​We had excellent numbers at Community Singing for our meeting in June. 

A big thank you to Gwen Barnes for playing the piano, and to Kieran for announcing the songs. We used our usual Song Book 2, and everyone enjoyed the wide range of songs that Book 2 provided.

Also, thank you to Bev Lee for taking some informal photos at morning teatime.

Our best wishes are sent to Brian. Hope you are feeling better soon and are able to come and join the group again in the near future.

Our next Community Singing will be on Thursday 24th July at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins

Brian chose our regular Song Book 1 and Sammy’s Song Book No 1 for our first Community Singing in May. A big thank you to Brian for playing the piano for the group, and to Kieran for announcing the songs in the first session.

This time we did not have the some of the residents from Cooinda come and join us as they had a special morning tea for Volunteers Week. However, we hope to see some of the Cooinda residents and their carers again soon.

We are having another Community Singing on Thursday 29th May. In June Community Singing will be on Thursday 26th June at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins

What a tremendous morning we had at Community Singing in April. Not only did we have a good turn up of U3A members, but we also had at least 10 people from Cooinda plus carers. The Hub was full and everyone enjoyed the morning.

Many thanks to Brian who played the piano for us. What an amazing job he did. Just give him the name of the song and the key it is in, and he starts playing the song instantly. Thank you, Brian for making the morning so successful.

Also thank you to Kieran for announcing the songs.

May has five Thursdays in it. So, we will have Community Singing on Thursday 22nd May and Thursday 29th May at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

Margaret Jenkins 

What a great attendance we had at Community Singing in March. Over 20 U3A members plus 10 or so visitors from Cooinda plus carers. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the morning.

Thank you very much to Brian for playing the piano for all those songs, and to Kieran for leading the singing. The first session used our Song Book 1, whilst the second session used Sammy’s Song book 1.

There is a wonderful atmosphere at Community Singing which probably aids the enjoyment of the morning.

In April Community Singing will be on Thursday 24th April at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins

A delightful morning of singing was made even better by a group of Cooinda residents and staff joining us. It’s such a great opportunity when they are so close and can walk down to the Hub.

Always talented and enthusiastic, Kieran Smith was our leader and Brian Greed our musician.

Thank you both.


​Carmyl Winkler

For the first session of Community Singing for 2025 Brian chose our regular song book 1 for the first session and the Tram sheet song book for the second session. We welcomed Barbara who was new to Community Singing, and also 10 or so visitors from Cooinda and their carers. It was good to see Joyce Borschmann and Doug Williams also joining the group. Having the residents from Cooinda really adds to the morning as it fills the room and creates a great atmosphere.

Thank you, Brian for your great playing for both sessions. We all enjoyed the variety of songs which included Danny Boy, Waltzing Matilda and Amazing Grace. Your ability to play the song announced without any music is really fantastic.

Thank you Kieran for introducing the songs.

We are having Community Singing again next Thursday, the 30th January. In February Community Singing will be on Thursday 27th February at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am. All welcome.

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Margaret Jenkins

For the last Community Singing for 2024 Brian used Sammy’s Song Book #1 for the first session and the Tram sheet for the second session.  We were pleased to welcome about eight visitors from Cooinda including Val Burke and Doug Williams.  Thank you, Brian, for your great playing for the whole year for Community Singing.  You have done a marvellous job.  Also, thank you to Kieran for conducting the singing.

Community Singing will commence on the Thursday 23rd January in the Hub at Cooinda at 10 am.  All welcome.
 
Hope you all have an enjoyable Christmas and New Year.  We look forward to seeing you all in 2025.

​Margaret Jenkins

For Community Singing on 24th October Brian chose our regular Song Book 1 for the first session and the Tramways Song Book for the second session.

The members of Community Singing were very enthusiastic when singing John Brown’s Body and the chorus must have been heard for quite a distance. But that song and a lot of other popular songs made for a very enjoyable morning.

Thank you, Brian for playing so well for the group. Also, thanks to Kieran for conducting the group. 

We have included a photo of Brian and Kieran playing an impromptu piece on the piano together. 

​For October there is a second session of Community Singing on Thursday 31st October, and in November Community Singing will be on Thursday 28th November at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

Margaret Jenkins

A group of enthusiastic singers were at the September meeting of Community Singing who enjoyed singing from Brian’s Song Book for the first session and from the Tramway Song Book for the second session.

Everyone gave Brian a round of applause at the end of the session for his great playing of the piano. As usual with the name of the song and the key that it was in, Brian immediately started off playing each song which is absolutely amazing.

Thank you also to Kieran for introducing the songs.

As there are five Thursdays in October we will have two Community Singing sessions in October. These will be on Thursday 24th October and Thursday 31st October at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins 

Thank you, Brian, for playing for Community Singing on both the fourth and fifth Thursdays in August 2024.  On the fourth Thursday Brian chose our regular Song Book 1 for the first segment, and Sammy’s Song Book 1 for the second half. Everyone really enjoyed the morning. It was pleasing to see members coming and thanking Brian afterwards for his great playing of the piano.

Kieran also did a good job of announcing the songs.

Community Singing in September will be on Thursday 26 September at 10am at the Hub.

All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins

For Community Singing in July Brian chose our regular Song Book 2 and Sammy’s No l song sheet.

Thank you to Brian for playing so well for us all at Community Singing. We were all amazed when you said that you can play the songs in any key that is chosen. However, the keys written on the sheet are generally the most suitable ones for our voices.

We started off the morning by singing Happy Birthday to Rupe and also to Wendy. Congratulations to Rupe on joining Singing’s Over 90 years of age club. By my calculations Rupe is the 8th person over 90 years in the Singing for Fun and Community Singing groups.

Kieran was unable to attend,so Wendy was happy to announce the songs, and did a good job of it.

August has five Thursdays in the month. So, we will be able to have Community Singing on Thursday 22nd August and Thursday 29th August at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins

The weather may have been cool, but we warmed up with Community Singing on Thursday 27th June in the Hub at Cooinda.

Brian chose our regular Song Book 1 for the first session. This included some rounds which Carmyl organised so well. “O, how lovely is the evening” sounded great in three parts while “Frere Jacque” and “Down at the station” went well in four parts. Thank you Carmyl for conducting these so well.
 
After morning tea, we continued with Book 1 and then went onto the Tram Sheet Song Book which included Australian favourites “Waltzing Matilda” and “Click go the Shears”.

Thank you, Brian for playing for us – you make Community Singing so enjoyable with your spontaneous playing of each song chosen.

The next Community Singing will be on Thursday 25th July at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am.  All Welcome.

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Margaret Jenkins 

What a great morning we had at Community Singing on Thursday 23rd May. Brian chose to use our regular Song Book 1 for the first segment. Everyone joined in – Kieran as announcer of the songs. Ray told us about the latest scam with NBN that is happening.

Then we had some rounds which Carmyl did a fantastic job of organising. Carmyl has the ability to take roughly 16 people, divide us into 4 parts and produce a marvellous rendition of Within a Shady Thicket, then Frere Jacque, and then Kookaburra sits on an old gum tree.

After morning tea, we had Sammy’s Song Book 1 which included a group of Irish songs. Brian’s playing of Danny Boy was particularly good – quite a few people remarked on it. Someone else said that we sang Waltzing Matilda the best we have for quite a while.

Thank you, Brian for playing so well.

​As there are five Thursdays in May, we are looking forward to having Community Singing again next Thursday, 30th May at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

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Margaret Jenkins   

There was no Community Singing in April due to it falling on Anzac Day.

In May we will have Community Singing on both the 23rd and 30th May at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins

At the March Community Singing we welcomed back Joyce Borschmann who had been away for some weeks. We also congratulated Patsy Bollard on her 89th birthday next Sunday, starting the morning by singing Happy Birthday to her.

Brian Greed played the piano for us and used the Tram Song book for the first half, and Sammy’s Song Book No 1 for the second half. Thank you, Brian for your playing which you seem to do so effortlessly without any music. Thank you also to Kieran for leading the singing.

We are not having Community Singing on the fourth Thursday in April because it is Anzac Day. However, there will be Community Singing on both the 23rd and 30th May at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am.  

​Margaret Jenkins

What a wonderful morning we all had at Community Singing last Thursday with a great variety of songs from ‘Loch Lomond’ to ‘Amazing Grace’ to ‘Maggie’. It never ceases to amaze me how Brian Greed can go from one song to another with no music, and with only being told what key the song is in.

Thank you, Brian for playing for Community Singing. You do a great job.

Also thank you to Kieran for being MC.

We are fortunate that there is five Thursdays this year in February.  It is a reasonably rare occasion considering it can only happen in a Leap Year. Having five Thursday means that there is Community Singing next Thursday, 29th February at 10am at the Hub in Cooinda.

​Hope to see you all there.

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Margaret Jenkins 

Brian Greed chose our regular Song Book 1 for the first part of Community Singing on Thursday 23rd November, and followed this with Sammy’s Song Book No 2 for the second part of the morning. With only the name of the song and what key it is in, Brian has no trouble in recalling the music and playing it.

Songs such as “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “Danny Boy” had everyone singing along and enjoying themselves. Thank you, Kieran for announcing the songs and leading a big round of applause for Brian at the end.

The last Community Singing for 2023 will be next Thursday, 30th November at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

During January Brian has offered to play for two sessions of Community Singing. These will be on Thursday 18th January and Thursday 25th January at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda.  So, if you want an activity during January, come along and join our Community Singing group for a fun morning.  

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Margaret Jenkins 

For a morning of relaxed singing, the place to be is at Community Singing!

Brian Greed chose the Tram Song Book for the first part of Community Singing, and Sammy’s Song Book Number 1 for the second part. It is amazing how Brian is able to play all the songs by ear so easily. Thank you, Brian for a great morning.

Thank you also to Kieran for leading the Singing.

There are five Thursdays in November. So, we will have Community Singing on Thursday 23rd November and also on Thursday 30th November. Thank you, Brian.
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Margaret Jenkins 

A group of 23 singers was present for the September get-together.

Brian Greed was in good form on the piano and provided accompaniment for us.  It doesn't matter what the song, Brian knows it, and plays it 'by ear'.

We started off with 'Pack up your troubles' and concluded with 'Now is the hour'.  Kieran Smith, in his usual jovial manner, capably led us.

It was heartening to see some new faces!

If a U3A member feels inclined to sing-along, then Community Singing is just the place for you, on the 4th and 5th Thursday of the month.  The Venue?  The HUB at Cooinda.

Ray O'Shannessy

August 2023 has five Thursdays, and we were fortunate that Brian Greed offered to have Community Singing on both the fourth and fifth Thursdays of August. We really do appreciate having Singing available each Thursday, Brian.

For the fourth Thursday Brian started with our regular Song Book 1, which contains a number of varied Community songs. After morning tea this was followed by Sammy’s Song Book Number 1 which has a different group of well-known songs including Waltzing Matilda and Loch Lomond.

Everyone had a great morning, and it was good to see members coming up to Brian at the end of the session and thanking him for an enjoyable morning.
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Margaret Jenkins

What a wonderful morning we had at Freemasons! Probably 25 singers there plus somewhere near 50 residents of Freemasons. We were able to catch up with Gloria Banks, also Faith Hicks who used to be a Leader for Singing for Fun. Many of the residents told me afterwards that they had really enjoyed the morning, and hoped we would come back soon.

Thank you, Brian for the fantastic job you did playing the piano for us. We had a bit of a tricky start, but once the electrics for the piano were sorted, it was full steam ahead. Thank you also to Margaret Merriman for acting as MC for the morning.

Our thanks to Freemasons for providing us with a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit. All around, it was a great morning. 

​On 22nd June Community Singing was shared with residents of Cooinda in the Alice Goulding room at Cooinda. Brian Greed used the Tram Shed song book for the morning’s singing, as well as including three Seekers’ songs which are always popular. Kieran Smith did a great job as MC for the morning.

The audience were provided with song books and joined in the singing with great gusto, some waving hands in time with the music, and even a dance by a couple from Cooinda. The previous day Cooinda residents had a Western Day, so there was still a cowboy hat around to be tried on by Kieran. One of the Cooinda residents enjoying the morning was 101 years of age.

Thank you to the Cooinda staff for inviting us for the morning, and to Brian for providing great music for the singing.

Our Community Singing group will have a session at the Hub at Cooinda on Thursday 29th June at 10am.

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Margaret Jenkins

Community Singing for May was going to be at Freemasons. However, due to Covid cases associated with Freemasons, our Community Singing at Freemasons has been re-scheduled for Thursday 27th July at 10am.

In June Community Singing will be held at Cooinda on Thursday 22nd June at 10am, and also at Estia Health on Thursday 29th June at 10am.  
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Margaret Jenkins

Just a quick note in case someone is checking - sadly Margaret has had to cancel tomorrow morning's Community Singing Session at the Freemasons because of Covid. Members of the group should have been contacted already.  

Media team

Over 20 members enjoyed Community Singing with Brian Greed at the piano in April.

The Community Singing group have been invited to sing at Freemasons on Thursday 25th May, Cooinda on Thursday 22nd June and Estia Health on Thursday 29th June, all at 10am.

Brian chose the Tram Song Book for April as a preview of how Community Singing will go at all three Aged Care facilities. Brian had printed more copies of the Tram book so that the residents at Freemasons, Cooinda and Estia will be able to join in the singing. As well as this Brian had printed three Seekers songs, which are always enjoyed by the group, and we slotted these in about half way through. Thank you, Brian, for organising the program so well.

Everyone participating in the singing at Freemasons, Cooinda and Estia is required to do a RAT test at home before they arrive, and must bring the RAT test with them and present it at the door. RAT tests will be given out at Singing for Fun the week before each Community Singing at Freemasons, Cooinda and Estia.

As we are Singing at Freemasons on Thursday 25th May there will be no Community Singing at the Hub at Cooinda that day. Any queries please give me a call on 5762 6944.
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Margaret Jenkins  222 words