‘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

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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

THE SWEETHEARTS OF SONG SANG UP A STORM AT THE ‘CALL SIGN VAMPIRE’ REUNION’ AT TWIN TOWNS CLUB

 

Sweethearts of Song:  Carolyn, Kathie, Susie & Maree at Twin Towns 

There are times when opportunities arise for the ‘Sweethearts of Song’ to step outside the bounds of business-as-usual; occasions to spread their proverbial wings, and fly they did on 16^th August at the River Room of the Twin Towns Services Club in Tweed Heads, as the featured entertainment for a very special reunion, ‘Call Sign VAMPIRE’ the 1^st Australian Field Hospital, (1 AFH).  These were the men and women who make up an efficient hospital in a war zone; (doctors, nurses, theatre technicians, transport, catering, Q Store, pathology, psychiatry, dental, x-ray, medics, Red Cross, Chaplains, and outside work parties) whose bond was formed during the Vietnam War, strengthened by their experiences, never diminished by time; memories and friendships to last a lifetime.

On this evening, any decline in mobility appeared to have been nullified by an overdose of joie de vivre as around 110 very stylish men and women gathered for ‘happy hour’ before being ushered into the dining area for their official dinner.   Conspicuous by its metaphor was the ‘missing man table’ the table and empty chair reserved to honour those lost serving men and women who could not be present this day.  The blessing and symbolic dressing of this table, on this occasion by Father William (Bill) Crossman,  is a binding tradition at any reunion prior to getting the party started.

Always one to allow his spontaneous wit to be a part of a good time, our Tom performed his role as emcee with his usual savoir faire, ushering Kathleen, Susie, Carolyn, and Maree to their microphones and with their first bracket of upbeat Andrews Sisters’ songs, ‘The Sweethearts of Song’ had everyone ‘positively, absolutely in the mood’ for a jolly good time.

Normie Rowe has been a singer atop the Australian pop charts as well as a dynamic stage presence during the 1960s.  However, despite his singing career being cut short by a call-up for a tour of duty in Vietnam, his reputation still today has been strengthened by the support he has been able to give on behalf of so many Vietnam veterans.  It was truly an honour to have Normie Rowe come to Twin Towns as guest speaker at this reunion.   Normie spoke emotively, sometimes light heartedly, of his own experiences as Crew Commander of an Armoured Personnel Carrier but was also sincere with his expression of gratitude for the work of this group of ‘medics’ who were always a presence for so many who needed to be kept alive.   He was also sincere with his retort when asked to sing…”NO!”

The Sweethearts of Song with Normie Rowe

However, this was not the case with the ‘Sweethearts of Song’ and as the conga line of diners continued to fill their plates and glasses, and with Lloyd well practised at the audio controls, the girls sparkled and sang their repertoire of swinging sounds of the 60s and 70s for the remainder of the evening, many guests unable to resist the urge to leave their seats and bop and boogie to the beat of so many familiar songs.

Sweethearts of Song:  Kathie, Susie, Carolyn & Maree 

To have been invited to sing, to be accommodated in such salubrious surroundings, and be an integral part of this biennial reunion; to hear the stories that have become a connection to their truth, a reminder of who these people were and why they have become who they are today, has truly been a memory we Sweethearts will treasure always.  To Call Sign ‘Vampire’ (1 AFH) we give our sincere thanks.

By: Sue Walker

Friends of the choir, Peter and Moira Curtain.

1st Australian Field Hospital, Call Sign Vampire, Reunion 2022

Theatre Technicians who served with the 1AFH Vung Tau, Vietnam 
Tom Byrne, Steve Pearsall, Rudi Everts, Leon Pollard,
Peter Curtain, Andy Menere, & George Russell

Vietnam Veteran Day at the South Tweed Sports Club 

SWEETHEARTS OF SONG SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND SO MUCH MORE AT GLAMORGAN VALE

 

The heritage township of Glamorgan Vale, situated beside Black Snake Creek, 57 kilometres west of Brisbane may be pint-sized as townships go, however, there is nothing tiny about the activities of their Branch of the Country Women’s Association which celebrated its ‘ninety-plus-one’ birthday at a gala luncheon function on Thursday 29^th July.

‘Ninety- plus-one’ you may ask?  Well, you see it was that dreaded ‘C’ word which thwarted the efforts of the women of this CWA in forging ahead with their ninetieth birthday celebrations in 2020.  However, now with restrictions somewhat eased, the only ‘C’ words bandied around the exquisitely decorated country hall were community, companionship, conviviality, and cooking… the CWA’s reputation for which has become the cornerstone of legends.

And so it was that on a perfectly perfect Queensland Winter’s day, in a grand old hall which spoke of many glorious occasions in the lives of this Lockyer Valley community,  two hundred,  give or take,  gathered around long tables impeccably bedecked in blue-checks,  while the Esk Community Choir’s ‘Sweethearts of Song’, Kathleen, Susie, Carolyn, Maree, and with Lloyd on audio,  prepared to transport the expectant audience with a tribute to the sounds of the 40s,50s and 60s which included sentimental songs from the war years to the upbeat sounds of  Andrews Sisters, Supremes and a whole lot more. These interspersed with meaningful words by CWA’s President, harking back to the humble but colourful history of their organization.  There were accolades and presentations to not only long-serving members but also to a representative of the Queensland Ambulance for their immeasurable role in their service to children, a box of beautifully hand-crafted ‘teddies’, further evidence that cooking is not the only craft these delightful women possess.

Following an inspired performance by The Sweethearts, dignitaries including Somerset’s Judy Lehmann, Sean and Nicki Choat, representatives of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council and luminaries of the CWA joined with the masses to partake of a deliciously catered for lunch, no doubt utilising the tried and tested recipes from the pages of the celebrated CWA Cookbook.  The most magnificently decorated and delicious birthday cake, made by CWA’s Gail, took centre stage at the head table while some wonderful raffle prizes were presented to many lucky winners. 

Fully sated and stocked up on the arts and crafts from the gift stall, people made their way home and in passing, gave praise to The Sweethearts for their augmentation of an already entertaining afternoon.   To Colleen and her band of CWA Angels, we, the Sweethearts give our sincere thanks. For our part, special praise must go to our Carolyn who, only days prior, was horizontal in hospital having her broken ankle operated on; and to Maree, her ability to endure an annus horribilis with her husband Bill’s health challenges and now return to her place in our line-up has been truly inspirational.

By: Sue Walker  

SWEETHEARTS OF SONG AND PETE EDWARDS SWELLED HEARTS AT TOOGOOLAWAH RSL

If concert goers were not already fired with enthusiasm when they entered the RSL Hall in Toogoolawah for the Sweethearts of Song concert on that Saturday afternoon on May 8^th, they certainly were long before the last strains of When Will I See You Again had audience members calling for ‘more’!

And just as ‘Mod’ Culture set the mood for fashion and music of the ‘60s, so too did the Sweethearts on this day as Kathleen, Susie and Carolyn sashayed onto the stage in their ‘anything goes’ black and whites, the boldness of the fashion well in tune with the songs from that era. Songs made popular by Petula Clark, The Carpenters, The Supremes, Paris Sisters and even a little bit of Doris Day thrown into the mix had audience members who were seated around decorative tables, tapping their feet while surrendering to the urge to contribute.

While Peter Edwards may be the Somerset’s favourite plumber, it was obvious that his clear pipes were not just limited to his trade when he began his set with an Elvis evergreen, The Wonder of You backed by the girls.  Pete, the consummate entertainer soon had the audience further invigorated with a bracket of his trademark vocals and ready repartee.

With many of the Andrews Sisters’ songs still as popular today as they were during the ‘30s and ‘40s, it was only right that the Sweethearts chose to don army greens to bring the next bracket of harmonious swing and boogie woogie songs back to life.  With the ever-reliable Lloyd at the audio controls pushing all the right buttons to allow the show to flow, the girls jump-blued and boogied their way through a sentimental journey of songs from the war years wrapping it up with the bawdy bounce of Bette Midler’s Billy-a-Dick and Stuff Like That There.

Pete, who is fast becoming a regular at Sweethearts’ concerts delivering his unique brand of entertainment to audiences during the girls’ costume changes, once more had the concert goers in the palm of his hands with his comical quips and upbeat songs, the popularity of which have endured the test of time. Debunking the lyrics of Your Mama Don’t Dance, Pete even managed to lure two energetic jive bunnies to hit the dance floor!  Mustang Sally had both audience and the Sweethearts testing their tonsils with the backing of this bluesy Wilson Picket classic.

Having enjoyed a tipple or a cuppa and cake and the drawing of some fabulous raffle prizes during interval, the audience found their way back to seats for the finale of swingin’ songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s, some, regular Sweethearts’ favourites, others, recent additions to their repertoire, including the Leslie Gore classic, You Don’t Own Me, a song adapted by Bette Midler and Co for the movie First Wives Club, borrowed by The Sweethearts of Song to round out their final bracket. It was to an RSL hall now filled with intense fervour that the Sweethearts gave their parting ‘thank you’ to this wonderfully appreciative audience.

We, the Sweethearts of Song, Kathleen, Susie and Carolyn wish to express our sincere gratitude to Doug and his team from Toogoolawah’s RSL who so generously allowed us the use of their hall as a rehearsal and concert venue; to Anne and her staff at Two Galahs Gallery and Felise Evans for their fabulous facilitation of ticket sales and bookings;  to the crackerjack team at The Somerset Newspaper who are so supportive of all things musical which we and the Choir strive to do; Choir members, Kerrie and Jan who volunteered to lessen our burdens by manning front- of- house and Lloyd, our sole roadie and audio ace whose value to us is incalculable; to Boutique Meats Castell Park for yet another delicious meat tray to raffle and to Alexis and our Choir and Community supporters who are very quickly becoming such a big part of the story of our lives. 
By:Sue Walker

 

WHAT A SMASHING, POSITIVELY DASHING OPENING CONCERT 2021!

'What a positively smashing opening'

 

If “Bright and Breezy” was the Esk Community Choir’s paradigm for their Opening Concert for 2021, they could not have been more bang on point when every Duke, Earl and Peer paraded onto the stage frocked in the elegant accoutrements of the Ascot Opening Day scene from ‘My Fair Lady’, the opening medley of songs from this delightful musical setting the scene for the mixed bag of musical entertainment 

to follow.

For those who missed the Choir’s ‘Elegance with Ensembles and High Tea’ and for those who did not, this was yet another March musical extravaganza, constructed by Musical Director, Alexis FitzGerald OAM showcasing the extraordinary talents of so many members of her Choir to a near capacity audience who came to the Alexandra Hall in Toogoolawah on this Sunday afternoon on March 21^st.

Following a welcoming address by Choir President, Marina Crichton, the way was paved for the emcee de jour, Councillor Sean Choat who well may now be considered part of the Choir line-up, so committed he has been in his capacity as master of ceremonies.

Bob Hardy 

What would life be ‘Without a Song’? … a dilemma which has been answered in song by some amazing talents the likes of Mario Lanza, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and now the choir’s own Bob Hardy who topped it up with a solo entree to a swanky ensemble of ‘happy tappers’ who sashayed their way onto the stage tapping to the beat of ‘I Want to be Happy’ opening a door to the choir members who joined the dancers in song.  Advancing the line-up of well-loved songs from Musicals, Billy Hill’s ‘The Glory of Love’, the signature theme of the movie ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’, also made popular by Bette Midler in ‘Beaches’ and now by the Esk Community Choir, preceded the lovely rendition by Denis Hawes and choir chorus of the beloved song from ‘Paint Your Wagon’, ‘They Call the Wind Maria’.

Denis Hawes - 'They Call the Wind Maria'

While Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber may have had to wait one more day to celebrate his birthday, this little detail did not deter Alexis and members of the Choir, alongside the choir’s two accomplished flautists, Suzanne Clemence and Ruth Skippen, from performing a tribute to this impresario of Musical Theatre with excerpts from his soon to be revived ‘Phantom of the Opera’. No one could have been left in doubt of Aydan Forsythe’s vocal gifts during his glorious performance of ‘Music of the Night’. Seoneidin Granzien has captured hearts with many dazzling performances though none more so than her rendition this day of ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’.  The Choir’s own Kathleen was sublime as she captured audience adulation as the fictional ‘Prima Donna’, ‘Carlotta’, backed by a choir chorus and it was apparent that singing was not their only mark of excellence when Eric von Nida and Grace Crichton thrilled concert goers with their outstanding re-enactment of the duet from ‘The Boy Friend’, ’It’s Never Too Late to Fall in Love’.

Suzanne Clemence & Ruth Skippen 

Ayden Forsythe

Seoneidin Granzien

Grace Crichton & Eric von Nida

Encore performances of two of the songs by the Choir’s Ladies and Mixed Ensembles were no less sublime than they had been two weeks earlier having been afforded high marks equal to the high praise by the esteemed visiting examiner, Mr Matthews Tyson.

The Ladies Ensemble 

Following the short interval during which many wonderful raffle prizes were drawn and won, it was the turn of the amazing little Choir Orchestra, ‘The Accidentals’ who delivered their own musical tribute to Johann Sebastien Bach on the day of his 336^th birthday.  That Bach’s ‘Minuet in G ‘is still a melody so recognized today is testament to the brilliance of one of the greatest composers of all time.

The Accidentals

A change of pace saw three of the Choir’s own ‘Sweethearts of Song’, Kathleen, Susie and Carolyn light up the stage with a taste of the swinging songs they will be bringing to concert audiences in 2021. 

The Sweethearts of Song 

And as the concert drew to its conclusion, a parting gift to this appreciative audience came in the form of a celebration of choral singing by the combined voices of the Esk Community Choir.  To Margaret’s faultless accompaniment, the hall filled with the sounds of ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’, the beautiful gospel hymn inspired by words from the Bible and with Orchestral backing, Tom Fettke’s uplifting song of praise ‘O Lord I Will Praise You’. Often touted as an alternative to Australia’s national anthem ‘I Am Australian’ had audience members lining up their vocal chords in collaboration with the choir for this heart-warming patriotic closing anthem.

The Choir

Just as they say ‘it takes a village to rear a child’ so it is that events such as these do not happen without the support of many and it is to these whom the Esk Community Choir wishes to extend their sincere gratitude.  To the staff at Toogoolawah’s ‘Two Galahs’ Gift Shop and the Esk Pharmacy for their unquestioned co-operation in the sale of tickets; to the Editors of the Somerset Newspaper whose support allows their readers to get as excited about our events as we do; to the wonderful benefactors who so generously donated raffle prizes; to the choir’s own volunteers front of house and behind the scenes who allow these events to run so smoothly; to Margaret for her unflagging generosity and dedication to her role as choir accompanist; to Alexis whose guidance , friendship, commitment, her ability to inspire and maintain a belief in her choir which makes us feel valued; and most importantly, to our fans and followers old and new for whom this Choir continues to exist.

‘For the deeper things men think and feel,

God gave the poet words to reveal.

But for the heights and depths that know no reach,

God gave man MUSIC- the SOUL’S OWN SPEECH’    Anon.

By: Sue Walker

My Fair Lady  medley 

SWEETHEARTS OF SONG SANG IN ARATULA

One might be forgiven for thinking the worst if they had been entangled in the motorcade snaking its way down the Cunningham Highway in Aratula early on Sunday 8^th March.  However, it was simply a little further down the road at the entrance to the Aratula Hotel Motel where the conga line of cars, trucks and bikes was shepherded to parking spaces and where preparations were underway for a day of  frivolity, food, music, memorabilia and for petrolhead enthusiasts, an enviable display of classic and modern motorcycles, cars and hot rods,  all these facilitated by the wonderful organization,  ‘The 2 Hour Circle’.

And well you may ask!…Dalase Shilling, a resident of Ipswich,  launched ‘The 2 Hour Circle’ in 2019 when, after living his dream with the purchase of a brand new Harley Davidson, asked the question “Where’s a good place to go for a ride?” The answers came.  Cruising within a two- hour circle of Ipswich he discovered the beauty and bounty of an area he did not know existed and was compelled to share his discovery with like-minded people.  With Dalase’s passion, the support of friends and numerous generous local sponsors, “The 2 Hour Circle” was born and through the wellspring of social media, it has been a vehicle for highlighting the area as a tourism hub.   

Bushfires, landslides and road closures had taken their toll on the owners of the Aratula Hotel Motel and this is where Dalase and his band of road warriors from ‘The 2 Hour Circle’ decided to step up with some help.  With a mission to revive a struggling pub and give some relief to exhausted owners, the event on March 8^th was planned.  

Along with singer, Ian Schubert and Ella, another young songstress, a request was made of our Choir’s own Sweethearts of Song to provide a large part of the musical entertainment.  Though the choir during its infancy was no stranger to performances from the backs of  trucks, climbing a ladder to position themselves on the tray of the semi was a first for The Sweethearts but a request with which they were more than willing to comply.  As a representational crowd of colourful personalities gathered en masse on blankets and chairs under the canopy of shady trees in the garden or lined the bar within to partake of a cool drink and delicious food, The Sweethearts, Kathie, Carolyn, Maree and Susie  took the audience back in time to move to the beat of so many of the songs they knew so well. During extended intervals, Dalase distributed donated prizes for clever quizzers or just tossed gifts to lucky patrons at other times throughout the day.

Another addition to her ever- accumulating attributes is Alexis’s ability to keep a secret. Appearing under a tree, along with Joann, Ruth and Greg Skippen, their cheeky smiling faces were there to surprise and support.

If success can be measured by a smooth running and outstanding organization as well as numbers in attendance, then the ‘The 2 Hour Circle’ group should feel justifiably proud.  For this day, the town of Aratula and its Hotel were revived, the reverberations of which will hopefully continue to allow the town to be the stop ‘n’ go respite for travellers down the track. The Sweethearts of Song wish to extend their gratitude to Dalase Shilling and his corps of co-workers for their gracious and welcoming hospitality and the invitation to be a part of this rewarding event. 

By: Sue Walker