An SOS Christmas in the Park Inside this

issue:

Devo‟s

Dilemma

2

Choirs Clo-

sure Helps

S.O.S

3

S.O.S Does

X Factor

3

Profile:

Tony Jose

4

Puzzle and

Trivea

5

From the

Manager

6

Reflections

from Klaus

7

The Spirit of the Streets Choir

meet

Tuesdays 2pm

St Johns Hall

Aberdeen Street

Northbridge

Re-commencing 7th February

2012

Summer 2011/12

Christmas Day at Mission Australia Lunch in the Park. Photo by Ryan Chow

In an enormous air-

conditioned marquee, on

Christmas Day, the SOS

choir performed to one

of it's largest audiences

to date.

The event was the 36th

Mission Australia Christ-

mas Lunch in the Park,

which provided Christmas

lunch, entertainment and

gifts to those who are

experiencing hardship or

people who would other-

wise spend Christmas

alone. The 2011 event

attracted a strong crowd

of over 2000.

For choir members, it was

an opportunity to share

Christmas with the choir

family and also experi-

ence the joy of an event

that attracts over 500

volunteers each year.

“It put some true mean-

ing back into Christmas”

says S.O.S Manager Ken

Steele.

“ To be able to sing for an

audience of 2000 people,

for whom the constant

barrage of adverts ex-

pecting them to buy eve-

rything in sight for the

festival season must have

been painful. It was a

great privilege and I hope

we are invited back next

year” he said.

WA Governor Malcom McCusker and his family with Choir

members Helga, Alistair and Eva. Photo by Ryan Chow

Page 2

2012 is upon us and we are about to

commence another year of singing,

friendship and good times.

This year we have had an extended

break, due to Bernard and Eleanor

touring the Eastern States promot-

ing Bernard‟s new CD.

In this summer edition of the news-

letter we highlight the end of 2011.

We ended the year with an X Factor

competition at the Christmas Party.

The expression „X Factor‟ is defined

as „that undefinable something that makes for star quality‟ , an appropri-

ate theme to wrap up a year, in which

the choir captivated audiences with

their undefinable personality and

spirit.

In this issue Harry Mithen profiles

fellow choir member Tony Jose.

Klaus Groth reminds us that the so-

cial issues that affect many of our

members are issues experienced

worldwide.

Contributions are welcome from

choir members and readers.

From

the

Editor

Irene Lightenall

Email: ilightenall@optusnet.com.au

Devo’s Dilemma Bass player Devo is a legend amongst

the S.O.S crew for his commitment

to attending every rehearsal and gig,

pushing his music gear trolley all over

Perth and relying on public transport,

but he has been having a bit of a

hard time with transport lately.

Ironically, Devo's dilemma started

following the Count Me In music

awards, in which the Department of

Transport won the award that ac-

knowledges best practice and inclu-

sion initiatives to people with disabil-

ity.

Following a late night rehearsal with

a Subiaco based group the night be-

fore the awards, Devo was unable to

find a train home, so he walked the

several kilometres into the city,

pushing his music gear trolley.

After an early start the next morn-

ing and opening the Count Me In

Award ceremony, a very tired Devo

boarded the train from Burswood to

the city and when exiting the train

he was approached by the train

driver.

"Excuse me, would you mind not

boarding the train with your stuff

next time", the driver requested.

"Why not?" Devo asked.

"Your stuff, strapped to your trolley

is regarded as 'goods' and 'goods'

are not allowed on trains." the driver

said.

"Are bicycles, granny trolleys, wheel-

chairs, backpacks and prams allowed

on trains?" asked Devo.

"Yes they are allowed, your 'goods'

are not."

Devo is now going to write to the

Transport Department requesting a

permit or exemption, but he has been

told that these are rarely granted.

Devo‟s dilemma, is also a concern for

the community groups who benefit

from his musical talents.

We will keep you posted.

The Spirit of the Streets Choir is

looking for a new home as St Johns

Church Hall undergoes major reno-

vations later this year.

For the past three years the cen-

tral Northbridge location has ac-

commodated the choir for Tuesday

afternoon rehearsals as well as pro-

viding an accessible meeting place

for those who rely on public trans-

port, to car pool off to gigs. The

church also provides free parking,

which has been essential for mem-

bers with physical disability and

limited income as well as our musi-

cians to load and unload their gear.

Add to the list of requirements a

fully equipped kitchen to prepare

refreshments to members during

rehearsal and for special events

that take place throughout the

year.

If anyone knows of a suitable venue

that meets the above requirements,

contact Irene on 0433 789 785 or

email @ ilightenall@optusnet.com.au

SOS Soon to Be Homeless

Summer 2011/12 Page 3

The closure of Perth‟s Oratorio Choir

after 33 years has meant a windfall

for the Spirit of the Streets choir to

the tune of $2000.

The donation was made by President

Reg Atkins at a recent rehearsal. Mr

Atkins said the high costs involved in

running a choir had led to the closure

and he hoped that the donation of

the remainder of their funds would

help the Spirit of the Streets to con-

tinue.

Perth Oratorio choir formed in 1976

and have had up to 150 voices per-

form oratorio in and around Perth for

over 30 years.

The final curtain fell following a per-

formance of Handel‟s Messiah in De-

cember 2009.

“We thank the members of Perth

Oratorio for their kindness and gen-

erosity and assure them the funds

will be put to good use”, says Manager

Ken Steele.

The choir is self-funded and relies on

performance fees and donations to

meet expenses.

If you would like to sponsor or sup-

port the choir, please contact Ken at

kensteele@dodo.com.au

Choir’s Closure Helps S.O.S

S.O.S members took to the stage and

showed off their talents during an X

Factor-like competition at the 2011

Choir Christmas party.

Judges, MP John Hyde, S.O.S Patron

Anne White and Choir Supporter

Peter Cramer, were unanimous that

the winner and runner up, namely

Trish and Cindy, we're the stars of

the show. Both singers had composed

their own songs especially for the

occasion.

Guests and audience were delighted

with their moving music and their

brilliant efforts to show that music,

mental health and mixing with

friends, form a wonderful formula

for what the S.O.S choir people are

all about.

Third place was awarded to Eleanor

Carney for her hip thrusting rendi-

tion of Elvis's, Hard Headed Woman.

The competition, which attracted

twelve entries consisting of both

group and individual performances is

likely to become an annual event.

S.O.S has the X-Factor

1st Place Trish 2nd Place Cindy Judges: (from left) John Hyde, Anne

White, Peter Cramer

Hard Headed woman, Eleanor Carney

as “Elvis Parsley”. 3rd Place

Bernard Carney accepts donation from

Perth Oratorio President Reg Atkins.

Tony Jose: A Swaggies Escape

By Harry Mithen

At the recent S.O.S. Christ-

mas Party, our front-seat tenor

Tony Jose lived out something of a

real-life drama as he played the

lead Swaggie role in the SOS Talent

Contest. Tony played a jolly swag-

man who escaped the troopers 1-2-

3, by riding into the sunset in

his colourful and decorated T-model

ford gopher, and hopefully living

happily ever after!

Tony has cerebral palsy in real life -

plus a good deep voice. He had a

tough early life but reckons his ride

with the S.O.S choir these last cou-

ple of years has been one of the

most the most colourful rides of his

life.

He started life as a butcher's son in

Fremantle. He was always in what he

calls the “slow learners classes” at

Bicton Primary and John Curtin High

School, but always remembers his

much-loved Mum's advice when he

left school: "Tony, now that your

schooling's over, your education be-

gins".

Tony's whole left side is affected

and rendered pretty "useless" as he

calls his condition, but you should

see his gopher speeding down the

footpaths of Northbridge and High-

gate. It hasn't stopped him.

He worked at Goodwill Industries in

Malaga for 30 years as a packager,

metal press operator and eventually

a caterer ( he calls himself the “Tea

Lady”).

He lives independently and doesn't

depend on anybody. Tony is a go-

er. He has a wicked sense of hu-

mour, a very generous nature and

has become a seriously strong link in

the SOS chain.

Once a week he gophers off to

Leederville TAFE, where he has been

going for five years to the Artlinks

Department, which is set up for peo-

ple with disabilities and abilities

alike-in sculpture, pencil drawing,

painting, textile design and computer

skilling. You'll also see him at

Beatty Park Swimming Centre twice

a week.

Tony is a social beast, he catches

trains and buses and walks a lot too.

He loves the choir, the St Johns

local community - and reckons he's

got something of a new lease of life

through S.O.S.

He'll come a 'waltzing matilda with

anyone at all.

Tony Jose rides his decorated gopher, playing lead Swaggie in the S.O.S X Fac-

tor competition.

Tony is a social beast, he catches trains and buses and walks a lot too. He loves the choir, the St Johns local community - and reckons he's got something of a new lease of life through S.O.S.

I T I A V T A U E Y Y T S E

N I S T F E I F P E E Y S G

S Y N O M R A H I I A I S O

P U C A N M I O H D A D Y I

I I G N I G N I S N E M H N

R O I L T A S E D A S L L G

A T Y H A I U H N I G E I H

T I D S L T I D E U V G H A

I T R M E L O D I E S Y U M

O G N I N I A T R E T N E I

N T U E T G A Y F I N O G I

A L H I E R O U O A O C D E

L T I I D N N E G N E H E A

V O I C E I N I M U S I C I

CHOIR

SINGING

VOICE

MELODIES

FAMILY

FRIENDSHIP

INSPIRATIONAL

FUN

SONGSHEET

MUSIC

TALENTED

EVERYONE

GUITAR

GIGS

AUDIENCE

ENTERTAINING

HARMONY

TUESDAY

WORDFIND See if you can find all the words in the list. The words can be found

reading backwards or forwards, vertically, horizontally or diagonally.

Did you know.... Cows give more milk when they listen to music

The music band UB40 got its name from an unemploy-

ment form in the UK (Unemployment Benefit form 40).

Their first album was titled Signing off, as the mem-

bers of the band were signing off from receiving an un-

employment benefit.

Cats have over 100 vocal sounds, dogs only have about

10

Another word for hiccups is “singultus”.

Listening to music is good for the digestion

What‟s the sound of that beat?

That sounds like tapping of the feet.

In the halls and in the malls,

Hey, it‟s The Spirit of the Streets.

They sound so awesome.

They‟re not a foursome.

They‟re The Spirit of the Streets.

What‟s that you say?

They've gone away, I‟ve missed them?

Not likely mate, I‟m one of them.

By Frank Harwood

Yet one more year has flashed

past, leaving me to reflect on what

has transpired in the past twelve

months.

We are often referred to as the

busiest choir in town and this year

has once more given credibility to

that title. We finish most years

with a flurry towards the Christ-

mas break and then start the New

Year with virtually a blank canvas,

not quite sure what will happen,

but filled with hope and optimism

and 2012 looks to be following this

trend.

We have packed a great deal into

the past twelve months, with some

36 public performances plus our

usual weekly rehearsals.

That sort of schedule would leave

most choirs breathless and whilst

we have welcomed the break over

January, there have been no com-

plaints. In fact just the opposite. I

am now being asked when can we

start back again.

There have been many high spots

with performances to appreciative

audiences, visits from other groups

such as The Australian Girls Choir,

or new individuals who have joined

us to swell our ranks.

There have been sad moments too,

particularly when one of our choir

was taken from us all too soon but

Jessica still remains with us in the

memory of the choir.

The story of the choir and our

journey in writing and producing

our own Spirit of the Streets Song

took up a considerable part of the

year. This was captured on film

thanks to a funding grant from

Lottery West and on the resulting

DVD, the members of the choir

express what the choir means to

them and tells our story far more

eloquently than I can ever do.

We have been the beneficiary of

donations from several other

groups. In particular I would like

to acknowledge significant contri-

butions from Kalamunda Rotary

Club, The Perth Oratorio Choir,

The Fremantle Sailing Club Ladies

Luncheon Club and others . We

thank them and everyone else that

has made a contribution large or

small, it all helps us to continue our

choral activities.

Thanks must go to our Fearless

Musical leader Bernard for making

us all feel good about our singing.

We may not always be perfect but

in the words of “our” song “We are

the best that we can be”.

Our new newsletter editor , Irene

continues to amaze, caring and

sharing her multitude of talents

with us.

I would like to thank our wonder-

ful volunteers without whom we

could not function with a special

mention to Heather and her band

of helpers in the Kitchen and

“Harry Everywhere” who makes

looking after the choir‟s needs a

full time occupation .

So what lies ahead for 2012?

I will be doing my level best to

keep our website up to date in or-

der on a regular basis in order to

keep all our friends and supporters

up to date with events, perform-

ances and bookings as they occur.

Bernard will no doubt be adding

songs to our repertoire and we will

look forward to welcoming new

members, meeting old friends and

making new ones along the way.

One thing for certain, we will have

a great deal of fun and spread a lot

of happiness along the way.

Ken Steele

From Our Manager Ken Steele

Page 6

“We have packed a great deal into

the past twelve months, with some

36 public performances plus our

usual weekly rehearsals. That sort

of schedule would leave most

choirs breathless”.

Summer 2011/12 Page 7

Reflections from Klaus

During my recent travels visiting my family in Germany and California, I was pleasantly surprised to find a

street magazine quite similar to the Australian Big Issue, being sold in my hometown Hamburg. It is a

monthly magazine called Hinz Und Kunzt , which is sold to the public at 1.90 Euro, of which 1 Euro goes to the

vendor. The issue I bought and took home with me is a 56 page document with incredibly poignant input on

urgent social issues like homelessness, human dignity, exploitation of the vulnerable, Government efforts

and initiatives and of course also including profiles and letters from readers to the Editor.

I would like to share one of the readers letters with you, from the August 2011 edition, titled: “Halten Sie

weiter Kurs”, which means something like: ‘stay on course’ (continue with your good work)

Following is a free translation of the article:

Dear Hinz und Kunzt team ,

I greatly enjoyed and feel inspired reading your street magazine as well as feeling deeply touched and moved

by it. You have , in a quite remarkable way , succeeded to rescue severely troubled human beings from de-

spair and isolation and pull them back into mainstream life.

Readers are able to experience in various ways how our views of fellow human beings , who live at the

fringes of society , can change if we take the trouble to see and meet them as fellow human beings , i.e. with

respect and without prejudice. Stay on course.

Signed : Ute Voigts

After suffering a stroke in August

last year, veteran choir member De-

nise Reuter is doing well and has man-

aged to attend two choir events over

the past couple of months.

Well known to Perth commuters as a

Big Issue seller on the Perth Railway

Bridge and also for her shimmy antics

in the choirs' rendition of Sister Kate,

Denise was recently transferred to

Lathlain Care Facility where she con-

tinues her rehabilitation and keeps in

touch with choir members.

"I'm coming along okay after the

stroke", she says. "It's a good place

here (Lathlain Care Facility), and even

though I miss selling the Big Issue on

the bridge, I like coming to the choir

when I can. On Melbourne Cup day and

the Christmas Party, it was really

good"

Denise wishes everyone a Happy New

Year.

Greetings from Denise Saturday shoppers stopped in

their tracks to listen to the

S.O.S choir in a series of lunch-

time concerts at Jones Lang La

Salle shopping centres in the lead

up to Christmas.

The choir performed at Mirra-

booka, Cockburn, Floreat, Bel-

mont, Livingston Market Place and

Wanneroo.

“We wanted to provide shoppers

with an additional experience

while visiting our centres and sup-

port a local group in need” said

Marketing Manager Renata Ogil-

vie.

With over 30 people in the choir

and a varied repertoire, the

Spirit of the Streets has a sound

and soul that impresses” she

added.

S.O.S Serenade Shoppers

Picture Gallery by Klaus Groth

Choir Manager - Ken Steele Mobile 0419 042 397 email: kensteele@dodo.com.au

Musical Director—Bernard Carney (08) 9361 0272

Mob: 0412 119 640

Email: bernardcarney@westnet.com.au

Bookings Secretary: Eleanor Carney (08) 9361 0272

Mob 0419 948 688

Email: eleanorcarney@westnet.com.au

Contact Us

Postal Address:

Spirit of the Streets Choir (Inc) PO Box 2054

Carlisle North WA 6101

Newsletter Editor:

Irene Lightenall

Mob: 0433 789 785 Email: ilightenall@optusnet.com.au

Website: www.spiritofthestreetschoir.org.au

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Colourful costumes, hats and humour was the winning formula on Melbourne Cup Day.

X Factor competitors show that music, mental health and mixing with friends is what the SOS crew are all about.