‘HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE’ WITH THE ‘SWEETHEARTS OF SONG’ AND FRIENDS…AND THEY DID!

 

It was going to take more than an unseasonal heat wave to stop the expectant followers and curious newcomers filling the RSL Hall in Toogoolawah for the ‘Sweethearts of Song’s’ much awaited concert, ‘Having the Time of Your Life’.

It was back in November 2015 when Kathleen, Susie, Maree and Carolyn formed the ‘girl group’, ‘Sweethearts of Song’ with a notion to entertain the gathering at Esk’s RSLfor a Remembrance Day celebration. Their repertoire included songs from the Andrews Sisters, old favourites from the war years to many of the songs from the storybook of lives. Following this inaugural performance, their popularity rose and concerts and performances in and around the Somerset. Lockyer Valley, Ipswich and Gold Coast areas have ensued.

Now inclusive of a broader repertoire, and on this day, the inclusion of the ever-popular Pete ‘The Plumber’ Edwards and sensational rising star, Aydan Forsythe, it was felicitous after nine years of performances, that the girls bring their brand of harmony and songs from the decades back to an RSL in this 2024 week of Remembrance.

Sweethearts with Pete the Plumber at the beginning of our journey  in Toogoolawah 2016

\

And so it was that on 9^th November a capacity audience found their places around beautifully decorated tables, fortified by ice cold jugs of water as well as beverages from the bar, while the ‘Sweethearts’ sashayed onto the stage for two hours of sparkling entertainment; all these interspersed with Pete’s ‘King of Cool’ sounds, the launching of a musical dynamo, Aydan Forsythe and a delightful afternoon tea served during interval. If audience adulation and acclamation was a measure of their enjoyment, many people departed feeling thoroughly entertained.

Peter  AKA Dean Martin - Everybody Loves Somebody 

Aydan Forsyth  'Devil in Disguise'

Sweethearts of Song 'Shoop Shoop' 

By the time concert day comes around, the final product may often appear effortless…but it is not. To achieve success, the support of many amazing people is required. With this in mind, here is a list of some of those amazing people.

John and Chayne who laboured tirelessly to provide spectacular staging, sounds, and lighting; Esk Choir’s own Di and Jan who managed ‘front of stage’, raffles and afternoon tea with aplomb; Felice Evans firstly for her encouragement and persistence pushing for a Sweethearts’ performance and Felice, together with Don Duncombe who went above and beyond selling raffle tickets all day on the Toogoolawah Street to support the concert. Two Galah’s Gallery’s Ann Grant who never flinches when asked to be a source of ticket sales; Toogoolawah’s RSL management who have turned this ancient old hall into a delightful entertainment venue for their community and to Eugenie who worked tirelessly all day to accommodate our needs. To Alexis and the Esk Community Choir who have been jumping onto the ‘Sweethearts of Song’ bandwagon for all of these years with their encouragement and support and finally, to our fantastic audiences for whom the Sweethearts of Song continue to remain passionate about singing.

By: Sue Walker