SENIOR SCHOOL
7 hours
of Sound for Anglicare
It was a simple premise: To play music
non-stop between Perth and Kalgoorlie in
order to raise both money and awareness
for Anglicare. What it turned into was so
much more!
Thirty students and eight staff boarded The
Prospector early on the morning of Monday
4 May and started playing music. As the
train moved through Midland, Toodyay and
Northam, the groups continued to play.
A wonderful lunch break (covered by the
staff trio) awaited the students on the
platform at Merridan station, beautifully
prepared and cooked by boarder’s parent,
Mrs Nola Allan. This gave the boys the
energy boost they needed to tackle the final
four-hour stretch to Kalgoorlie.
Each group would play continuously for
approximately 5 – 7 minutes, and then be
dovetailed by the next group, meaning that
the sound of music never stopped. The
groups included the Cello Ensemble, Brass
Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Clarinet
Ensemble, G-Funk, Boodjar Bidi and the
illustrious Staff Band. By the end of the trip,
however, we had formed another ensemble
that contained every single member of the
group (including a cameo by Ms Bannister
on the mini mouth organ), resulting in
a rousing rendition of C-Jam Blues and
Tequila, with solos from everyone!
From East Perth to Kalgoorlie, playing music all the way!
(sausages!) and then joined with the
Yongutha Birni Cultural Choir to perform a
chamber concert in front of approximately
200 people.
In the morning, before we departed, we
performed a concert for the staff and
students of East Kalgoorlie Primary School
and were absolutely blown away by the
enthusiasm and reaction of the students.
After the performance it was wonderful
to see small pockets of our boys teaching
the local students about music and even
allowing them to play their instruments.
After our farewells we made a quick side
trip to the Super Pit and then back onto the
bus for the long trip home.
This event not only succeeded in raising
money for a wonderful organisation, but
also showed the students what they can
do if they really work towards a goal.
Seven hours of continuous music is a truly
incredible feat and, world record or not,
that can never be taken away from the boys
who took part.
Special thanks go to all of the accompanying
staff, the media crew and the incomparable
Mr Goodwin, who now knows the answer
to the age old question “Which is faster, The
Prospector or the bus”?
A big thank you also to the Reverend
Doctor Elizabeth Smith, the parishioners of
St John’s Kalgoorlie and the members of
the Yongutha Birni Cultural Choir for their
hospitality and friendship.
Anyone up for a submarine ride?!
Mr Kieran Hurley
Head of Music
Upon arriving in Kalgoorlie the boys even
had the energy to put on a small impromptu
concert on the train platform, as the sounds
of Tequila echoed our success!
That evening, after a well-deserved Maccas
run and relax at the Golddust Backpackers,
we made our way to St John’s Church,
where the boys enjoyed a hearty dinner
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