Jean Lyttle — Toc H General Member’s Branch

This edition of Toc H’s Link Newsletter, would like to acknowledge the *Harmonious Connection* the Toc H General Member’s Branch have and the long association with a group of talented and dedicated performers within the M.L.O.C. Singers. They consist of just eight members today, who regularly perform and entertain up to forty times a year from March to December at Church groups, Senior Citizens, Pensioner Clubs and Aged Care Facilities. The Toc H General Member’s branch has had their connection dating back some forty four years.

The connections started with concerts organized by our President Ray Geise at St Dympna’s Catholic Parish Hall at Robinson Road, Aspley for boys at St Pauls School. Later these concerts were extended to St Martin’s Nursing Home at Taigum, then John Wesley Nursing Home at Geebung, also Symes Grove Nursing Home at Taigum, which Toc H General Member’s branch treasurer Lorraine Burns liaises with Managers and Lifestyle/Activities Coordinators for bookings with M.L.O.C. Singers to perform at each of these venues two or three times a year.

The M.L.O.C. Singers were originally called the Metropolitan Light Opera Company when formed back in nineteen sixty five. Today with dwindling numbers of active members it has been abbreviated to the M.L.O.C. Singers. The group is a “Not For Profit” organization that relies on donations to cover costs associated with licences for copyright of music used, paying the talented pianist who also choreographs routines and music for each performance. Some of the music consists of songs from country and western tunes, musicals, war songs of days gone by, the ever popular Irish songs for St Patrick’s Day performances and the much loved Christmas Carols, as well as making and repairing of the numerous costumes and props needed for each performance. Toc H is happy to generously donate to this cause to ensure the continued involvement with M.L.O.C Singers and the enjoyment they bring to so many in the surrounding community.

The ages of the M.L.O.C. Singers range from a grand eighty seven years old to the youngest member being sixty two, the group travel as far afield from all over Brisbane to Caboolture to perform. These performances are always done standing and moving around with simple steps, which helps the ageing audiences concentrate better. This is no mean feat when performing for an hour or more. Wearing bright costumes also helps in this regard for the elderly with cognitive deficits. A lot of thought goes into their performances to accommodate the special needs of the residents at Aged Care facilities and this is appreciated by the audiences with their interactions with singing along, pretending to conduct and clapping in time to the beat of the music they hear.

It is a joy for us as members of Toc H to witness these interactions from the audience as I am sure it is for the M.L.O.C. singers to witness too, as the residents show their appreciation in their own way, as well.

Friendships have been made by Toc H members with residents of the Aged Care facilities, some are actual members of Toc H, so it is fitting that we support them in small ways to enrich their lives, if only for an hour of entertainment by the M.L.O.C. Singers and our presence throughout each year.

Another little initiative the Toc H General Member’s Branch conduct each year in association with the M.L.O.C. Singers Christmas Carol concert is the distribution of miniature Christmas Puddings to each resident of the three Aged Care Facilities mentioned previously. These Christmas puddings are either bought by Toc H General Member’s Branch or our treasurer Lorraine secures generous donations from Woolworths or Coles stores, and these little puddings are gratefully appreciated by the residents in the spirit of Christmas.

We thank Ray for initiating these enjoyable concert all those years ago, Jane who is usually accompied with one of her grandchildren, who the residents love to interact with, Lorraine for her time in organizing each concert with the M.L.O.C Singers and Aged Care Homes Management and Lifestyle Coordinators, also a great big heartfelt Thank You to the M.L.O.C. Singers and their pianist Mary for their longstanding and continued successful *Harmonious Connection* with Toc H General Member’s Branch, and we look forward to another year of toe tapping, hand clapping sing a-longs with residents of St Martin’s Nursing Home, The John Wesley Nursing Home and Symes Grove Nursing Home in the name of Toc H in Friendship and Caring.

May good health and happy times continue for us all.

Jean Lyttle
Toc H General Member’s Branch