News > News > choir

Sing to your heart's content: choir call at St Patrick's Community Centre

HERE'S a bright note… White Gum Valley resident Jay Treloar, 19, wants to form a special choir at St Patrick's Community Support Centre - and Fremantle Mayor Peter Tagliaferri is calling on the public to help.

In the vein of ABC-TV’s Choir of Hard Knocks, where a group of 50 homeless and disadvantaged men and women came together under the leadership of choir director Jonathon Welch, Jay wants to do something similar in Fremantle.

Mayor Tagliaferri said Jay, a volunteer at St Pat’s, is on the hunt for a choir master or musical director, along with choir members from the local community and other interested parties, to help make the idea a reality.

“If anyone’s seen the ABC program, it was quite amazing to see an eclectic group of disadvantaged people come together to create such a wonderfully interesting musical phenomenon,” he said.

“The City of Fremantle is renowned for being an arts and cultural hub and I’m certain there are people out there who can help Jay to achieve similar results right here in the port city.

“By giving people a focus and shared experience, it helps to give meaning to their lives which, in turn, has flows on to deliver other positive effects.

“Fremantle also has an international reputation for producing some of the finest music, so we’re calling for any local musos to get involved as well.”

Mayor Tagliaferri described Jay as “a real go-getter” who has shown tremendous community spirit throughout the course of his life.

“His devotion to helping people in the community is second to none, whether it’s promoting awareness of the plight of refugee children or raising funds to help St Pat’s,” he said.

Jay, a former John Curtin College of the Arts student, was named their 2002 Ambassador of the Year and was also nominated for a Youth Community Service Award the same year.

Currently studying a business management diploma at TAFE, he recently organised a celebrity pool challenge to raise money for St Pat’s and has been nominated for the 2007 WA Youth Citizen Award by Attorney-General Jim McGinty.

“The St Patrick’s choir is another exceptional idea from a young man who is passionate about helping those less fortunate than himself,” he said.

“Jay’s vibrancy and commitment to worthy causes are shining examples of the good work many young people are involved – but they often don’t get recognised for it.

“I fully support the formation of the choir, given it will be a great way to connect the disadvantaged and homeless in the community to create an unlikely musical marvel.”

St Patrick’s Community Support Centre is located at 9 Parry Street, Fremantle, and provides a drop-in service, free meals and health support services, as well as information, referrals and social services.

Its mission statement is: “St Patrick’s Community Support Centre endeavours to meet the needs of their clients in a non-judgemental and caring environment, acknowledging human value and self worth”.

Jay said he had been inspired by the volunteers at St Pat’s as part of his workplace learning studies in Year 12.

“The experience filled me with respect for those who run the centre and people who volunteer their services to try and help the less fortunate within our community,” he said.

“I believe we’re all responsible for each other and, where possible, we should step outside our own comfort zone and help those who, for one reason or another cannot get by without support from the wider community.

“Many of the clients who come to the centre are marginalised simply out of ignorance or through lack of compassion as they are not seen to fit society’s ‘mould’.

“I have been touched by stories from many of St Pat’s clients and this choir is simply another way of trying to make a difference in the lives of those who attend the centre.”

People interested in joining the choir should leave their names and contact details for Jay at St Pat’s or by calling 9430 4159.

* For more information, call Jay Treloar on 9335 7105 or e-mail bichontia@bigpond.com.