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July - A thank you to many for our great sessions...

26/7/2026

 
​We have had some great sessions during July.

Thank you to Carmyl, Kieran, Ross, Rhonda and Margaret for Leading us. Thank you also to Gwen for playing the piano for the first two sessions and to Deb for playing for the third session.
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We have had some great sessions during July.

Thank you to Carmyl, Kieran, Ross, Rhonda and Margaret for Leading us. Thank you also to Gwen for playing the piano for the first two sessions and to Deb for playing for the third session.

Deb has done a great job of combining the indexes of our three song books for the Leaders, so that they can see the 469 songs that are available in alphabetical order. We would also like to know from the members of Singing for Fun if there are any other songs they would like included in our song books.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 6th August at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
​
Margaret Jenkins 

June -  Winter's coughs and colds are having an impact!

27/6/2026

 
​Our three sessions have seen several Singing for Fun members away with the winter cold/cough, including some of our Singing Leaders. Thank you to Kieran for “holding the fort” in weeks 2 and 3 when at least two other Leaders were unavailable. Thank you to Brian Colman and Rhonda for Leading sessions during the month, as well as Carmyl and Ross.  We hope that everyone is recovered for our meetings in July.

Thank you to Gwen for playing the piano in weeks 1 & 2, and to Deb for playing in week 3.
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Also, we were surprised and pleased to see Bev Lee visiting in week 3 and taking some photos of our group.
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Our best wishes to Sue for a quick recovery from her knee operation.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 2nd July at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
​
Margaret Jenkins

Our performance at Morrie Evans in May was a great success!

22/5/2026

 
We had an enjoyable time at the first Singing session for May with Gwen playing the piano for us and Kieran, Carmyl, Ross and Margaret leading us.

Our second Singing for Fun meeting was held at Morrie Evans at Benalla Health where we entertained most of the residents there. Thank you to Deb for playing the piano for us, and to Kieran, Carmyl, Ross and Margaret for leading the group. We provided a book to Beth Hall, who was a member of the U3A Benalla Patch workers for many years and now is a resident of Morrie Evans, and she joined in and seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself.

The morning was a great success with Tom, one of the Residents thanking our group at the end of the session for providing the entertainment.  

Unfortunately, during the month two members of the Singing for Fun group have passed away. Bill Edgar and Joan Badrock were both over 90 years of age, and both enjoyed their Thursday mornings with the group. There is a Vale for both these members at the end of the Newsletter.

On the third Thursday we had Deb playing the piano for us, and Kieran, Carmyl and Ross leading us. Ross chose the theme “Songs that are younger than me and have not been sung repeatedly by the group”. This was a different approach, but seemed popular with everyone. We also had “Candle in the Wind” as a remembrance for Joan Badrock.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 4th June 2026 at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

Margaret Jenkins

April - Thanks to members for singing and playing and honoring memories of Brian

23/4/2026

 
The first Singing for Fun session for April was enjoyed by all those attending. Thanks to Kieran, Carmyl, Ross and Margaret for Leading the session, and to Deb for playing for the session.

On 3rd April 2026 Brian Greed, one of our long-time members and former Leader of Singing for Fun passed away. Brian was very popular with everyone in the Singing groups, and had played the piano for Community Singing for over four years. In the second session of Singing for Fun the group sang many of Brian’s songs as our tribute to him including the “Changing of the Guard”, “Sweet Caroline”, “76 Trombones” and “Right Said Fred”. 

Singing for Fun was cancelled on the third Thursday as that was the day of Brian’s Funeral which twenty-one members of Singing for Fun attended.  Thank you to everyone who came.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 7th May 2026 at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
​
Margaret Jenkins

March - Singing for Fun's 20 year anniversary celebration!

26/3/2026

 
​In our first session for March, we celebrated that Singing for Fun had been providing enjoyment to the U3A community for 20 years. What a great morning we had. Joyce Borschmann who had started the group was sitting out the front, explaining to us the significance of each song she had chosen for the morning. Thank you, Gwen for playing for the morning, and to Kieran for announcing the songs.

We welcomed Margaret Walshe to the celebration. Margaret and Joyce jointly came up with the idea of a Singing group while walking around the lake 20 years ago. Thank you to Cooinda for bringing Bill Edgar, Doug Williams, Brian Greed, Alan Emmett and Margaret Howard back to enjoy the festivities. We also had Gloria Banks, Colin Barnes and Val Whan who used to be members in the audience.

Thank you to Carmyl Winkler for reading out “The Wandering Minstrels” which described the various places that have been home to the Singing group over 20 years. What a morning tea we had to celebrate. Thank you to all the current singers for the plates of food they provided for morning tea.
We were back to our normal enjoyable sessions for the second and third weeks of March. Thank you to Kieran, Carmyl, Ross, Rhonda and Margaret for leading the group, and to Gwen and Deb for playing the piano.

In our third week Kieran swapped his normal first session for the last session, and got the group to select Irish songs as it had been St Patrick’s Day two days earlier. Kieran came all prepared with an appropriate T shirt and wonderful green hat. Thank you to Sue for capturing the moment.
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The next session of Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 2nd April 2026 at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.
​
Margaret Jenkins  ​
Photographs by Sue Dwyer

'The Wandering Minstrels' ... twenty years of Singing for Fun!

26/3/2026

 
​​‘The Wandering Minstrels’
The twentieth year of ‘Singing for Fun’
Joyce Borschmann and Carmyl Winkler
February 2025
Walking around the lake in early 2006, Joyce Borschmann and Margaret Walshe were discussing the flourishing U3A in Benalla. “But there’s no singing group,” Joyce commented. “If find you a conductor, will you organize one?“asked Margaret. How easy should that be!

Charmaie Morley agreed to conduct. Venue, piano, music? Joyce rang around her friends. The Soroptimists donated $150 for music. The Rotarians donated $2000 for an electric piano. Joyce bought folders, photocopied music, asked Helen Mitchell if they could meet at her home, organized morning tea, collected a weekly $3 from participants for expenses.

She asked Gwen Barnes to play, Rae Washbrook agreed to assist and, not long after, Enid Gipp came along with her washboard. Faith Hicks came to give Charmaie a hand with the conducting and they split sessions, each selecting their own style of song. Patsy Bollard was one of the first enthusiastic singers.

After a year at Helen’s, the group moved to the CWA Hall for a year. Lack of heating was a problem, so they moved to the chapel at Cooinda. By then, numbers had risen to 50 and they barely fitted in.

In the meantime, the ‘Woodies’ had made boxes for all the song books and a trolley to move them around.

A friend suggested to Joyce that they move to the Baptist Church buildings. She assured Joyce that there was plenty of room and space for the book boxes. $12 a week was agreed upon and the singers moved in.  ​Margaret Merriman joined the leaders’ team at this stage.

​However, a little later, U3A received a grant with the proviso that all groups move into the allotted space to save extra rent being paid on outside venues. The singers squashed into Room 1 at the Senior Citizens’ building, bringing their piano with them. After fifteen years, Joyce was very happy to hand over the organizing to Margaret Jenkins. Thanks Margaret

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Joyce Borschmann (pictured in 2023)
Covid came.
 
On re-engaging, the group moved to The Hub at Cooinda and there they remain.

During these years, there was a Harmony group for several years, and a wonderful tenor called Fred, a member of the Welsh singers, who made his mark. Brian Greed, with his ability to write harmony, play by ear, and introduce new songs became one of the leaders and has only retired in the last month after years of playing a very important role.

Gwen is still playing amazingly, which must have included much practice during the week with the often-difficult music. She is now assisted by Deb Saunders.

For years, Ian Grace came early and put out all the chairs and books, others took over roles such as morning tea organizer and we thank them all.

Singing at Rotary, U3A events, concerts, to Aged Care residents, Bob Borschmann’s funeral, have all been part of the joy of sharing our singing with the community.
​

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Benalla Ensign, February 4, 2025

​

Joyce Borschmann and Carmyl Winkler
February 2025
'Written to celebrate Singing for Fun approaching it's 20th Year.' 
​

February - 'Everyone at Singing for Fun seemed pleased when we started again..'

26/2/2026

 
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Everyone at Singing for Fun seemed pleased when we started again in 2026. We welcomed three new members as well as our Singing for Fun members from 2025.

Thank you to our Leaders Kieran, Carmyl, Ross and Margaret for selecting the songs again this year. Thank you also to Gwen for playing the piano for the first and third Thursdays, and to Deb for playing for the second Thursday meeting.

We had a bit of an impromptu band come together in the last session on the Third Thursday. The song chosen was Jamaica Farewell. Rhonda was persuaded to come up the front with her bongo drum, and then Jan whipped out her mouth organ from her bag, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the song. Gwen playing with Rhonda and Jan accompanying her. Sue took a photo for you all to admire.

On Thursday 5th March we are celebrating 20 years since Joyce Borschmann started Singing for Fun. We are having songs selected by Joyce and Gwen, who has been playing the piano for 20 years also. We have asked the current members of Singing for Fun to bring a small plate for morning tea to share.

After Morning Tea, Carmyl Winkler will read out “The Wandering Minstrels” a story put together by Joyce and Carmyl about the development of Singing for Fun. Joyce will also say a few words. Then we will finish off with a few songs.

If you belonged to Singing for Fun in the past, please come along to the Hub at Cooinda on Thursday 5th March at 10am.  There is parking just before the Pond, which is to the right from Centre Avenue as you drive through Cooinda from Samaria Road. There is also parking near the exit from Cooinda to Kilfeera Road.

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Photographs - Sue Dwyer
Margaret Jenkins  ​

February - Busy end of year with many to thank; Singing for Fun recommences on Thursday 5th February 2026 at the Hub

25/1/2026

 
During December 2025 the Singing for Fun group gave three great concerts at Benalla’s Aged Care facilities.

On Thursday 4th December we visited Cooinda, on Thursday 11th December we visited Estia Health and on Thursday 18th December we visited Morrie Evans at Benalla Health.

Thank you to our Leaders at these concerts Carmyl Winkler, Kieran Smith, Ross Bootes and Margaret Merriman. Also, a special thank you to Gwen who played for the Estia concert and Deb who played for the Cooinda and Morrie Evans concerts.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the choir. You did a fabulous job.

After the Estia Health concert many Singing for Fun members enjoyed an end of year lunch at the Golf Club. What a great way to end a successful year!
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​Singing for Fun will commence for this year on Thursday 5th February 2026 at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am. A reminder that Singing for Fun is on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday of each month.

Something to put in your diaries. On Thursday March 5th 2026 Singing for Fun will be having a special morning to celebrate 20 years since the commencement of Singing for Fun by Joyce Borschman.

All current singers, and also those who have belonged to the group in past years, are invited to come to the morning. There will be songs chosen by Joyce and Gwen Barnes, who has also been with the group since its inception, and a few speeches. Please come and celebrate a special occasion.

Margaret Jenkins

Winding down after a busy year - lunch at the Golf Club!

1/1/2026

 
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Margaret Jenkins

November - many concerts, presentations and thanks...

24/11/2025

 
​Our participation in the U3A Concert on Wednesday 19th November went really well. Thank you to Carmyl, Ross and Kieran for Leading the Singers and also to Gwen for playing for the U3A Concert. Congratulations to everyone who participated – there were lots of very favourable comments about the performance you gave.
We are looking forward to presenting the Concert songs plus some extra songs at Cooinda on Thursday 4th December, at Estia on Thursday 11th December and at Morrie Evans on the afternoon of Thursday 18th December 2025.

Thank you to Deb who will be playing the piano for us at Cooinda and Morrie Evans, and to Gwen for playing at Estia.

We are also singing at the Memorial Gathering at Benalla Health on the afternoon of Tuesday 25th November 2025.

To celebrate the year, Singing for Fun will be having an end of year lunch at the Golf Club on Thursday 11th December 2025 at 12.15pm. This is after the concert at Estia. Please let me know if you can attend by Thursday 4th December.

Singing for Fun have consistently had over 20 members at our Singing mornings throughout 2025.  I would like to thank the Leaders who have chosen the songs, and improved the quality of our performances. Thank you, Kieran, Carmyl, Ross, Margaret, Wendy and Rhonda. We need to say a special thank you to Gwen and Deb for playing the piano for us each week that we meet. I am sure there have been many hours of practice behind the scenes for each pianist. 
​
There are several members who have contributed is many ways to the smooth running of Singing. My thanks to Brian Colman who has set up the chairs before each Thursday morning, and who often rearranges the chairs after our meetings. Thank you to Sue who helps consistently with Morning Tea, and in many other ways too. Thank you to Wendy and her helpers for sorting the books after each meeting and putting them away. And to Rupe and others for the washing up.

What a cohesive and helping group of people we have who enjoy Singing for Fun.

My best wishes to you all for Christmas and the New Year. I look forward to seeing you all again in 2026 and enjoying Singing for Fun with you.

Margaret Jenkins 

Less than two weeks until the concert!

6/11/2025

 

"October has been an interesting month ... "

26/10/2025

 
​​October has been an interesting month for Singing for Fun.  We have watched the renovations that have happened to the Hub at Cooinda.

​For our second meeting of October, we were transferred to the Activities room in the Rossmore section of Cooinda, which was a great meeting room. Thank you to Cooinda for looking after us there for the morning. We found the acoustics of the room very good, with extremely comfortable chairs and a great electronic piano.
​​A big thank you to Cooinda for the morning tea trolley. Many thanks also to Rae for bringing a delicious chocolate slice for morning tea that day.

During October we have had Carmyl, Kieran, Ross, Rhonda, Wendy and Margaret as Leaders. Thank you to Gwen for playing the piano for the first and second Thursdays, and to Deb for playing the piano on the third Thursday.
Some dates for your diary. The Singing for Fun Group have been invited to sing at the annual U3A Benalla concert which will be held in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre, 18 Fawkner Drive Benalla on Wednesday 19th November 2025 at 10am. Please arrive at 9.50 am to take your places.

We have been invited to sing at the yearly Memorial Gathering held by Benalla Health at the Mary Treacy Fountain on Tuesday 25th November 2025 at 3.30pm.

We have also been invited to sing at Cooinda for the residents on Thursday 4th December 2025 at 10.30am. Please arrive at 10.20am and enter by the back door near the pond.

Our concert at Estia Health in Thomas Street, Benalla will be on Thursday 11th December 2025 at 10.30am.  Please arrive at 10.20am and enter by the front door.

This year we have also been invited to sing at Morrie Evans at Benalla Health on Thursday 18th December at 1.30pm. Please arrive at 1.20pm and enter by Samaria Road door.
​The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 6th November at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All Welcome.
​
Margaret Jenkins

September - "Choosing our favourite songs has been popular"

26/9/2025

 
Choosing your favourite song has been popular by our Singing for Fun group in September. We had a session of people choosing their favourite songs at our first meeting in September, and Kieran followed this up at the second session in September due to it being so popular.

We welcomed Rhonda as a Leader at our first session for the month, and she did a great job choosing her favourite songs which everyone seemed to enjoy. Thank you to Kieran, Carmyl, Ross, Rhonda and Margaret for Leading us during the month. Also, many thanks to Gwen for playing the piano for the first two sessions, and to Deb for playing for the third session in September.

Some dates for your diary. The Singing for Fun Group have been invited to sing at the annual U3A Benalla concert which will be held in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre, 18 Fawkner Drive Benalla on Wednesday 19th November 2025 at 10am. Please arrive at 9.50am to take your places.

We have been invited to sing at the yearly Memorial Gathering held by Benalla Health at the Mary Treacy Fountain on Tuesday 25th November 2025 at 3.30pm.

We have also been invited to sing at Cooinda for the residents on Thursday 4th December 2025 at 10.30am. Please arrive at 10.20am and enter by the back door near the pond.

Our concert at Estia Health in Thomas Street, Benalla will be on Thursday 11th December 2025 at 10.30am.  Please arrive at 10.20am and enter by the front door.

This year we have also been invited to sing at Morrie Evans at Benalla Health on Thursday 18th December at 1.30pm. Please arrive at 1.20pm and enter by Samaria Road door.

Our next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 2nd October 2025 at the Hub at Cooinda at 10am. All welcome.


Margaret Jenkins

"August has seen many happy faces at Singing for Fun"

27/8/2025

 
August has seen many happy faces at Singing. Our Leaders do a great job filling in for one another as required.  This month Margaret has been unavailable. However, Wendy has suitably filled in together with Kieran, Carmyl and Ross.

Themes have also been chosen this month. Ross had a “Classical” morning, whilst Wendy has a session “From the Shows”.

Thank you to Gwen for playing for the second session and to Deb for playing for the third session. The first session we changed to Community Singing due to neither pianist being available that day.

Sometimes you get “delightful moments” at Singing. One such moment was when Carmyl wanted to have the song “Christopher Robin is Saying his Prayers”, but it had been removed from the book. So Carmyl recalled that she had sung it as a solo when she was five years old, and was encouraged to give a repeat performance at Singing. Well done, Carmyl!

We welcomed some residents of Cooinda to our third session and they really helped fill the room at The Hub. It is so good to see them regularly coming to join in with us.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 4th September 2025 at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.


Margaret Jenkins

July - 'A session without a pianist!'

25/7/2025

 
In July we had a session without a pianist. Gwen was indisposed with influenza and Deb was unavailable. However, we managed very well.

Carmyl was used to conducting sessions “a capella” or without a pianist so ran her session very well, even getting us to sing the companion songs “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “He’s got the Whole World in His Hands”. Kieran was able to play the piano for the songs he chose, and also did very well. Ross had an excellent technique of getting us to hum the first note of the song, and then we started singing. Margaret divided the singers into two groups and chose alternating Nursery Rhymes.

Thank you everyone for the extra effort that morning.

In our third session for the month Kieran chose a group of Irish songs, whilst Ross chose Anthems which included “Advance Australia Fair”, “Jerusalem” and “God Save the King”.

Sue took a great photo of Ross enthusiastically conducting one of these anthems. 

Thanks to Gwen for playing the piano for the first and third sessions of the month.

​Thank you also to both Wendys for bringing slices for the first session. Everyone always enjoys home cooking.

Our next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 31st July at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. We are moving this Singing for Fun session to the 31st July due to Gwen being available to play the piano that day. All welcome.  

Margaret Jenkins  

Marlies' Children's Action Songs to sing with  grandchildren

29/6/2025

 
For our first session in June Carmyl arranged for her friend Marlies from Swanpool to visit Singing for Fun. Marlies had a sheet of Children’s Action Songs which she said were beneficial for the development of children’s language. Marlies led us through the sheet of songs and hoped that we would take the sheet home and sing them to our grandchildren or great grandchildren, whatever the case may be.

Thank you to Ross, Wendy D, Kieran, Carmyl and Margaret for leading the group during June. Also, a big thank you to Gwen for playing the piano for us for the first and third sessions and to Deb for playing for the second session.

Ross kept the idea of themes going with one session about ‘precipitation’ and another session with a series of ‘folk songs’ which included “Amazing Grace”. Margaret introduced us to “The Omnibus” a very British song which many of us had not heard before.

Thank you Sue for sharing your birthday cake with the group. We have sung Happy Birthday to several members during June which included Sue, Joan, Wendy D and Gwen. The next meeting of Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 3rd July at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

​
Margaret Jenkins

May - Singing at Patsy Bollard's Memorial Service, and more

24/5/2025

 
We had some wonderful Singing sessions led by Wendy, Ross, Carmyl, Margaret and Kieran in May. Wendy chose songs about birds for one session, whilst Ross explained to us a little about breathing and singing which was informative. It is great how the Leaders willingly fill in for one another when one of them is away. Thank you, Gwen for playing for our three sessions in May.

On 8th May one of our oldest members, Patsy Bollard passed away. Patsy had been one of the original members of the group of 12 which formed the U3A Singing group 19 years ago. Patsy always enjoyed coming to Singing for Fun, and even a month ago Patsy and her friend Biannca were at Singing.

It was a privilege that the family asked our group to sing at Patsy’s memorial service on Tuesday 20th May 2025.  Thank you to all our members who participated in the service, and to Gwen for playing the piano for the three songs which we sang. The songs were “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, “What a Wonderful World” and “Inanay”
.
On the third Thursday of May we had a visit from a part-dachshund dog, who was obviously lost. Thank you, Rhonda for following up on Facebook and giving information to the dog’s owner that resulted in the dog being reunited with its owner later that day.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 5th June at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.


Margaret Jenkins 

April - Ross's introduction of songs by 'Crooners' and more ...

21/4/2025

 
April has seen most of the Leaders adopting themes for their selection of songs for Singing for Fun. My thanks to Wendy (with a theme of flowers), Carmyl (theme Australian Songs), Ross (themes of TV music and Crooners) and Kieran and Margaret for their leading of the group.

My thanks also to Gwen for playing twice for Singing for Fun during April, and for Deb for playing the piano once.

It was appropriate on our third Thursday we had a series of religious songs which included Amazing Grace, The Holy City and Hallelujah.

Ross explained to the Group about Crooners who he admired, and how their music was often jazzed up a little in the repetition of each song. Everyone seemed very interested in this advice.

We were pleased to see Ian Grace back at Singing. Ian has been in and out of hospital for several weeks, and it was great that he could be with us on the third Thursday.

The next meeting of Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 1st May ay 10am at the Hub at Cooinda.

Margaret Jenkins 

'We welcomed Ross Bootes as a Leader in March'

23/3/2025

 
U3A Singing for Fun has seen several new members join our group in March. We were very pleased to have Maxine Gardiner back and also Max Tilbury. We were thrilled to see Patsy Bollard and Bianca on two Thursday mornings.

We also welcomed Ross Bootes as a Leader in March and were impressed with his interest in the emotion of each song. The first song he chose was “Teddy Bears Picnic” which is something we haven’t tackled as a group for some considerable time.

Our Leaders Kieran, Carmyl, Wendy, Ross and Margaret have been providing us with an interesting selection of songs. Kieran had one morning with a selection of Irish songs to celebrate 17th March. Some of these he played himself on the piano which was a new scenario for us.

Carmyl chose songs from different countries one morning. She is very good at including rounds and companion songs like “Pack up your troubles” and “It’s a long way to Tipperary”.

Thank you to Gwen for playing for two Thursday mornings, and to Deb for playing on the third Thursday.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 3rd April at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.

​
Margaret Jenkins

We welcomed Wendy as a leader - well done Wendy!

22/2/2025

 
Singing for Fun welcomed six new members in 2025 as well as our loyal members from last year.

During February we had Wendy as a Leader, and she has done an excellent job. The first week she chose songs from around the world, whilst on the second Thursday she chose songs with Love as a theme as it was the day before Valentine’s Day. Well done Wendy.

We also had Kieran, Carmyl and Margaret as Leaders during February. We enjoyed the rounds Carmyl is keen on. What could be better than singing “Kookaburra sits in an old gum tree” in four parts, and all ending at the same time!

Kieran introduced us to a new Irish song “The fields of Athenry” which several members seemed to know. Thank you for printing out the words of this song Kieran and introducing it to us all.

Thank you to Gwen for playing the piano for us on the first two Thursdays, and for Deb for playing on the third Thursday.

Singing has a very caring group of people and thank you to those members who are bringing other members because of whatever reason. It gives so much joy to those whom you are bringing to participate in our singing.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 6th March at 10am in the Hub at Cooinda.
​
Margaret Jenkins    
 

Singing for Fun enjoying a festive end of year at the Golf Club...

16/12/2024

 
An excellent roll up for Singing for Fun's December breakup at the Golf Club following the morning's concert at Estia Health!  (three slides)
Margaret Jenkins

"You Raise Me Up".... Cooinda concert

11/12/2024

 
Enjoy!
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"This is the time of year to thank members of Singing for Fun"

24/11/2024

 
Congratulations to the Singing for Fun group on their great performance at the U3A Benalla concert on Wednesday 20th November 2024. Thank you to Kieran, Brian and Margaret for the work that you had done with the choir. Also, many thanks to Gwen for her excellent accompaniment on the piano.

This is the time of year to thank all those members of Singing for Fun that have put in “above and beyond”. Thank you to our four conductors Kieran, Carmyl, Brian and Margaret for your choice of songs throughout the year, and for guidance of the group. Also, thank you to Gwen and Deb Saunders for their playing of the piano which has been enjoyed and valued by the group.

Then there are the smaller but also important jobs. Thank you to Deidre for helping with morning tea at the beginning of the year, and to Sue for her assistance since then. To Wendy and her team for putting all the books away each week. To Brian Colman for arranging the chairs many Thursday mornings, and to the guys for putting them back after each session. Also, to Rupe and Carol for tidying up the kitchen each week.

After seventeen years as a Leader of the Singing for Fun Group, Brian Greed is retiring from being a Leader. During that time, he has created many musical arrangements for the group, and has tried to improve the quality of our singing. Some of the memorable “Brian Songs” that we will all remember are “Sweet Caroline”, “Orange Coloured Sky”, “Changing of the Guard”, “Waterloo” and the Seekers Songs. Thank you, Brian for all the preparation you have done for your segments. We are all pleased that you will still be coming to Singing for Fun.

Thank you to those members of the Singing group who participated in the Remembrance Gathering which was held on Tuesday 12th November at Benalla Health. Our singing of “What a Wonderful World” and “Song of Peace – Finlandia” was appropriate and appreciated by the organisers of the gathering.
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​We have two more concerts in December. On Thursday 5th December at 10.30am we visit Cooinda and on Thursday 12th December at 10.30am we visit Estia Health. Our end of year lunch will be held at the Golf Club following the Estia concert.

Hope to see you all in 2025.

Margaret Jenkins

October - "Our concert pieces are coming along well"

22/10/2024

 
Singing for Fun had three great sessions during October. Our concert pieces are coming along well, and our Leaders Kieran, Carmyl, Brian and Margaret also had time for some extra songs which were most enjoyable too.

Carmyl chose two rounds Row, Row, Row your Boat and Kookaburra Sits on the Old Gum tree as part of the third session. The Singing for Fun group, plus some hostel residents of Cooinda enjoyed the four parts of both rounds and the sound was just amazing. Carmyl continued with the companion songs of Pack up Your Troubles and It’s a Long Way to Tipperary which also sounded great and everyone enjoyed the experience.

Thank you to Gwen for playing for the first and third Thursdays, and to Deb for playing for the second Thursday.

The U3A Concert is on Wednesday 20 November 2024 in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors Community Centre at 10am. Please be there a few minutes before 10am. You are welcome to bring partners and friends to hear the concert.  

Our Concert for Cooinda hostel residents is on Thursday 5th December 2024 at 10.30am whilst our concert at Estia is on Thursday 12th December 2024 at 10.30am. Once again, please be seated before the concert is to begin. Our Singing end of year celebration is at the Golf Club on Thursday 12th December at 12 noon. Partners are welcome. 


​Margaret Jenkins

September - "A welcome to Cooinda residents, Carmyl's OAM, upcoming end of year events, "thank you's", and more..."

22/9/2024

 
The Singing for Fun members welcomed about 10 Cooinda residents and 4 carers to our singing on the third Thursday of September. One Cooinda resident had a birthday so we sung Happy Birthday to her. We changed our program a little after morning tea. Thank you to Brian for playing The White Cliffs of Dover and lots of songs from of Book 2 which our visitors joined in and really enjoyed. Thank you, Kieran for conducting that portion of the morning.

On the first Thursday in September Carmyl received her OAM at Government House in Melbourne. Thank you to Wendy for taking a Leader role that day. We all enjoyed the songs you chose. The next Thursday Carmyl gave us all an overview of her afternoon at Government House which was extremely interesting and sounded very organised. Congratulations Carmyl on your award.  

The Singing for Fun group is looking forward to the U3A Concert on Wednesday 20 November at 10am in the Auditorium of the Benalla Seniors Community Centre.

The dates for our concerts at Cooinda and Estia have also been arranged. We are singing at Cooinda on Thursday 5th December at 10.30am, and at Estia on Thursday 12th December at 10.30am. An end of year lunch has been booked for the Benalla Golf Club at 12 noon on Thursday 12th December. All welcome. Thank you everyone who has been involved in organising this.

Our Leaders have been doing a great job. Thank you, Kieran, Carmyl, Brian and Margaret. Also, many thanks to Gwen for playing on the first and third Thursdays and to Deb for playing on the second Thursday.

The next Singing for Fun will be on Thursday 3rd October 2024 at 10am at the Hub at Cooinda. All welcome.


Margaret Jenkins 
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    About 'Singing for Fun'

    The only criterion for joining this group is that you like singing.  You do not have to read music. 

    ​We have three or four Leaders who choose the songs, and a pianist who accompanies us on the piano. 

    We sing for fun and we find it a great sharing experience. 

    Convenor

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    Margaret Jenkins
    ​5762 6944

    Meeting times and venue

    1st, 2nd & 3rd Thursday
    10 am to 12 noon
    ​

    Cooinda Hub
    ​Jean Lee Drive

    Our Community Singing group, which meets on the 4th Thursday,  is also 'for fun!'

    ​'Thank you, Joyce'

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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
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