A DASHING DAY IT WAS AT THE ‘ESKOT’ RACES

There are times when, for the Esk Community Choir, the line between ‘’performances’ and ‘performance’ becomes a little blurred and so it was when a whole bunch of choir members frocked up in their finest for their day in the sun at “The Eskot Races”.

At a time following the joy of “My Fair Lady”, Eric’s email, subject… “a smashing, positively dashing Spectacle: the Eskot Opening Day!” …to picture a place under a "Marquee on the "Hill" overlooking the verdant splendour of our fair Somerset racetrack” …was altogether too much to resist for many Choir members.  And on a day when even the Winter sun put on its own performance to smile on a capacity race crowd, we, along with Eric’s delightful family and friends, thoroughly indulged ourselves in the spectacle. 

                                           

Sue Cox, radiant in red hatted plumes, managed after almost every race to keep the Bookmakers supporting the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed; Grace, giddy with optimism after a win in the first, managed discretion for the rest and kept her kitty on an even keel; any horse with a musical themed moniker sadly failed to “move (its) bloomin’ arse” but heart-glow generated by our luxurious proximity to  the thundering hooves of those majestic thoroughbreds outweighed any disappointments from the betting ring.

                        

To judge the fashion was an unenviable task with so many strutting their many elegant, many audacious outfits.  Eric, of course, was completely flamboyant in pink with top hat and tails; the always inventive Carolyn managed to adapt bra inserts to create a gorgeous fashion statement for her head but the prize for the most chic chick went to Marina and hubby Brian, resplendent in kilt and all the accompanying kit, won it for the men.

To our Eric, whose talents, we have come to learn, are not only restricted to his beautiful singing, goes our heart-felt thanks not just for his organizational skills and a lip-smacking lunch but for making this occasion so memorable for us all in so many ways.  The question of a theme for next year has been raised and if this writer may humbly suggest, being that it is the year of 40^th anniversary celebrations, a costume from chosen past performances might be appropriate.  For Fashions-on-the Field, in my book, “Carlotta” could out-do a spotted tie any day of the week!

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Fashion Stakes were high at the Esk Race Meeting 21 Dec 2013

Bus loads converged early along with race day regulars and contingents of Social Groups who had chosen the location and occasion to celebrate their upcoming Yuletide R 'n R. It seemed apparent that everybody who was anybody in Esk, including Santa Claus, was out in the midday sun on Saturday December 21st. In spite of the hot and humid conditions and with large doses of Christmas cheer and a pockets full of pennies to spread around, many of them had made their way to the Esk Racetrack for the final country race meeting for 2013. To kick-start a very special day with a time honoured tradition, Esk's RSL paid tribute to the Armed Forces, Servicemen and women both past and present, this climaxed with a goose-bump rendition of a blending of sounds of The Last Post with the iconic notes of Waltzing Matilda.

Representing The Australian Lighthorse

Also again in 2013, adding another layer to the already festive atmosphere, THE ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR were there at various locations around the concourse singing their selection of Yuletide Carols while the punters toted their takings and pondered the Bookies blackboards between races.

ECC Ensemble Carolling at the Esk Races Luncheon

The talents of the members of the Esk Community Choir did not stop at their singing for they also kept the hungry at bay with a continuous supply of delicious bovine burgers from the BBQ as racegoers recharged or relaxed in the shade of the large leafy trees... entertainment, tucker and succour amid the swelling crowds and from that hot December sun.

Multi-Talented members of the Esk Community Choir cook up a 'mean bbq'

Christmas is a time of celebration for many reasons and to-each-his-own. But whatever to each Christmas is about, it is a time when there is undeniably always the presence of singing. On this occasion it was Kathleen who, with Margaret at the keyboard, led the Choir in song to the appreciative throng at the Esk Race Meeting. It is this gift of their 'service in song' that Alexis and her Choir have been giving for 35 years and with an already growing bumper crop of calendar dates earmarked for 2014, they look forward to celebrating with their growing band of friends and followers another wonderfully musical year.

by: Sue Walker

Charlie Elwell - President of the Esk RSL sub Branch opening the Race Meeting

Mayor Graeme Lehmann with grandson Connor and Kathleen Watts

Nola Niemeyer keeping cool

Robyn Bagster - Never let a good time pass you by.

The Chaps struggling to keep up with the 'fast paced' women of the ECC

Sue and Roland Cox - Keeping the sausages and steaks moving.

Sue and Jan taking a Very Short break between singing and serving.

MORE THAN JUST A CHOIR...

On Tuesday nights at around 7pm for most of the members of the Esk Community Choir and more often than not, earlier for Alexis and others who come in for "extras", it's Choir practice as usual until 9pm at which time the music folders close, the lights go out and the doors are locked on another wonderful night of singing, everyone departing, serene in the knowledge that as surely as Jacarandas bloom at exam time, Choir will be there again the following week ready to distill the brain and warm the heart as nothing else can following the remnants of everyone's week.

Carolyn & Lloyd King, Lynette Hughes, Caitlin Wollaston, Jan Jennings
Alexis FitzGerald, Susan Walker, Joann Brown: The BBQ Team

However, with its involvement in other activities, the Esk Community Choir has fast become a name synonymous also with a life outside of the Concert Halls and practice room on Tuesday nights.  It may take many to places where sometimes singing is not the primary driving force...like the energetic and willing BBQ workers who fed the hungry at the Esk Race Meeting on July 6th.

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Where's Kathie?  

Last weekend, there were at least two of the Choir, Tom and Kathleen,  who with their instruments,  tooted their tunes at  James Morrison's World's Biggest Orchestra attempt at Suncorp Stadium and along with the 7,220 other fine musicians, helped create a truly amazing sound along with a Guinness Book World Record !!

Tom Byrne & Kathleen Watts
with great nephew Tristan Haswell

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On the very same day in another part of Brisbane, Sue and Alexis were scattering the name of the Esk Community Choir around St Andrew's Church as they sang away the afternoon and evening with Debra Shearer Dirié and her Brisbane Concert Choir along with Choristers from many parts of Queensland, some quite challenging but equally beautiful "Grand Opera Choruses" learning them all 'from scratch'.

Alexis FitzGerald at 'Sing From Scratch' in Brisbane. 

To be a member of the Esk Community Choir is to have these and so many other opportunities enhance the dimensions of their Choral experiences. The next could be on August 10th and 11th when Ross Jell, a Choir friend and an extraordinarily gifted Choral Educator who has been on Scholarship in London for the past 5 years, will be conducting a Workshop at the Sunshine Coast.  There is a subtle magnetism in music that cannot help but set one right.

by Susan Walker

WE LIVED TO ENJOY ANOTHER DAY AT THE RACES IN ESK

Marina, Sue and Tom - a photo finish at the Esk Races Dec 2012

Well all I can say is thank goodness those ancient Mayans who, amongst other things, did a spot of calendar making somewhere between 250 and 900 AD,  weren't entirely correct with their "end of the world is nigh on 21st December 2012" prophesy.  Had they been, it would not only have put a heck of a dampening on Christmas this year but also the fabulous day we of the ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR and a whole lot of other people enjoyed  the very next day at the Esk Races!!   Doomsday theorists who had the sun hurtling giant solar eruptions down on us would have been leaping for joy  with the predicted anticipation of a hot Esk December day, but not even this was enough to deter the crowds who attended the final Country Race Meeting for the year.

Brian Ready for action at the counter. 

While steaks and sausages rather than chestnuts roasted on the open fire and punters pondered the Bookies blackboards between races, Yuletide carols were sung by a small group from the Esk Community Choir adding another layer to the already festive atmosphere created by the merriment of racegoers as they soaked up the sunshine and Christmas Spirit.

For so many,  Christmas is still about the arrival of Jesus.  For others it's more about the arrival of Santa and presents.  For quite a few , Christmas is about gathering those we love around us and telling them just  that.  But whatever Christmas is about to each of us, there is always the presence of singing. 

  It is this gift Alexis and her Esk Community Choir love to give and have been giving  at any time of the year for almost 35 years and we would like to take the opportunity to thank, not only the Esk Jockey Club but all our friends from the Somerset Community and beyond who have supported us with their presence and kind words throughout 2012.   We look forward to celebrating with you all, our 35th birthday year in 2013.

Margaret, Carmel, Carolyn, Marina, Lloyd, Alexis, Tom, Kathie, Sue and Joann . 

by: Sue Walker

Public Relations Officer

Esk Community Choir

www.eskchoir.webs.com