The choir was founded in 1987 to sing Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika at a civic reception in the Sydney Town Hall for Oliver Thambo, the President in exile of the banned African National Congress. The early history of the choir is described eloquently in a speech by Miguel Heatwole (Early History – 20th Anniversary Speech).
Chronological list of past gigs:
- 2020-03-14 Women’s Fundraiser in Marrickville
- 2020-03-13 Rodger’s party at Bondi
- 2020-03-07 IWD at Anatolian Community Centre in Auburn
- 2020-03-01 Denis Kevans book launch at Gaelic Club
- 2020-02-21 Miguel 60th fundraiser at Gaelic Club (https://doodle.com/poll/r6pu76akddu8t9y5)
- 2020-02-14 QVB Refugee Protest
- 2020-02-01 Lou’s party in Clovelly
- 2020-01-30 Alistair Hulett Ten Year Memorial at the Gaelic Club
Number of performances in 2020 to date: 8, down from our usual number since suspending activity from the 19th of March due to the Covid-19 pandemic
- 2019-12-13 QVB Refugee Protest
- 2019-11-14 Chilean Solidarity flashmob at Central
- 2019-11-08 QVB Refugee Protest
- 2019-10-11 QVB Refugee Protest
- 2019-10-05 Camp at Wollemi Common
- 2019-09-28 GLW Black Again Comedy Night
- 2019-09-06 QVB Refugee Protest
- 2019-08-23 Singing For The Joy Of It
- 2019-08-14 NTEU Blue Stocking Trivia Night
- 2019-08-14 Korean Comfort Women Rally
- 2019-08-02 QVB Refugee Protest
- 2019-06-22 New Beginnings Festival at Callan Park
- 2019-06-15 Open IWC workshop
- 2019-05-31 Trial of Refugee activist
- 2019-05-23 Memorial for John Tomlinson
- 2019-04-22 Bohemia Bar at the NFF 10:20am
- 2019-04-12 Refugee protest outside QVB
- 2019-03-21 Vigil for Christchurch, singing in the crowd in Town Hall Square
- 2019-03-09 Anatolian Community Centre IWD
- 2019-03-08 IWD Fundraiser
- 2019-02-26 Trial of Refugee Activist
- 2019-01-25 Baraya-la Vigil at Barangaroo
- 2019-01-20 Illawarra Folk Festival
- 2019-01-17 East Timor workshop at IFF
Number of performances in 2019 = 24
- 2018-12-21 Refugee protest outside QVB
- 2018-12-19 Inner West Awards Night
- 2018-11-11 Armistice Day Peace Concert
- 2018-11-11 Peace Now Exhibition
- 2018-11-09 Refugee protest outside QVB
- 2018-10-20 Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival
- 2018-10-07 Mary Jane’sBirthday Peña
- 2018-10-05 Weekend workshop at Camp Coutts
- 2018-07-28 Newcastle Choir 30th Anniversary
- 2018-06-24 Sing Welcome workshop
- 2018-06-23 Sing Welcome workshop
- 2018-06-20 New Beginnings Festival
- 2018-06-19 Eddie Funde Memorial
- 2018-04-27 St Albans Folk Festival
- 2018-04-15 Greens Women’s Conference Workshop
- 2018-03-25 Ecopella CD launch and 20th anniversary
- 2018-03-24 Nowruz Party
- 2018-03-18 D Shoebridge campaign launch
- 2018-03-10 IWD Party
- 2018-03-10 International Workers Women’s Day
- 2018-01-26 Baraya-la at Barangaroo
- 2018-01-06 Spiritfest concert night
Number of performances in 2018 = 22
- 2017-12-08 No War in Korea rally
- 2017-12-03 Anti-conscription Centenary
- 2017-12-02 Koori Radio
- 2017-11-28 Doug’s mother’s funeral
- 2017-11-24 Justice Action party
- 2017-11-23 Your Rights At Work party
- 2017-10-28 Loaded Dog folk club
- 2017-10-15 Refugee Rally
- 2017-10-13 Edna Ryan Awards
- 2017-10-07 Green Left Women’s Comedy Night
- 2017-08-19 Singing in Harmony
- 2017-07-15 Solidarity and Andsome Friends
- 2017-06-20 Unions NSW rally
- 2017-06-10 Koori Country Konnection
- 2017-05-16 Acknowledgement at Macquarie Uni
- 2017-05-07 Greens May Day Function
- 2017-05-07 May Day Rally
- 2017-04-30 David’s Party
- 2017-04-29 Protest at Russian Consulate
- 2017-04-15 Busking at the NFF
- 2017-04-09 Greens Re-boot Meeting
- 2017-04-09 Palm Sunday Rally
- 2017-04-01 Solidarity – Turning Thirty
- 2017-03-25 March in March
- 2017-02-04 Refugee Rally
- 2017-01-26 Baraya: Sing Up Country
- 2017-01-25 Memorial for David Begg
- 2017-01-06 Sing Welcome to SpiritFest
Number of performances in 2017 = 28
- 2016-12-10 Benefit for UNHCR
- 2016-11-12 Book Launch
- 2016-11-05 Rally for Refugees
- 2016-10-28 Centenary of WW1 Conscription opposition
- 2016-10-08 GLW Fundraiser
- 2016-10-05 Addison Rd Community A Fair
- 2016-09-02 Weekend Workshop
- 2016-08-28 Blackheath sing for refugees
- 2016-08-27 Blackheath Choir Festival
- 2016-08-26 Opening Blackheath Choir Festival
- 2016-08-06 Korean Comfort Women commemoration
- 2016-07-30 STUC 25th Anniversary
- 2016-07-15 Singing for the Joy of It
- 2016-06-18 with Mums 4 Refugees
- 2016-06-09 “The Events” at Belvoir Theatre
- 2016-06-04 “The Events” at Belvoir Theatre
- 2016-05-27 John Kaye Memorial
- 2016-05-21 Bridge For Asylum Seekers
- 2016-05-12 “The Events” at Belvoir Theatre
- 2016-04-16 Loaded Dog folk club
- 2016-03-20 Iranian New Year
- 2016-03-20 Palm Sunday Rally
- 2016-03-12 IWD Party
- 2016-03-12 IWD Rally
- 2016-01-17 Illawarra Folk Festival
Number of performances in 2016 = 25
- 2015-11-08 Marrickville Peace Park
- 2015-10-31 Refugee Rally Wollongong
- 2015-10-30 Choir-tly Loud Wollongong
- 2015-10-17 Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival
- 2015-09-19 Newcastle Choir NZ Tour
- 2015-09-06 Sounds for Swags at Red Rattler
- 2015-08-29 End of term concert for Ashcappella
- 2015-08-23 Agent Orange fundraiser
- 2015-08-06 Hiroshima Day rally and march
- 2015-07-31 Sekai Holland at UTS
- 2015-07-18 Newcastle Peoples Chorus workshop
- 2015-06-30 Asylum Seekers Resource Centre rally
- 2015-06-19 “Boundless Plains” fundraiser
- 2015-04-19 Refugee Action Coalition march
- 2015-03-26 Community choir end of term concert
- 2015-03-15 Video recording of “Sar Oomad Zemestoon”
- 2015-03-05 Short & Sweet concert
- 2015-02-04 Tom Uren Funeral
- 2015-01-20 Ability Links Concert
- 2015-01-18 IFF Combined Union Concert
- 2015-01-17 Nags Lounge at Illawarra Folk Festival
Number of performances in 2015 = 22
