25 February 2003
The Australian Rugby Choir enters 2003 with an exciting and ejoyable program of singing and social events planned. We have both the Super 12 Rugby competition featuring many of the best provincial rugby teams in the world and the Rugby World Cup in Australia in October. We wish the ACT Brumbies success in the Super 12 competition and the Choir will feature at Canberra Stadium for all home games to support the team and entertain the crowd at various locations prior to the game.
The Choir has many new Members this year as well as some old Members returning. Welcome to all and we hope you will have fun singing with us. Our Musical Director and a very talented musician with the Royal Military College Band, Andrea Clifford, continues to lead the Choir to new heights, particularly four-part harmony singing of some beautiful and traditional songs as well as some more modern ones.
The Choir supports all codes and the singing of the National Anthems at the Hockey Test Match between Australia and the Netherlands in early February was a particular honour. We practised the Dutch Anthem over many weeks with Members meeting the challenge and perfecting the Dutch language. A Member of the Netherland's team was heard to say: 'Where did they get the Dutch choir from ?'.
A weekend retreat by Choir Members and their partners at picturesque Jindabyne village in the Snowy Mountains in February was a great opportunity to polish up on our singing and learn some new songs. The mountain air was clean and refreshing after the Australian bushfires and inspired several Members to strengthen their arm muscles and yodelling skills.
Wal Cooper
President