the Radio 3MBS noticeboard, as we continue our search for a new Music Director.

"A PLACE IN THE CHOIR"
We have now acquired the sheet music for Celtic Thunder's 'A Place in the Choir', which is certain to become our 'signature anthem' for the future.  Once again, thank you to John Smith for his recommendation and enthusiam.  The sheet music will be forwarded as a separate email.  You will be able to access the video on U-tube www..youtube.com - so enjoy familiarising yourself with this delightful song and we can hit the ground running when we resume singing again.

Talking of songs, if any of you have any particular favourites from Vocally Wild's past, please make your list and send it in - we really want to hit the right note and start off singing what we love.

REPORT ON CAROL SINGING AT BLACK ROCK SPORTS CLUB  (Lidia)
Last year, the Black Rock sports club asked me if I could organise a group of singers to sing some Christmas carols at their annual end of year get together.  I was given a week to organise it, so I was very grateful to the dozen or so people who agreed to sing that night.

It was all very impromptu, but I believe very successful. Jenny Ellison came as well and got the party swinging!  She was such an asset and we were all happy she could join us. The audience was so enthusiastic that we sang more than we had planned.

Thank you Black Rock Sports club.  I’m sure we would be happy to perform again for them.

Thanks you Lidia.  It was a fabulous night - just what we needed and the crowd was huge!  

ROTARY IN HARMONY
I'm not sure how many of you tuned in to the 'Rotary in Harmony' Zoom last November, but it was excellent, well produced with plenty of talented performers, including some thoughtful, melodic and beautiful songs from Damien Leith.  For your interest, there was a 'spinning wheel' competition and our Jan Gooding won a prize!  

FOR A BIT OF FUN
Some thoughts about Covid from Shar Hughes (written by her friend’s brother):

Medical experts in Melbourne were asked if it was time to ease the COVID lockdown.

Allergists were in favour of scratching it, but Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but Neurologists thought the government had a lot of nerve.
Obstetricians felt certain everyone was labouring under a misconception, while -
Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.
Many Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while -
Paediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!"
Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while -
Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and -
Pharmacists claimed it would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would "put a whole new face on the matter."
Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but -
Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
Anaesthetists thought the whole idea was gas, and those lofty -
Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
Oncologists said this was spreading too fast and had to be better managed.
Orthopaedic Surgeons said to cut out all this silliness and just accept what they say as Gospel.
Psychologists want to say 'there is 'no point in hiding behind a mask' or  -
As Podiatrists would say 'cut to the quick and get on with it'.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the arseholes in politics.

Cheerio for now, but watch out for more news soon!
Best regards,
Pat 
25th January, 2021.