Heritage Community Singing Regional Tour 2023
Funded by the NSW Government through the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, the Heritage Community Singing Regional Tour was a participatory program designed to actively engage members of the community in singing heritage songs for wellbeing and social cohesion. Based upon a successful event held in Queanbeyan Park for the 2022 heritage festival, the events were facilitated by Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney, Queanbeyan resident and researcher, singer, and community music facilitator. The tour was inspired by Georgia's fellowship at the National Library of Australia, exploring community singing in interwar Australia (1918-1939). The regional tour provided direct, local access to communities across the region, as well as for people with limited mobility, such as residents of care facilities. A series of eight participatory concerts were held across 2023 across the Queanbeyan-Palarang region, including:
Araluen Federal Hall
Braidwood Servicemens Club
Heritage Care Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan Day Club
Warrigal Care Queanbeyan
BaptistCare George Forbes House
Community singing is a particularly impactful and cost-effective means of rebuilding community cohesion
and enhancing wellbeing. The whole community was encouraged to sing along with Georgia, accompanied by musician
and educator Dr Susan West on piano. The events promoted active engagement by participants of all ages in shared social heritage, bringing a vibrant era of history to life.
The impact on the community is best described by the local organisers who provided feedback on the
events, which focused on the level of engagement, reconnection and wellbeing that was evident
during and after the singing events:
‘It would be great to hear if you are able to come back again, the residents loved it so very much!!
…honestly and truly this had the best reaction from a singing entertainment performance. You were
amazing and very interactive with the audience and the residents loved that. It evoked many
memories and happy times with the songs and relating to the era and area they grew up in. The
performance showed immense talent and a high energy which made many of the residents very
happy. I had beautiful feedback from the residents about this performance with so many smiles
upon leaving the room.’ (Aged care lifestyle coordinator in Queanbeyan)
‘Feedback has indicated that this Community Lunch has definitely enabled new connections, and
reconnections, within the community, but singing together brought them, in a different way, to a
greater level of engagement. They reminisced about the old days, the old songs and the people who
sang them. It was easier for people who found themselves next to a newcomer to the town, to
introduce themselves and chat when they were sharing a meal, talking and, especially, singing, next
a newcomer. If you're singing, you don't have to wait for a space in the conversation to break the
ice with a newcomer. Everyone sings at the same time in Community Singing, catches the eye of
another, makes us laugh. Singing together is an opener! We learned more about the background
and experiences of others as we chatted about the songs. We learned that some of us had good
voices, some not so good, but most people joined in with gusto. People talked about their musical
preferences and abilities, or about memorable music events they'd enjoyed. From comments heard
I'd say the general response would be to recommend this event to other groups. You can be with
friends, meet new ones, learn more, relax, laugh and be happy - when you sing in community!’
(Community volunteer, Braidwood)
‘I think it was a great way to get together, and a few people there I wasn't expecting- which is just
lovely… We had 12 people come- ages ranging from 12 months to 83 years, three men (including the
youngest)...What I noticed was that everyone was looking carefree - no squirming in the seats and
they all sang with open hearts and voices - a lovely way to craft more connections- thank you.’
(Community volunteer, Araluen)
‘Well what a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. Such fun, certainly learned and appreciated the
way singing did and still does contribute, enjoyed [male participant’s] singing and [female
participant’s] information [memories about local history connected to the songs]. I would certainly
recommend’ (Event participant, Araluen)
‘This event was attended by some of my community whom I have come to know over the years,
living in Araluen part time. Lovely to have also met up with unfamiliar members of the community. It
was very interesting learning stories from an elderly member of our community about the songs and
people in the area that related to the songs. I thoroughly enjoyed the singing, historical information
and participating in event with my community. I will definitely be recommending it to others and
returning myself if I am in Araluen at the time.’ (Event participant, Araluen)
