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Choir nominated for 2016 Greater Western Sydney ZEST Award and Variety Scholarship

Mt Druitt: Bidwill Community Garden is holding a fundraising day on Saturday, February 20, for the Mt Druitt Indigenous Children’s Choir to help raise $45,000 to finance a Victorian tour to be held in April this year (see calendar of events below).

“The Choir will be performing at the event which will be held from 4pm to 6pm at the garden, 48b Chestnut Crescent, Bidwill,” said Patrick Mead, spokesperson for Bidwill Community Garden. “It should be a great day for the whole family and you’ll get to see what we do at Bidwill. BBQ sandwiches and drinks will be on sale at the event and there will be plenty of places to sit and have a picnic and the kids can enjoy the jumping castle rides.”

There will be a raffle to raise funds for the Victorian tour and, as well, you can buy the Choir’s products which have been created by indigenous artists – you’ll see boomerangs on sale from $20.00, prints from $25.00 and didgeridoos from $100.00. Proceeds also go towards the trip.

“The local Aboriginal language Dharug is being taught to the choir, as well as English songs, so they can portray the links directly to their culture in performances,” said Dave Armstrong, founder of One Good Day, the outreach arm of Nulawala Inc and organiser of the choir. “Songs in our repertoire include: Dreaming – Nangami Borowa – Dream long; Food – Yiriangaya – Boomerang Song; Spirit – Womala – Run with Fire; Language – Inganawagal – We are One; Sacred sites – Giwalawa – Rest Together; Arts – Nalabiyuni – Look and See; and Kinship – Wirring-da Mittiga … Lean on Me. We are continually working on new songs and performances,” he said.

Awards and scholarships news

The Choir has been nominated for the Western Sydney Community Forum’s ZEST Award in the ‘Outstanding Project working with Aboriginal Communities in Western Sydney’ category; the winner will be announced at ANZ Stadium on February 19.

The group has also been nominated for a Variety Future Kids Program Scholarship which empowers children to reach for the stars, fulfil their abilities and achieve their aspirations and dreams.

2016 Calendar of Activities

“Now in its sixth year and just one month into 2016, the Choir already has been busy. The Arts Unit of the NSW Premier’s department were very pleased with its involvement in Australia day functions,” said Dave Armstrong. “The children already have sung four times this year at events at the Royal National Park, The Rocks area, Sydney, Rouse Hill and Northmead.  It’s just as well we were able to raise funds to purchase two buses which provide 100 seats to take the kids and families to their various performances.”

The Choir’s calendar is rapidly filling up – here are some of the activities planned for the coming year:

  • February 20 Fundraiser at The Bidwill Community Garden;
  • April 8-22 – Victorian Tour – exploring the Gippsland to the Grampians as well as Melbourne’s Luna Park and Federation Square (the kids’ main goal is to see how many Apostles are left and see the beautiful waterfalls and meet the people in each place);
  • Sorry Day – venue TBA/May 26;
  • The Agricultural and Horticultural Show circuit – with appearances at Blacktown Show, Penrith Show and St Ives Show in the process of being confirmed;
  • NAIDOC Week and the Christmas period look like being fully booked with a lot of interest from Blacktown to Dee Why.

If you would like to give financial support to the Mt Druitt Indigenous Choir, all donations over $2.00 are fully tax deductible. Please come to the Bidwill Community Garden day to support this talented group of kids to help them to achieve their dream or visit www.onegoodday.org.au.

For information about One Good Day or to book a performance by the Choir, visit www.onegoodday.org.au or call 0409 046 530.

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