IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO...

The last six months have been a very busy time as I still rehearse and perform with the Choir of Hope and Inspiration (formerly Hard Knocks). They have just celebrated their third birthday and are heading for Sydney on 12–13 February 2010 to perform at the Twlight at Taronga Zoo series, while I've been preparing for my two newest projects ...

Jail Birds

Jail Birds, my new ABC1 TV documentary, started on Tuesday 17 November at 8pm for four consecutive weeks, showing the work I've been doing "behind bars" implementing my new choir program at the Tarrengower women's prison in country Victoria! I've also just started the choir program at the the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, which is the maximum security women's prison in Melbourne with 260 women in "attendance".

It has been an amazing journey to work with the women and see them grow so much in confidence and self-esteem as the choir rehearsed and performed under very difficult restrictions (which is what you would expect in a prison!).

Jail Birds is available on DVD and the music, along with 5 original songs, including the title track Voices From Inside with Kasey Chambers, is also available on CD at all good ABC stores, with a percentage of the profits going to the Royal Women's Hospital and towards the ongoing running of the Choir.

And in my spare time, I've been creating and preparing for the launch of ...

Social Inclusion Week and the National Street Party
23–29 November 2009

These are two passion projects that I've been working on for for the last two years, and with the support of the Federal Government, Brotherhood of St Laurence, FAHCSIA, DEEWR, Origin Energy and Realestate.com.au, we've begun tackling what I believe is one of the biggest problems we face in the 21st century – isolation and loneliness – and return to the "grass roots" values of genuine caring and support for everyone around us!

The fantastic websites at socialinclusionweek.com.au and nationalstreetparty.com.au let people join up as members and let us know what type of event they planned for their neighbourhood, workplace or community for Social Inclusion Week or the celebratory event National Street Party. Around the country, communities were connected by everything from street parties, pool parties, cricket matches, plays and choir concerts, devonshire teas and barbecues. We were starting to take responsibility, not only for ourselves, but caring for those around us that need a smiling face and a helping hand!

Social Inclusion Week and the National Street Party will now occur annually and form part of the National Calendar of Events – they're next scheduled for 20–28 November 2010. Let's all take some time in our busy lives to think about what's really important in life – and it's people and all the friends, family, work colleagues and even neighbours that make our life so special!
 

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