Community Singing in July commenced with us singing Happy Birthday to Rupe, Wendy and Jacqui who had all celebrated their birthdays in the last week.

During the Community Singing session we had a variety of songs with some favourites such as “Skye Boat Song” and “the Carnival is Over” included.

Thank you to Gwen for playing the piano for us and to Margaret for announcing the songs.
Thank you also to Brian Colman who has been arranging the chairs for us for about 2 years. Brian reluctantly is ceasing doing this due to a shoulder problem. We have all appreciated your help, Brian.

As July has five Thursdays in it, we will be having another Community Singing on Thursday 30st July at 10 am at the Hub at Cooinda. In August Community Singing will be on Thursday 27th August at 10am.

Margaret Jenkins 

Thank you Gwen for playing the piano for Community Singing in June, and to Kieran for introducing the songs. We used our Song Book 2 and enjoyed some Seekers songs including “The Carnival is Over”, “There’ll Never be Another You” and “A World of our Own” during the morning.

At the beginning of the session we sang Happy Birthday to Gwen who celebrated her birthday during the previous week.

Congratulations to the Hub Committee for their new chairs and coffee table. Great furniture and really makes a good conversation corner in the Hub.

The next Community Singing will be on Thursday 23rd July at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

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Margaret Jenkins

Thank you to Gwen for playing for Community Singing in May. We used Song Book 1 and sang a great variety of songs including “Amazing Grace” and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.

Thank you to Kieran for introducing the songs and leading the singing.  We appreciate the work of Brian who puts the chairs out for us each week and also the guys who put the chairs back at the end of each session.

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

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Margaret Jenkins

Kieran offered to play for Community Singing in April and used our Song Book No 1 for the first session. During morning tea, we had a ‘jam session’ with Jan and Rhonda which was great. 

After morning tea Carmyl ably led us in several rounds followed by the companion songs of “Pack Up Your Troubles” and “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”. Then Rhonda filled in at the piano using the music available in Song Book No 1.

Well done Kieran, Carmyl and Rhonda! It was a different morning but an enjoyable one. Thank you!

The next Community Singing will be on Thursday 30th April whilst in May Community Singing will be on Thursday 28th May at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda.
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Margaret Jenkins  

​It is with regret that we pass on the news that Brian Greed passed away in Wangaratta hospital last night.  Brian was a very intelligent man who had a wide range of interests and many friends in U3A Benalla.
 
Brian had been an active member of U3A Benalla for 19 years.  He was a Leader of Singing for Fun for most of that time, and introduced many new songs to the group, and also wrote harmony for several songs.
 
Brian was the person who saw the opportunity to commence Community Singing on the fourth and fifth Thursdays of each month.  He played for Community Singing from its commencement about 5 years ago until a few weeks ago.  He just needed the name of the song and the key it was in, and he would play the song.  If someone mentioned it was too high, he just brought it down two semitones and started off again.  His musical ability was incredible.
 
Brian also belonged to and enjoyed many other U3A Benalla groups including Wine Appreciation, Investment, Meet and Mingle, Music Appreciation, Armchair Traveller and Collectors.
 
Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

​Margaret Jenkins

What an enthusiastic group of singers we had at Community Singing in March! We used Sammy’s Song book number 1. Thank you, Gwen for playing the piano for us, and to Kieran for introducing the songs.

We sent a cheerio to Joan who has not been well for the past couple of weeks, and hope that you are back with us soon.

Thank you to Benalla Rural City Council for the Quick Response Grant which you recently provided to cover the rent payment that we make to the Hub Committee. The Hub is acoustically a great venue, and having singing at the Hub is very much appreciated by all those living in the Independent Units at Cooinda and also by everyone in the Community Singing group.

The next Community Singing will be on Thursday 23rd April 2026 at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins  

Community Singing in February went very well. We have 30 U3A members enrolled for this program which includes three new members.

Also, we welcomed about 15 people from Cooinda plus carers so that we had a room full of people which was great.

Thank you to Gwen for playing the piano for us, and to Kieran for introducing the songs

This time we used the Tram Shed song book which has a great variety of songs in it. Everyone joined in so the morning was very enjoyable.

Thank you to Rupe, Wendy, Max and others who helped put the tables back at the end and gather up all the books. Your help was really appreciated.

The next Community Singing session will be on Thursday 26th March at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am. All welcome.
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Margaret Jenkins  

Our first Community Singing for 2026 was held on Thursday 22nd January at the Hub at Cooinda.

We welcomed two new members Sue and Terry, as well as 11 residents from Cooinda plus carers. So, we had a roomful of people which was great.

Thank you, Brian for playing the piano for Community Singing. Brian has done a fantastic job playing for us for several years and we are very pleased he is playing the piano in 2026.  Everybody really appreciates the way he can recall the songs providing we mention what key they are in.

Thank you also to Margaret and Rhonda for announcing the songs.

There will be another Community Singing on the 29th January at 10am at the Hub.

Next month Community Singing will be on Thursday 26th February at 10am at the Hub. All welcome.

Margaret Jenkins 

We all enjoyed the final Community Singing for 2025 in November and welcomed 10 or 12 residents and carers from Cooinda as well as our U3A members.  Brian chose songs from Sammy’s Song Books 1 and 2 for the morning. We also had Carmyl leading us after morning tea for the companion songs “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” and “Pack up your Troubles”. Carmyl then chose “Kookaburra Sits on an Old Gum Tree” for us to sing in 4 parts, which also went very well.

Thank you to Brian for playing for us not only this morning, but also throughout 2025. We appreciate Brian being able to be given the title of a song and the key it is in, and him then playing a beautiful accompaniment for us to sing to. This has been the backbone of Community Singing throughout 2025.

Thank you also to Kieran for leading the songs. Not only has Kieran got an excellent voice, but he also encourages the audience to participate in each song.

I would also like to thank Brian Colman for putting out the chairs each week, Sue for helping with Morning Tea, Wendy and her team for putting the books away and Rupe for supervising the washing up. Thank you to Carol and Margaret for the extra cooking for our November meeting.

Community Singing will resume on Thursday 22nd January 2026 at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda.
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With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. 


​Margaret Jenkins

We welcomed our members, a visitor from Geelong and also several residents and carers from Cooinda to our Community Singing in October.

Brian chose songs from Sammy’s Song Book 2 before morning tea, and songs from Sammy’s Song Book 1 after morning tea. Thank you, Brian for playing for all the songs, and to Kieran for announcing the songs.

We are having a second Community Singing in October as there are five Thursdays in the month.

In November, Community Singing will be on Thursday 27th November at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda.  All welcome.


Margaret Jenkins  

What a wonderful morning we had at Community Singing in September. Our numbers were swelled by about 10 residents plus carers from Cooinda coming and joining us. In total there were probably 45 people who were there and everyone enjoyed the morning.

A big thank you to Brian for playing the piano for us and to Kieran for introducing the songs. Brian chose the Tram Shed song book for the first session and Sammy’s Song Book No 1 for the second session.

Thank you to everyone who helps run the session so smoothly. To Brian C for putting out the chairs and organising the rearranging of them at the end, to Sue for helping with morning tea, Rupe for the washing up and lots of others for helping give out books etc. It all helps the morning run well.

It was great to see Deb McCabe who popped in to tell us about the Tatong market and garage sale on Sunday 2nd November from 9am to 12 noon. There will be a free bus from the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre at 9.15am and from Cooinda at 9.30am to Tatong, returning at 12 midday.

In October there will be Community Singing on both the 23rd and 30th October at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

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Margaret Jenkins 

We had two sessions of Community Singing in August.  The first was on the first Thursday when Kieran played the piano for the first half, and we welcomed back Brian to play the piano for the second half. Thank you both for a great session of Community Singing.

Then on the last Thursday of August, about twenty singers went to Cooinda to sing with the residents there. Thank you, Brian for playing the piano for the morning, and also to Kieran for announcing the songs. There were lots of residents present and they all seemed to know the songs in the Tram Shed song book.

The next Community Singing will be on September 25th at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.


​Margaret Jenkins

​What a great morning we had at Community Singing in July. Virtually everyone on our list of members turned up plus a visitor of one of our members.  We also welcomed about 10 guests from Cooinda plus Karen and Tracey. There must have been at least 40 people in the room, and the sound was wonderful. We heard during the morning that one of our visitors from Cooinda was 101 years of age.

Thank you to Deb for playing all those great songs from Book 2. Also, thank you to Carmyl for organising the parts of “Catch a Falling Star”. Our apologies to those people who had to share song books as we ran out of copies of Book 2. 

It was good to see Brian Greed in the audience. Brian has been our pianist for Community Singing for over 5 years, and he seemed to be enjoyed the morning. We also took the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to Joyce Borschmann who will be 95 next week. Joyce started “Singing for Fun” 19 ½ years ago.

We are having Singing for Fun on 31st July as Gwen will be available that day to play the piano. So, our next Community Singing will be on Thursday 7th August at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
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Also, a reminder, we have been invited to Cooinda to Sing on Thursday 28th August at 10.30am. 
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Margaret Jenkins 

​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