By Augustina Onyegbula
The Heritage Country Choir in Byford is organising a concert to raise funds for a local charity this month.
The concert is about raising much-needed funds for those who are finding it tough within the community.
This year’s fundraising concert is for a local charity organisation called Homelessness We Care, which only just started a few years ago.
The choir has been going for 27 years, and it all started with a small group of ladies, but its popularity has grown ever since.
During their concert last year, they were able to raise about $3400 for a family doing it tough with finances, which is the most they have ever made so far.
The president of the choir, Eileen Davis, said she is looking forward to this year’s event, following on from last year’s concert’s success.
“From now on, for every concert, we are going to choose someone local, some organisation, somebody doing it tough,” she said.
“We are going to raise money and give it to them.”
Homelessness We Care started more than two years ago, and they help people from Maddington to Keysbrook, looking after people in need within the community.
Mrs Davis said the choir has done a fundraising event many years ago, but the process to get involved with a big organisation was too stressful.
“That’s why we said, we are going to keep it small, tight, somebody local or this new organisation that needs some help,” she said.
The choir’s membership is about 26 people, and any adults with an interest in singing can join and are welcome to join the choir.
“We are always looking for new people,” Mrs Davis said.
“We’ve made it clear we are not a choir that you audition for, and you don’t have to be able to sing.
“We are a community choir, and that means if you are in the community, you are welcome.
“When we come together as a choir, we are just people that like to sing.”
The country choir does different variants of songs including musicals, rock, jazz, pop, classics, gospel, and folk – something for everyone.
They meet every Wednesday from 7:30 pm – 9pm at the Briggs Park Pavilion in Byford.
The choir is usally booked out throughout the year, and they are always busy with events around the local community.
This year’s concert is for the community to have fun and enjoy themselves while they raise funds for their chosen charity.
It’s an alcohol-free event and family friendly.
The theme for this year’s concert is titled A Musical Affair and will be on August 31 from 2pm to 5pm at St Aidan’s Anglican Church on Clifton Street, Byford.
Tickets are sold for $25 and kids under 12 years old enter for free.
This year’s concert will feature some guest artists, and part of the activities will include a raffle draw and afternoon tea.
“People should come along and enjoy themselves,” Mrs Davis said.
The community choir is always involved in local gatherings and charity events, and hold the concert yearly in August, before the busy Christmas period, led by choir director Jerri Skelton.
