News

EGHS Carollers in Strong Voice

17th December, 2008

Over the past four months a group of twelve East Grampians Health Service staff and volunteers have been quietly practising away under the guidance of group appointed musical director Ruth Strauja, with the aim of presenting a more professional approach to Christmas carol singing.

In previous years the staff carollers have relied on little practice as they spread the Christmas cheer throughout the health service leading up to the Festive Season.

With most areas including Garden View Court Hostel, 70 Lowe Street, Patricia Hinchey Day Centre and Willaura having their annual Christmas Party's for residents, clients and volunteers, the carollers recognised that they could contribute to all the festivities in a more positive and meaningful way.

EGHS Carollers include Ruth Strauja (Musical Director) and Jacinta Harman from the Patricia Hinchey Day Centre, Glenys Andrew (Coordinator) and Christine Doak from Administration, Stuart Kerr from Support Services, Karen Walmsley Occupation Therapist from the Community Centre, Cheryl Shiells the Purchasing Officer, Main Reception's Kim Wooster, together with two relatively new staff members Azu Azubuike the Chief Radiographer and his wife Division 1 Nurse Ngozi.  Day Centre volunteers Steven Harmer and Ian Walmsley both accomplished local singers are also part of the group.

For all the staff involved, the fact of learning firstly how to sing professionally has been a remarkable learning curve, and then performing has given them all a feeling of pride and achievement that they have been able to communicate through 'song' and this have added to the spirit of Christmas throughout the health service.

Todate the singers have performed a repertoire of carols at the Ark Toy Library AGM, Garden View Court Hostel, 70 Lowe Street and the Day Centre and during the Christmas week will head to Willaura on the Monday, December 22nd.  Following on there will be one final performance that night at the first ever 70 Lowe Street 'Carols by Candlelight' in which all EGHS Staff, Auxiliaries, Volunteers, Residents and Clients will come together. The public is most welcome to attend with the outdoor entertainment commencing from 8.30pm, and please bring along a chair or rug and your torches.

The success of the EGHS Carollers and the positive outcome from practising and singing together may see the group continue into next year and already there is talk of more potential singers getting involved, together with learning a wider range of songs that could be performed for special occasions such as Anzac Day and Australia Day