Author Archive:
Blackheath Choir Festival 2016
August 29, 2016
Work-shopping the repertoire!
A small but dedicated group of Singers traveled to Blackheath on 27 October this year, to take part in the Blackheath Choir Festival…the third time the Illawarra Union Singers have performed there. After an unusual rehearsal in an auto workshop…! They gave a fantastic performance to a full capacity audience at the New Ivanhoe Hotel. Under the wonderful leadership of musical director Doug, and accompanied by Zlatko on guitar, they performed Bandiera Rossa, Tolpuddle Man, Bella Ciao and a rousing, audience participation rendition of 16 Tons!
Pre-hydration
Zlatko in soulful mode.
Mairi Ross and Zlatko, rehearsing at Blackheath.
Ross, contemplating performance strategies.
Hiroshima Day Commemoration
August 29, 2016
The Hiroshima Day Commemoration was a very moving event. We rehearsed in the freezing cold outside David Jones.
The choir sang Blowing in the Wind, Ode to Joy and We Shall Overcome, joined by a number of extra choristers.
Everyone present tied a paper crane to a memorial branch which was left in the Mall as a reminder of story of Sadako, and her 1000 paper cranes. Sadako was two years old at the time of the bombing and died at the age of 12 from leukemia she contracted as a result of the bombing of Hiroshima. Before she died, she made 1000 paper cranes; a Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds one thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish.
Tom Uren Funeral 2015: Vale Tom Uren
August 5, 2016
On Wednesday, 4 February 2015, some members of the IUS were privileged to join the massed trade union choir which sang at the State Funeral of Labor and Union luminary, Tom Uren, in the Sydney Town Hall. The choir were invited to sing by Tom himself, who had planned his funeral 10 years earlier! As part of the moving and heartfelt ceremony, the choir sang the National Anthem, accompanied by Robert Ampt on the magnificent Town Hall organ, then later sang The Ballad of 1981, in what the Sydney Morning Herald described as “a rousing live rendition of The Ballad of 1891 (about the great shearers’ strike)…”
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- Barry ready to go as usual in the Bass section.
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- Gary got a good position in the front.
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- Almost all the Choir.
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- Florence in the thick of it.
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- Illawarra Union Singers who attended Tom Uren’s funeral.
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- Choir for Tom Uren’s funeral.
Judy Turner at rehearsal
Choir members rehearsing
At Rehearsal: A Few Members, Past and Present
August 5, 2016
The Two Tenors
Gigs Gone By: Images and Memories
August 5, 2016
Some images from gigs gone by starting with the Nymagee (120 k’s from Cobar) concert in October 2006
General photo of Nymagee
Breakfast time at the humble abode
On stage doing the gig
On stage doing the gig
Practice at the humble abode
Practice at the humble abode
No traffic lights on country roads
In 2007 the Illawarra Union Singers travelled to Cobargo for the Cobargo Folk Festival
General photo of Nymagee
Breakfast time at the humble abode
On stage doing the gig
On stage doing the gig
Practice at the humble abode
Practice at the humble abode
No traffic lights on country roads
Scene / seen on the way
In 2007 the Illawarra Union Singers travelled to the Cobargo Folk Festival
Odd shots
TRIPs gig
November 11, 2014
TRIPs was a Thirroul Railway Institute Preservation fund raiser for the piano the Institute has. Illawarra Union Singers started the night with a 20 min set and finished with another 20 minute set.
Songs were
Set 1
1. Tolpuddle Man
2. Shelter
3. Jacob’s Ladder Welcome
4. Banners
5. Internationale
The Zlatkos, some Bluegrass players and Sarah doing solos with a gentleman on the piano which had been tuned on the day took us up to the break.
Set 2
1. In My Shoes
2. Four Strong Women
3. 16 Tons
4. Bandiera Rossa
5. Mnogaja Ljeta
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- Trips gig
Images kindly supplied by Kerryn Stephens who has also done a nice write up and listed Sarah doing her solo performance.
Labour Council Dinner 2014
November 11, 2014
Unfortunately no images of what was a great gig conducted by Sarah. Songs sung were
1. Bandiera Rossa
2. Jacob’s Ladder Welcome
3. Either Banners or Shelter or We Shall Not Give up the Fight
4. Solidarity
and from one of our fans
“Sarah, you do not know me and ?I do not know you.
I got your email address from Arthur.
I simply wish to tell you how much I appreciated the Trade Union Choir’s performance at the SCLC dinner last week.
It was splendid.
The only unpleasant issue was the failure of some attendees to stay quiet and not intrude on what was a truly great and lovely performance.
Well done.
Maurie O’Sullivan.”
Blackheath 2014
September 3, 2014
Saturday 23rd August saw the Illawarra Union Singers performing at the Ivanhoe Hotel in Blackheath as part of the Blackheath Choral Festival. Not a big room but a friendly atmosphere that really warmed up to our singing quickly. Songs were We Shall not Give Up The Fight, Tolpuddle Man, Bread and Roses, Jacob’s Four Strong Women and as Zlatko let it be known that his birthday was the following day, we had the time, an audience Mongaja Ljeta was sung to finish off a great concert enjoyed by both parties. Thanks to our 
photographers we have an image.
Hiroshima 2014
August 6, 2014
Hiroshima
A few words from Marg Perrot, three songs from the choir and then off for breakfast for some.
Many thanks to Douglas and Katie for conducting and great work to all who showed up, songs were Ode to Joy and Last Night I Dreamed with Doug and We Shall Not Give Up The Fight with Katie.
Many thanks to Sharon Callaghan for the photos.
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- Hiroshima Day 2014
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- Hiroshima Day 2014
Illawarra Union Singers and Newcastle Choir workshop
August 2, 2014
On 19 July this year, some of the Illawarra Union Singers singers traveled to Newcastle to be part of a wonderful day of combined Union choir workshops and individual and combined performances. After intense but very satisfying workshops run by The Newcastle People’s Chorus and the Sydney Trade Union Choir, the intrepid singers repaired to the Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, where they performed to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. They learnt new songs, revisited neglected ones and realised what a great repertoire there is of union songs.
Thanks Dianne for article and photos
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- Illawarra Union Singers joined Newcastle Choir
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- Illawarra Union Singers joined Newcastle Choir
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- Illawarra Union Singers joined Newcastle Choir
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- Illawarra Union Singers joined Newcastle Choir
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- Illawarra Union Singers joined Newcastle Choir
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- Illawarra Union Singers joined Newcastle Choir
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- Illawarra Union Singers joined Newcastle Choir