Spring
SOS Launch New DVD
SOS have released a
promotional DVD,
which showcases the
new SOS song.
The DVD, which was
launched at the opening
of Homeless Persons
week, is part of a marketing campaign aimed
at the corporate sector
to gain sponsorship.
The DVD is entitled
‗The Story of the Spirit
of the Streets‘ and features many choir members and the journey of
the new SOS song. The
song is the result of a
brainstorming workshop, where choir members expressed their
thoughts and feelings
about the choir. The
words were then put to
music by musical director, Bernard Carney.
Australian
Girls Choir
SOS were delighted to
be joined by The Australian Girls Choir for
a musical workshop,
when they visited WA
for their national tour
in July.
See full story page 2
―I wanted this to be
something that was uptempo, that was catchy,
that was sing-able and
that they would really
enjoy‖, says Bernard.
To purchase the DVD:
Contact Ken Steele
041 904 2397 or Harry
Mithen 9444 4626
DVD
Now
Out
SOS launch the new song at a ‗thank-you‘ event for service providers, who
support the homeless people of Perth. Photo is courtesy of CHCWA –
photographer Michael Bain MCB Photographics.
2011
Inside this
issue:
Australian
Girls Choir
2
From the
Editor
2
3
Farewell to
Elaine Smith
Remembering 4
Jessica
SOS Song
Quiz
5
AGM
6
SOS Dates
7
Catch us
at your
local
shopping
centre
See page 7 for
details
From
the
Editor
Irene Lightenall
Email: [email protected]
David Ammon for the great job he I feel I get back so much more
has done keeping us all informed.
than I give.
Despite my initial apprehension, I
saw an opportunity to share with
readers many of the inspirational
stories that are often shared at
gigs. The stories that touch our
audiences and define who we are
and why we exist.
Well folks, I‘ve had to re-kindle
forgotten skills and grapple with I joined the choir 2 years ago, ininew technology, but here it is, my tially accompanying a young man
first newsletter.
with autism. I knew after our first
rehearsal that the choir
was
Buried in my past is a journalism unique and had something special
career that ended before it really to offer us.
got going. The thing that attracted
me to journalism was my love of The choir has been a life-changing
people, my need to know every- journey. Today, we are both very
thing, social justice and the power much involved in the choir, having
to bring about change. The thing is, performed at countless gigs, sang
I‘m a hands on person and nowa- with other high profile choirs, apdays, I‘m better known for my peared in newspapers and on Telework in the disability sector.
thon. We‘ve made many friends
along the way, extended our social
Being time poor and out of prac- circle and often catch up outside
tice, I was daunted taking on the of choir.
role of Newsletter Editor. I take As a volunteer choir member, the
my hat off to my predecessor , personal rewards have been huge.
Australian Girls Choir Visit SOS
The two choirs took part in a variety of fun vocal exercises and
also performed individually and in
unison.
Most impressive, was the beautifully choreographed dance
moves, the enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by the
girls. It was surprising to discover that the 56 choristers,
who came from all over Australia,
had not rehearsed together before the tour.
Page 2
―For our choir to see them as a
working unit and to hear the
beautiful sound is just inspirational‖, said SOS musical director, Bernard Carney.
The Australian Girls Choir is well
known for their hugely successful rendition of ‗I Still Call Australia Home‘ in the Qantas advertisement. They are known to be
the most dynamic performing
arts group in the country and
have performed nationally and
internationally for dignitaries,
The choir welcomes new volunteers
and I hope to inspire others to
come along, sing with us and help
out. Our newly elected ‗Minister of
Transport‘, Harry Mithen is especially keen to recruit more volunteers to assist with transport to
and from gigs.
In this issue Adrian Van Klooster
remembers the life of Jessica
Stokes. Jessica joined the choir
late last year and sadly passed
away in June this year. Pat Chinnery has written her thoughts following Jess‘s funeral, where the
choir sung a final farewell. Other
contributors include Harry Mithen,
who farewells Elaine Smith and
Klaus Groth, our budding photographer.
Contributions are welcome from
choir members and our readers, so
email me with your ideas or articles, photos, quotes and letters.
continued from page 1
including the Queen, Nelson Mandela, Crown Prince Frederik and
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
To hear their unique sound fill St
Johns Hall and to sing with them
was an uplifting and memorable
experience.
David Ammon Retires: but his hard work lives on
It's often the people behind the
scenes that get the least recognition. David Ammon has worked
tirelessly in the choir background keeping the finances in
order, the public informed and a
multitude of other tasks. David
has recently retired from the
choir, in pursuit of a more relaxed lifestyle.
Readers will know David as Editor
of the choir newsletter. David's
informative and wacky writing
style has been a great tool in
marketing the choir. Most nota-
ble is his involvement in the 2008
Perth Concert Hall performance,
which attracted an audience of
2000. David describes the success of this event as a highlight
in his life.
David's involvement began three
years ago, at a chance meeting at
Perth Male Voice choir with SOS
manager, Ken Steele. David offered to build a website to promote the choir. He not only built
and maintained the website, he
also took on the role of treasurer and has managed the choir's
finances ever since. David has
spent countless hours on various
projects, including incorporating
the choir and the branding process. The choir can attribute
much of its success and growth
to David's hard-work.
SOS are forever grateful to
David for his commitment, dedication and hard-work. On behalf
of the choir, I would like to extend a big thanks to David and
wish him all the best in the future.
"I know we'll be friends for life, sharing our dreams together. As we walk down the road, we'll never think twice, these
memories are made forever. And though we're off to different worlds, somehow we're together...because deep within our
heart...these memories are made forever."
- Mystic Pizza -
Farewell to Elaine Smith: A Trusty Trooper & Troubadour
By Harry Mithen
Elaine, who has always been a
colourful and adventurous SOS
supporter, has recently retired.
After a couple of years of teamaking and supporting us nutritionally at weekly rehearsals.
Elaine ( pictured right with her
broomstick horse on Melbourne
Cup Day ) hasn‘t exactly gone for
a spell in the paddock, but – as
usual- is involved in her many and
varied activities.
She‘s had a lifetime of nursing,
caring for people with both
physical and mental illness , and
years and years of plain oldfashioned love of her fellow lifetravellers.
Elaine has spent
years at WA‘s parent body
Spring 2011
ARAFMI , and we were delighted …..and may you keep enjoying and
when she joined Heather and keep running a good race.
later Brigitte, in our
SOS
Kitchen at St Johns. Elaine had
already had a brilliant five year
track-record of carer, cook and
comforter with our St Johns
Mental Health Support Group
( the Sunshine group) .
In between passing around the
cakes and bikkies, we‘d see her
chatting with our members, giving a hug and often joining in the
choir singing – even at our gigs
and concerts.
Here‘s a big Thank you from us
all , Elaine. You know that you‘ll
always be part of SOS and always welcome to join in with us...
Page 3
R.I.P—Jessica Serena Stokes
February 1958 to June 2011
By Adrian Van Klooster
The first time I met Jessica Stokes was
the day I moved into the flat next door.
She visited most of the people in this
village. She made me feel welcome. She
told me that the man that had been here
before me had died here. She had been a
frequent visitor to him in his final years
which were marked with alcoholism with
all its complications.
I was a little bit wary of striking up too
many friendships, but it was hard not to
like Jessica. We had a lot in common in
regards family of origin, and soon we were
telling each other just about anything.
Jessica was born in Shoreham on Sea in
the UK in February 1958. She died on the
morning of 28 June 2011. She came to
Australia at the age of three. One of the
last activities we were involved in was to
get her citizenship in Australia so she
could get an Australian passport and
travel overseas with her girls. This was a
huge thing for her seeing that for a lot of
the time she was in pain and spent most
of her days dealing with it and fearing it.
If she did not push herself to visit the
many people who came to rely on her for a
willing ear and some homespun wisdom she
would sit in front of the television hoping
that it would take her mind off herself.
Jessica was driven by a desire to do the
right thing or God‘s Will for both herself
and for her budding family. Being a great
grandmother at her age of 53 is not common. Every member of her own family
received her unfailing love and attention.
She was however haunted by memories of
her family of origin. Only just recently we
went to the Jewish cemetery to pray and
talk at the graves of that family. Jessica
was willing to forgive, but found it hard to
forget. A lot of her lack of self-esteem
went back to the early years. Lately however she had made up her mind to seek
closure and move on.
Jessica was willing to try ways of improving her life. She bought herself an organ
because she loved music and felt she
might be able to express some of her
feelings there. However she was frus-
trated by her lack of expertise. The
same applied to her desire to get to
use the computer. However she
found a big outlet lately in her creativity through the Spirit of the
Streets choir and the Friday Forum.
She loved getting out in the car and
go places like the beach and the
parks.
Her experience with rejection and
abuse extended to the medical profession. She never got much help
with either her mental and emotional
difficulties nor for her real physical
problems from people whose oath
tells them to try to cure people and
ease their pain. The two of us went
around to various places to get that
help, and in the last few months
there was some improvement, but it
did not come from recognised medicine. Jessica was very grateful for
any help. She found it hard to believe that people could love her without any ulterior motives.
With the passing of Jessica a light
has gone out in my life and in the life
of her family and friends. To her
girls and their families I extend my
sincere love, acceptance and sympathy. I hope they all are aware of and
appreciate the unconditional love and
care for them that Jessica had for
them and will try their utmost to
imitate this beautiful person as they
live out their own lives. In our own
darkness let the happy memories of
Jessica provide us with light and
hope. May God bless you all. Baruch
atta
Adhonai
Elohenu
Melech
Ha‘Olam. (A blessing Jessica would
have often prayed, being Jewish as
well as Christian)
We Are Moved
By Pat Chinnery
We are moved when we grow in commitment to the poor and those in need
We are moved to give time to others and
to organisations that serve others.
We are moved as members of the SOS
CHOIR to give generously through our
presence and our singing.
We were moved, when after Jesse‘s service, in the procession from the funeral
parlour to the waiting hearse, a close
relative of Jesse‘s turned to the singing
choir and softly whispered a sincere
―thank you‖.
Goodbye and Sweet Dreams
Dear Jesse
Did you know....

Most toilets flush in E flat

Melba toast is named after Australian opera singer,
Dame Nellie Melba (1861—1931)
Termites eat wood twice as fast when listening to

heavy metal music
Louis Armstrong holds the record of oldest chart top-

per. Having reached number one in the UK in 1968 with
the song ‗What a Wonderful World‘. He was 67 at the
time
Make music not war: Monaco‘s national orchestra is big-

ger than its army.
What’s the Next Line?
How well do you know the SOS
songs? Here is a quiz to get
you (and those around you)
singing. Sing along and select
the correct answer for the
next line in the song.
1
A
B
C
D
I'm always trav'lin',
I love being free,
And so I keep leaving …
to travel the sea
the sun and the sea
for New Zealand
but no matter how far or how
wide I roam
2
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
A lies the seed afraid of waking
B in the spring becomes the Rose
C lies the seed that with the sun's
love
D lies a fifty dollar note
3
When you feel so tired but you
can't sleep
A try drinking Milo
B it could be worse
C lights will guide you home
D stuck in reverse
4
In the all night cafe
At a quarter past eleven
A kicking up the paper in his worn
out shoes
B same old man sitting there on
his own
C the SOS choir sing "it's time to
go home"
D each tea lasts an hour
5
A
B
C
D
Knock, knock knocking on
Kevin's door
Heaven's door
Devo's door
The green door
6 Another day goes by
And still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
A You see it‘s getting late
B and the world will be a better
place
C Take a good look around
D If you want the world to know
“We are all rough diamonds ...and
Bernard polishes the rough
diamonds and makes us like china
glass”.
7
It’s cold and I’ve nowhere to
sleep
A ―Sir can you help me‖.
B Is there nothing more anybody
can do
C “Is there somewhere you can tell
me‖
D He walks on, doesn‘t look back
8
And it’s something quite peculiar
A Something that‘s not quite right
B Something simmering and light
C Something under the milky way
tonight
D Something shimmering and white
9
I can see all obstacles in my
way
A Here is the rainbow I‘ve been
praying for
B Gone are the dark clouds that
had me blind
C It‘s gonna be a bright, bright,
bright sun shiny day
D all of the bad feelings have dis
appeared
Answers on page 6
By Gerald Kirk
Page 5
SOS AGM
Our Annual AGM, held on 16 August 2011, had a great turnout,
with 26 members attending.
Chairman, Ken Steele reflected
on the growth and hectic schedule of the choir over the past 12
months and said that the support and recognition of the community had been overwhelming.
―We are particularly grateful to
Woolworths and the Community
Newspaper group for their donation of a $1000 gift card, which
has been used all year to provide
refreshments to the members
when we meet for our rehearsals‖. Ken said. ‖The choir numbers have swelled and there have
been times when we have had as
many as fifty attending weekly
rehearsals‖.
Ken highlighted the large amount
The branding project would not
have been possible without the
generous support of Lotterywest
of behind the scenes work accomplished over the past year,
which has included the choir becoming an incorporated entity
with charity status. The choir
also has new uniforms, a new
logo, a new song and a promotional DVD. This has been part of
a strategic plan and branding
process. The choir is now ready
to move into the next phase of
the plan, which is marketing itself and attracting corporate
sponsorship. Ken acknowledged
attending the meeting for the following
positions on the committee:
Jean Goodchild
Vice Chairperson
Ken Steele
Treasurer
Alan Abraham
Secretary
Cathie Gallagher
Musical Director
Bernard Carney
Associate
Representative
Adrian Skelsey
Committee member
Eleanor Carney
Committee member
Irene Lightenall
Committee member
Judith Acaster
Committee member
Diane Miller
Committee member
Brockley Rucks
Page 6
―David has carried a great deal
of the administrative burden
over the past twelve months‖, He
said.
Thanks was also extended to St
Johns Lutheran Church for the
weekly use of their hall and also
volunteers, who assist with refreshments, transport, songbooks and organizing gigs.
Ken welcomed Anne White as our
new Patron. Anne has recently
retired as CEO of the West Australian Association of Mental
Health (WAAMH). ―
Committee Members:
Nominations were received and agreed by all
Chairperson
the hard work of the committee
and especially thanked, departing
Secretary, David Ammon.
We will be increasingly looking to
Anne for her advice and guidance
using her immense network of
contacts and experience working
with both the government and
NGO sectors here in Western
Australia.‖ Ken said.
What’s the Next
Line answers
1A 2C 3D 4B
5A (remember
these are SOS
songs) 6D 7C
8D 9B
Musical director, Bernard Carney
said that he has enjoyed collaborating with other choirs such as
Mercedes Girls Choir, The Australian Girls Choir and Perth Male
Voice Choir and he looks forward
to more opportunities to do this.
The choir rehearse every
Tuesday 2pm to 3.30 at St
Johns Church Hall, Aberdeen
St, Northbridge. All Welcome.
Hall opens at 1pm for cuppa
and light refreshments before
rehearsal
Shopping Centre
Performances
Come and see us perform at your local
Shopping Centre
1 Oct
Mirrabooka Square
29 Oct
Cockburn Gateway
12 Nov
Floreat Forum
19 Nov
Belmont Forum
26 Nov
Livingston Canningvale
3 Dec
Wanneroo Central
Other Gigs
7 Sept
Ross Memorial
Church. West Perth
17 Sept
Salvation Army
Heathridge
21 Sept
St Thomas School
Claremont
28 Sept
FCAWA Dinner
9 Oct
Mental Health
Week Launch
Hyde Park
12 Oct
Older Women‘s
Network
13 Oct
Community Lunch
City of Subiaco
23 Oct
Rotary Craft Fair
UWA Oak Lawn
30 Nov
Wanslea Award Ceremony
RED
Spring 2011
SOS Calendar Dates
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
M
T
W
T
F
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
N
O
S
V
E
M
B
E
R
Private Function
Page 7
Picture Gallery by
Klaus Groth
Contact Us
Choir
Manager - Ken St
eele
Mobile 0419 042
397
Postal Address:
email: -kensteele@
Spirit of the St
dodo.com.au
PO Box 2054
reets Choir (Inc
)
Musical Director
—Bernard Carney
(08) 9361 0272
Carlisle North
Mob: 0412 119 64
0
Email: bernardcar
[email protected]
Newsletter Edito
r:
.au
Bookings Secretar
y: Eleanor Carney
(08) 9361 0272
Mob 0419 948 68
8
Email: eleanorcarn
[email protected]
.au
WA 6101
Irene Lightenall
Mob: 0433 789
785
Email: ilightenall
@optusnet.com.
au
Website: www.
spiritofthestr
Find us o
n Facebo
ok
eetschoir.org.
au