Together in song
Aproject designed to provide a platform to help people generate momentum for projects and special causes will go Wimmerawide.
Organisers behind Sing For Something, which had a successful launch in Horsham during the Australia Day weekend, are exploring the potential to run future events in centres from as far as Ararat to Nhill and Warracknabeal.
They are confident the events, apart from raising money and awareness for a variety of causes, have the potential to strengthen a sense of community solidarity across the region.
Sing For Something involves creating events where people can show support for a designated project or cause by simply turning up and providing their voice for a collective song.
On Monday, Sing For Something at Horsham’s Exchange Hotel beer garden attracted about 50 people, who gathered in support for a fight against brain cancer.
The fund-raising effort generated money for Carries Beanies4brain Cancer.
The crowd, after a few practice runs with lyrical and musical support, sang as a collective choir the Men at Work song Down Under to fit in with the Australia Day theme.
The event then expanded into a fun and festive afternoon of musical entertainment and interactive performances.
ACE Radio, through The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM, is a primary driving force behind the concept. Station promotions manager Kaycee Bould said Sing For Something had a predictably tentative start, but the expectation was that the concept would quickly gather momentum.
“From an ACE perspective, we were always driven by a need to make this something we could do regionally,” she said.
“We were delighted with the response to our inaugural event in Horsham and the plan now is to grow it throughout the Wimmera, Grampians and southern Mallee,” Ms Bould said.
She said an organising committee hoped to arrange multiple events every year and was inviting the public to get in touch with their ideas.
“As much as we would love to respond to all requests, we are obviously going to have to scrutinize all suggestions,” she said.
“The ones where we might be able to have the greatest impact for our communities in our region will get priority.
“That doesn’t mean ideas are limited to any specific theme.
“Our Sing For Something was based on a muchneeded response to a disease that had an obvious impact on Wimmera people.
“But other ideas might be down a completely different track, where there is an identified need for something to promote and sing about in the community.
“We’re confident we can make a significant difference in the advocacy of our region and communities while at the same time provide fun, family-friendly entertainment.”
Horsham’s Rachel Stephens, who is fighting brain cancer, joined family, friends and supporters at Monday’s Sing For Something.
Ms Bould said what was immediately obvious at the event was a positive community atmosphere.
“It created a great sense of community. Despite the emotional reason why we were making it happen, everyone was in high spirits knowing they were involved in something that was beneficial and fun,” she said.
“We had to work our way through our processes and have identified a few bugs we have to iron out, but can’t wait for our next project.
“We’re looking at the 2019 calendar and hopes are that we could organise the next Sing For Something event next month.”
Ms Bould said people could forward suggestions through a Sing For Something Facebook page.