It is with great sadness to report that our member Geoff Hill passed away last month after a year of having health problems, he did not let it get him down and stayed positive coming  to rehearsals and singouts until the last 6 weeks.  Geoff was 85 years of age and a member from the start of the chorus in 2000. He was the lone baritone for a long time and eventually became the leader of the baritone section, he was a committee person and held the Treasurers position for several years.  In 2014 Geoff was awarded life membership for his services to the chorus, he was a thorough gentleman and will be greatly missed by all our members.
 

Geoff receiving life membership from the President Rod Whyte in 2014 along with L-R Gordon Tomlinson, Michael Cunnington, Geoff Hill & Michael Wood For their special services to the chorus

Besides the usual singouts at local service clubs, nursing homes etc. we have had a retired music teacher running a short series on ‘understanding written music notation’ as most of the chorus, including myself, have managed to avoid this and have learnt from recordings.

We also formed a sub committee to look at recruitment covering a radius of 20 kilometres with advertising posters in shops, clubs, churches, men’s sheds and any where else we found, including talking to the people in the organisations. That was 3 months ago and we have not had one enquiry from it to date. Friends and singouts are still our biggest way of getting new members. We also use our electronic media ie. the Facebook site and of course our Web page to advertise on a regular basis. The good news is that a member who retired to look after his sick wife has returned as she is now well,  and also two members brought  friends along recently who  thoroughly enjoyed the chorus and will be be joining us in the new year . The Chorus members and their partners will hold our Christmas break up celebration on Friday 13th, despite the fact that this year we have a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle and a Wedding Anniversary function on the weekend before Christmas.

From all of us, we wish all the barbershoppers and their families  a great Christmas and most importantly a Healthy and Happy New Year
 
Gordon Tomlinson
President