Acabellas

A public service announcement from Dolly and I, and all our mates.

Everyone can sing. Acabellas is a community of Geelong based singing groups who have been gathering for more than 20 years. We are resuming sessions from next week and there is space available in some of our groups. If you are interested in some non performance based, heartfelt singing of carefully selected songs perhaps Acabellas is for you. To find out more DM, check out the website www.acabellas.com.au or click a few buttons on the expression of interest form. https://forms.gle/oXhDPZzLX6osV33d6 Sing because you can.

Joining Acabellas 2024 Please complete these fields to join any of our Acabellas singing groups in Ocean Grove or Highton from July 2024.

FOUND PROPERTY.
We have a couple of items to reconnect with their owners from the Community Sharing Arvo.
1. A stylish bag belonging to a young person. White, bedazzled with a long strap.
2. A painted macadamia nut with a fetching design.

The first one is in my car and the second is at the Uniting Church. I have just had an email to say the nut is beautiful and probably precious to someone.

:)

Hi everyone. Thankyou everyone so much for your generous donations to Koala Clancy last weekend. We had a number of extra transfers taking the total to $1460! We are awaiting a receipt from KC to post and share. We are patient because a) they are volunteers and b) we keep adding more. To that end...please no more donations to us please. :) Thankyou so much ...this is a Koala that lives with my sister in law and (taken by Mia).

Tucked up in nidies before 7pm to be fresh and ready for the Acabellas Winter Solstice sharing afternoon at 2pm tomorrow in Ocean Grove. Sweet dreams everyone....here's to a lovely, cosy day.

Something to think about (🤣😂🙃)

Dear Acabellas Community
With great sadness I share the news that Lloyd Owen has passed away. I hope the delay in posting this has allowed those in his inner circle to hear the news from the family.

Lloyd was a stalwart of the Friday morning lows for many years as well as a founding Acabellas Fella who stayed the course. He contributed a warm and melodious voice to our circle as well as wry humour and kindness. Many of us will remember him for his gentle encouragement, astute noticings and twinkling countenance.

Lloyd always shared his love for Faye with us and we enjoyed singing with Faye in the circle when she could. Faye, we send you love.

Lloyd's life will be celebrated in Springvale on Friday and a livestream will also be broadcast. When the link becomes available I will share it below.

Farewell dear mate.

See you all this week for a some hearty singing. X

I hope singers have seen their emails about singing tonight. Thanks to everyone for kindness and understanding. Love from Ms Coughalot x

A proud day to share this post! Here is a face that will be recognised by many Acabellas singers. For those of us lucky enough to know her, we will also recognise the close attention to heartsong discussed in this article. I am so proud of you Alison. You do incredibly important work and wrap it in the soft and cosy cotton ball of being a thoroughly decent person. xx

Alison Lewis-Nicholson
"I have been volunteering in the life stories program at Barwon Health Palliative Care for the last five years. I started volunteering because as I worked towards retirement I wanted to do something fulfilling that allowed me to connect with my community. As I age, I also recognise that the palliative care program is so helpful and enriching for people and I enjoy being part of that.

My favourite part of my role is being able to craft a conversation that helps draw out a person’s story – there’s a feeling of magic as you create something special together. You get back as much as you give; as much as you help the patient, it is enlivening for you too.

My most memorable moment was when I was doing a life story for one of our patients whose disease was progressing and he was very unwell and was admitted to the Palliative Care Unit. When I delivered his completed book to him for us to read over together, he clutched the book to his heart and said “Now I can die”. He died the next day."

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering opportunities, visit https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/careers-volunteers/volunteers

I reckon this weeks' groups - all four - were excellent. There were so so many tears. So so much laughter. The singing was beautiful and moments were memorable. Sometimes I thought the humour was a little dark and I am so glad I was there to lift the tone (!). In a tough week for Libby particularly, the support of the Acabellas community has been outstanding. It matters, it helps and we are so grateful, proud, and restful in that care. See you soon

I am confirming final winery numbers at noon. This gorgeous door is open for any last minute takers

*Final chance to book in for Winery Sing and Lunch this coming Sunday*
We have just done a final site visit and triple check at Provenance Wines. I truly believe this will.be a magnificent event which has care and attention to detail. Existing Acabellas Singers are welcome to consider joining in. We have negotiated a few more seats at the table. DM me if you are a last minute starter. X Belinda

I just had to buy an extra terabyte of storage to accommodate the Being a Women submissions. What a sweet bite :)

All women in Acabellas have received an email invite to the International Women's Day sing and activity. The contributions are rolling in. They make me cry. I am sitting in the couch, after a massive day, looking beyond the TV (showing the fun Cats practise match...ssshh ..no spoilers) and looking at our shelves. There's heaps of creativity up there...my Nanna's Zither, Libby's relatives' painting, her anatomy model, glass and artworks by dear friends, a lazy instrument on the mantelpiece and even my own recent attempts to paint a big face, a face and some leaves. I cherish the creativity ..I really do. I heartfully welcome Women of Acabellas to send their responses on Being a Woman.

Looking forward to another great week of singing. It's going to be a stinker for the Wednesday groups everyone.. pop some ice in your underwear and bring two water bottles. We'll be OK and make it work x

Special Event #1 for Acabellas 20th 🎂 year is booking out beautifully. See your email for further details. Have a lovely weekend.

Best first week back at singing ever from my perspective. Not only are you are incredibly fun and beautiful to sing with but everyone's admin has been A+. Never before has it gone so smoothly. It makes a huge difference, by ripple effect, when we have last minute drop outs. We started 2024 with zero. That has never happened before. The flow of communication has allowed lots of people to join in. Full, happy, groups. Yay. This picture of a red leaf has nothing whatsoever to do with my message but I'll leaf it here anyway.

Hello Singers. Please be advised that Thursday evening there will be an extra singing session held at the Highton Guide Hall from 6.45pm. This session will run instead of the Wed evening session this week for family reasons.

Any Acabellas Singers with a make up session in their pocket are most welcome to come along to the Thursday evening session. Pls note though, it is not a casual session for people who are not currently enrolled at Acabellas.

Enjoy your day...there's so much rain to come. X

A beautiful post by Kate from the UK below reflecting the developing research and meaningful connections. ❤️ Kate wrote I am the Deep Peace I Seek..a song we have been revelling in this week. I am swapping it with some of my original material. Our circles expand.

I'll pop this here. 2025.
Next. Level.

About - Cork International Choral Festival One of Europe’s premier international choral festivals, Cork is noted for its high standards, eclectic and wide-ranging programme, and the friendliness of its

Next week we commence our final block of singing for the year - always a beautiful time to counterpoint the noise and haste heading into December. All of the current wonder-singers will receive a reminder email after this week's session. Anyone returning/joining/interested is welcome to contact me via DM this week or look at this link https://forms.gle/HARxFXQhz37zza7F9.
Some groups have places for the last block of 2023. Pictured here is our last sing of 2022. It doesn't capture the wind but it does capture the sentiment..which matters. My best wishes to all, Belinda

6pm tonight (Thurs) I am holding a singing session at Uniting Church (cnr Eggleston and The Parade) to make up for my sickie on Tuesday. Any acabellas singers are welcome to use this session as a make up from any of the groups. :)

Change of plans this week Acabellas.
Tues Groups: both cancelled
Wed Groups: going ahead (Noon at Highton Guide Hall, Pattern St and 6:45 Bellvue Hall, Roslyn Road)
EXTRA option THURS : Ocean Grove Uniting Church 6pm - 7:15

Any acabellas singer is welcome at any session this week - I hope you can get a sing in!

All OGs have been emailed an explainer but to ensure you don't feel you could be walking into ill health being around me - just an apocolyptic tummy bug night in the house last night. I need to be Mama. Take Care

This week we will stand in circles, we will sing and I know the songs will have a capacity, like we do, to hold many feelings. Lots of love to the Acabellas Community. I look forward to showing up with you for what comes next. x

Hello Singers :) One more week of 'study leave' (and a holiday) and we will be back in our wonderful circles. I'll be visiting your inboxes this week with dates, details and no doubt a little story or two. I hope everyone is well and ready to sing your beautiful hearts out. x

Hello Acabellas Singers. I hope you are enjoying your week :) The unique Nov event is booking up even faster than I anticipated. The link is in your email or DM if you want me to drop it to you.

And my leave starts.....now. All Acabellas singers have a little email from me describing a fun event opportunity in November...have a look. See you soon 😎