Inspired

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING
agie inging or he o t
ie eca Volunteer eeloent cer Cit o oldat a
On Monday mornings you can hear the ‘Sound of Music‘
emanating from the Glenelg Community Centre on Colley
Terrace Glenelg where The Singing Magpies get together to
sing. Lynne is the Musical Director of the group of more than
40 members which is supported by a wonderful volunteer
team who bring a diverse range of skills which contribute to
the success of the Singing Magpies.
Pamela and Antoinette play the piano, Henry is the ‘roadie’,
Ben is a singer/songwriter and plays the guitar, Andre plays
bongos, Val is in charge of the kitchen and morning tea, Carol
is the wardrobe and costume support for performances, Art,
Kandy, Valma and Laura provide singing skills and assist with
any other tasks on performance days, Tony sets up the room
each week and Don together with other bus drivers from the
City of Holdfast Bay provide the essential transport.
The volunteers all agree The Singing Magpies on a Monday
morning is a joyful start to the week.
The Singing Magpies, is a community choir made up of people
living in Supported Residential Facilities (SRFs) across the
southern metropolitan region and volunteers from LifeLinks,
a unique program where volunteers offer their friendship
and support to help people living in SRFs participate more
in the wider community and encourages the uniqueness and
social development of each person. Through programs such
as The Singing Magpies LifeLinks addresses the barriers that
can occur due to poverty, mental illness, ageing, disability and
reduced social supports and limited independent living skills.
SRFs have quite diverse profiles of people including gender,
age and disability type. Mental illness is the predominant
primary disability followed by age-related and intellectual
disability and brain injury.
In the Southern region of Adelaide there are 10 Supported
Residential Facilities (SRFs) in four metropolitan councils, the
Cities of Holdfast Bay, Unley, Mitcham and Marion. Supported
Residential Facilities (SRFs) are any premises where more than
two people are provided, for a fee, residential accommodation
and personal care services.
The Singing Magpies are often likened to the Choir of Hard
Knocks and they have performed for that group’s creator
Jonathon Welch at an event to celebrate him receiving an
Australian Day Local Hero Award in 2008. The Singing Magpies
have also been the recipient of an Every Generation Positive
Ageing Award in 2007.
The group can be seen leading up to Christmas at events such
as The Every Generation Festival performing at St Andrews by
the Sea on 25th October, The Glandore Community Markets
on 20th November and the launch of International Day of
People with Disabilities at the South Australian Public Library
on Friday 3rd December.
Anyone with a love of music and singing is welcome to join
the volunteer team and contribute their skills in any areas
related to performance/singing.
The Singing Magpies are currently expanding their
performance skills and techniques to include harmony
work, theatrical performance skills, as well as providing
opportunities for poets and songwriters and instrumentalists
to display their talents and join the group to create a variety
performance troupe unlike any other!
For further information please contact Mike Feszczak,Volunteer
Development Officer at The City of Holdfast Bay on 8229 9881
or email mail@holdfast.sa.gov.au
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