​What a great celebration we had at the Golf Club to mark the end of 2020! Of course not everyone could come, but those who did had a very enjoyable time. It was so good to see you all there, and to actually chat and exchange news while enjoying an excellent lunch.

​Thank you to Bev Lee for dropping in and taking photos which showed how happy we all were on the day!

This is the time of year to say thank you to those who have put in extra effort with our group throughout the year. We did not have many actual meetings but thank you to Gwen Barnes for her excellent work on the piano accompanying us. Whilst the Singing for Fun group may not have met many times this year, Gwen has still been practising to keep her repertoire up to date.

Also thank you to our three conductors Faith Hicks, Brian Greed and Margaret Merriman. Their choice of songs encourages us to keep expanding the songs we are familiar with, and we do appreciate the preparation they put into each of their sessions.

Thank you also to Margaret Howard for her help putting out singing books, Trish and helpers for organising morning tea and Ian for regularly opening up and organising the furniture.

There will be an Email regarding our first meeting in 2021.
 
With best wishes to you all for the New Year.
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Margaret Jenkins 

During November we were saddened to learn of the passing of Gwen Cheetham.

Gwen was one of the original 12 members of Singing for Fun which was started by Joyce Borschmann and held their first meetings in the home of the late Helen Mitchell.

Gwen had a beautiful pure soprano voice and a great love for music. She was a valued member of the Sopranos in both the Singing for Fun and Harmony groups.  It was a known fact that other members of the group liked to sit near Gwen because she would always hit the right notes.

Several members of the Singing Group gathered at the Benalla Cemetery on 24th November to say farewell to Gwen. Our sincere condolences to Rupe at this time. 
 
We have also learnt during the month that Patsy Bollard had a fall at home and needed attention in Benalla Health. Whilst Patsy was relatively cheerful when I visited, she obviously had done considerable damage to her knee, and had a lot of bruising as well.   Patsy is now home and progressing well.

We are having a Singing for Fun lunch to celebrate the end of 2020 on Friday 11th December at 12.15pm at the Benalla Golf Club. Could you please let me know by Wednesday 9th December if you would like to come.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2021. We hope to see you in the New Year. Please watch the Website for more news about what is happening in the New Year.
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Margaret Jenkins

I have spoken with several Singing for Fun members and have heard about three members who have been on the sick list.

One of our leaders, Faith Hicks told me quite enthusiastically about her plane ride down to Essendon airport on route to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Faith had a pacemaker inserted there, and returned to Benalla after a few days. Faith had lots of good things to say about the follow up from Benalla Health, and is now being monitored by the Wangaratta cardiology unit.

Another member of our group, Jean Dyer, also received excellent follow up by Benalla Health after her recent hip replacement at Wangaratta private hospital. Jean is happy with her mobility and has received several visits from her granddaughter Emily, who is nursing at Shepparton hospital.

Mary Dunnachie, who has been a member of the soprano team for many years, is also home after a fall which saw her in both Benalla Health and North East Health at Wangaratta. 
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Our best wishes to all members of the Singing for Fun group.
​
Margaret Jenkins

Wonderful News! Saw Joyce Borschmann in the supermarket doing her shopping in the latter part of September. Joyce had much pleasure telling me that on the law of averages she should have still been in hospital. It shows that she has worked hard at her rehabilitation and has had a remarkable recovery. Well done Joyce!

Other members of the Singing group have been asking me when we are going to start Singing for Fun again. The answer unfortunately is that the Seniors Complex is currently closed. Until the Benalla Rural City Council re-opens the building our singing will not recommence.  I am sure the Council realise that the socialisation that results from U3A activities has a very positive effect on mental health. With the gradual lifting of restrictions in Regional parts of Victoria we hope that Benalla Council find some way for some of our U3A activities to recommence in the near future.
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Margaret Jenkins

​Spoke with Joyce Borschmann at the end of last week and she is progressing well. After spending five weeks at Benalla Health, Joyce is now in the Rehabilitation Centre of North East Health at Wangaratta undergoing more intense physio. Joyce seemed very positive about her progress and is looking forward to coming back to her unit at Cooinda. However, that will probably still be a few weeks away.
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Margaret Jenkins

Early in July we learnt that the original Convenor of Singing for Fun, Joyce Borschmann had unfortunately had a fall at home and had fractured her pelvis.

At the moment Joyce is at Benalla Health being well looked after and receiving physiotherapy treatment. When a bed is available in the rehabilitation area at North East Health at Wangaratta Joyce will be moved there for more intense physio.

Due to COVID restrictions patients at Benalla Health can only receive one visitor for one hour per day. By phone Joyce told me that she looks forward to seeing her daughter each day. She can, however, receive phone calls preferably through her mobile or through the hospital switchboard.

On July 28th Joyce celebrated her 90th Birthday. Happy Birthday, Joyce! We all hope that you had an enjoyable day.
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Margaret Jenkins

Whilst we are still not able to participate in Singing for Fun, various members of the group have been walking around Benalla doing their shopping or exercising. It has been fun to say hello to Rae and Len who were out riding their bikes, Deidre who was shopping, Keiran walking through the park and Patsy and Hamish who were looking for a book.

Then there have also been the phone calls with lots of people saying hello to each other.

Keiran reminded me (with social distancing) that choirs have been recognised for projecting their voices and possibly spreading droplets as a result. We are so lucky in Benalla that apart from three cases of COVID from returned travellers, we have not had a single case in the last eight weeks.

Let’s hope that this fact will be used in the assessment of when we can return to the Senior’s Facility in Fawckner Drive.

In the meantime stay safe and look after yourselves.
​
Margaret Jenkins
 

We are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel with the return of children to schools and five people allowed to meet inside. We need to get to the stage of 50 people being able to meet inside before the Benalla Rural City Council are likely to re-open the Seniors Building and Singing for Fun can resume.

What are we going to look like post COVID-19 restrictions? Undoubtedly Singing for Fun will need to remain in the main auditorium as over 25 people are not going to be able to social distance in the current U3A room.

With social distancing still in place morning tea will be difficult to manage. Perhaps it will mean that when we come back, we bring our own small bottle of water so that we can have a break and mingle with social distancing. More on this when available. 

In the meantime, I am sure that we are all be looking forward to the time when we are back in the building and enjoying Singing for Fun, Harmony and Community Singing again.

For now, look after yourselves and stay safe. 
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Margaret Jenkins