Novatones Harmony Chorus has once again been busy: meeting, rehearsing and performing at our new home base Club Charlestown, which is a large modern bowling club next to Charlestown Square, about 10km south of Newcastle City.  This venue has proved popular with members as it provides underground parking, as well as a large separate room, which gives us great weekly-rehearsal space and an adjoining storage area for our risers.  We have been made to feel ‘at home’ there, with staff very willing to co-operate with our requests. As well there are the usual large, modern club facilities within the same building.  Enthusiasm remains high within the group, with much of this keenness due to our very-able and patient musical director: Peter Donald, who travels up from the Central Coast for rehearsals and performances.

Over the last few months we have had a continual list of requests for the services of our chorus and quartets, to sing at a variety of locations and community and charitable events around the Newcastle area. We have sung on very solemn occasions such as the Anzac Day dawn service at Nobby’s Beach, as well as at a couple of funerals and in historic churches. Then there have been lots of fun performances as well, like the recent Lion’s Club fundraiser and a couple of pub crawls in lively evening venues around town.

Ronald McDonald pleased to accept our Cheque for $3000

 Novatones donate most of the money we receive to charity and this year the organisers of Ronald McDonald House, which caters for the needs of very-sick children and their families at the John Hunter Hospital, were very pleased to receive a large donation from us.

We look forward to the excitement and camaraderie of competing and singing with like-minded people in Hobart- see you all there!

Mark Henley, Novatones Reporter