Forward July 2015 | Page 27

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 27