NEWS DESK
Group singing is a (social) capital idea “Singing in groups is one of the most popular arts activities in Victoria. There is growing evidence that it facilitates the development of social capital which positively impacts on physical and psychological wellbeing at individual, relational and community levels.� - VicHealth APART from the above, the best reason to sing is for the pure joy of singing itself. Singing is its own reward. Making music with our voice is a gift that can’t be compared with anything else. Sharing it with others enhances that experience. Anyone living on the Mornington Peninsula can join in the fun following the announcement by the national director and founder of Sing Australia, Colin Slater, that a Sing Australia group will begin in Dromana. He has previously established 140 groups across the nation with more than 5000 participants. These are not professional singers. They are apparently just like me – people who simply enjoy singing and would like to sing again without judgement from others. I have been fortunate enough to meet with Slater and was struck by his enthusiasm and passion about singing, the people he has met through singing over the past 20 years and his com-
mitment and drive in promoting the benefits to individuals from participating in singing groups. When asked about the concept of Sing Australia Slater said: “It is to make singing accessible to everyone who would like to sing. There are no auditions and no expectations on ability.� I joined a Monday night group and the repertoire of songs included all genres of music - rock, pop, classic, country, jazz and musicals. I was made to feel welcome and just mimed when I couldn’t reach a high note. It was fun. There is a bit of a natural born singer in each of us. Singing is part of the human condition. Don’t let anyone convince you that you don’t have a “good voice.� You were born to sing. In an age where family and friends no longer sing around a piano as they did decades ago, when the last time you sang in a group may well have been an end-of-year school concert perhaps the time has come to step out and reassess the value of music, and in particular singing, in your life. I tried and the rewards are brilliant. To join the Sing Australia group that will meet Monday nights at the Dromana Community Hall go to singaustralia.com.au or send an email to info@singaustralia.com.au Linda Erskine
Top Tiger’s active month RICHMOND Football Club Captain Trent Cotchin kicks off Premier's Active April at Hastings on Saturday 2 April. Cochin will help run a children's and parents' boot camp to get people active before being available for photos. Premier's Active April is part of a government program promoting healthy and active lifestyles. Launch events will be held at Pelican Park Recreation Centre, Hastings, and Civic Reserve Recreation Centre, Mornington. Activities will also be held during the month at Mornington Peninsula Shire's Somerville recreation centre and Mt Martha golf course. The mayor Cr Graham Pittock said Premier's Active April aims to encourage people to undertake 30 minutes of activity daily throughout the month. He said the 30 minutes-a-day activities being offered by the shire could be tracked online. Trent Cotchin will launch Premier's
Active April 10am Saturday 2 April at Pelican Park Recreation Centre, 2 Marine Pde, Hastings, followed by the free children's and parents boot camp. Bookings: 1300 850 197 or 5950 1748 The opening at Civic Reserve Recreation Centre, 350 Dunns Rd, Mornington, is 12.30pm Saturday 2 April, followed by the children's and parents boot camp with Trent Cotchin. Bookings: 5975 0133. Other activities: 6-8 April at Somerville Recreation and Community Centre, children’s karate, dance and “bubble sportz�. Bookings: 5950 1560; 2 and 9 April at Pelican Park Recreation Centre, 6am-9pm Thursday –Friday gym session, group fitness classes; adult swim class. Call 1300 850 197 or 5950 1748; Civic Reserve Recreation Centre, gym session; group fitness classes, yoga, body pump. Bookings: 5975 0133: free nine holes at Mt Martha golf course midday-1pm Monday and Tuesday, call 5974 2266.
Five Rye teams bowl up to finals RYE Bowls Club has had another successful Pennant season with five of its six sides making the finals series of Saturday Pennant and the sixth one just missing out by finishing fifth. The fours and the fives went down in the semi and elimination finals leaving the ones, twos and threes to bring home the bacon in the grand final. So on Saturday 12 March, the third division defeated West Rosebud with a margin of 10 shots, at Rosebud Country Club Bowls Club and the second division was too good for Village Glen Bowls Club at West Rosebud by a margin of 34 shots. Much celebrating went into the night and talk of doing it all again next year. But that’s not all, the first division played their grand final on Sunday 13 March at Rosebud Country Club, defeating Rosebud by 31 shots and have made it two years in a row following last year’s historic win - the first time in 56 years. The firsts and seconds of Rye’s Tuesday Pennant teams made the finals while the thirds came in fifth on the ladder. Unfortunately, these two sides went down to Balnarring in the preliminary and semi-finals. Never mind, look out next year. Bruce Sowerbutts Winners: Rye bowlers celebrate their wins on the green. The firsts, top, seconds, above right, and thirds, right.
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BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK PAGE 12
Southern Peninsula News 29 March 2016