Soweto Choir performs in the North East

Shimmy Jiyane leads the Soweto Gospel Choir in “Oh Happy Days” - donning Falls Creek's Jason Nightingale’s helmet. After the concert, Jason donated his signed helmet to the choir as a “thank you” memento of the visit. Picture - Ken Bell.

The Grammy award winning Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa played a fundraising benefit for three CFA brigades at Mount Beauty Community Centre recently.

The performance was outstanding and much appreciated by all those lucky enough to obtain a ticket.

The night was made even more special when all of the proceeds from ticket sales were donated to local CFA Fire Brigades – Falls Creek, Mt Beauty and Tawonga – with Melbourne based promoter David Vigo covering all expenses.

This gesture was made in appreciation of local firefighters, who saved his Tawonga South home, threatened by the 2006 Tawonga Gap fire in the Ovens Valley.

“My company was to tour the Soweto Gospel Choir around Australia this year and I thought why not give a benefit to raise money for the local fire stations,” David said. “I have great admiration for the men and women who volunteer to take on such hazardous work for the community. They make extraordinary sacrifices.”

Proceeds of all ticket sales at the CFA Soweto Gospel Choir Benefit performance in Mount Beauty were presented to the three local Fire Brigades by the organisers. L to R: Kirsten Seaver, David Vigo (HKV Productions,) Russell Law (Tawonga,) Jason Nightingale (Falls Creek), and Steve Barbour (Mount Beauty). Picture - Ken Bell.

The 26 member Soweto Gospel Choir won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music for their Blessed CD in the 2007 Grammy Awards. The choir has toured Europe with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and recorded with performers such as Bono from U2 and Joan Baez.

In 2007 the choir toured Europe and the United States and was a featured performer for the third consecutive year at the Edinburgh Festival. While the night celebrated the contributions made by the Falls Creek, Mt Beauty and Tawonga brigades, it was in recognition of the work CFA does across the state.

A crew from ABC’s The 7.30 Report attended the concert and filmed a story that is scheduled to air tonight, Thursday 29 May 2008. (you can now watch the report at http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/)

There are nearly 60,000 CFA volunteers across the state, and while not one of them will accept any payment for their services, this gesture by the Soweto Gospel Choir was enough to reduce a burly fireman to tears!

Thanks to Bruce Vine, Tawonga Fire Brigade, for providing this information.