Puppy love: Delia, 8, Evette, 9, Mia, 5, and Tess, 5, with Geelong Animal Welfare Society’s “permanent resident” Buddy.
ERIN PEARSON
GEELONG children will band together to raise money for unwanted animals with a charity concert.
Geelong Youth Choir music director Denise Hollingworth said young members had inspired the group to help the city’s animal welfare centre with a special performance at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus in June.
She said many families in the choir had adopted pets from Geelong Animal Welfare Society and wanted to give back to the organisation.
“It’s something the kids really wanted to do,” Hollingworth said.
“The whole animal welfare thing is really close to a lot of children’s hearts.
“The children already signed up for this program are really excited about the opportunity to help the animals. Some have adopted their pets from the centre and are extra-passionate about being involved in supporting the centre.”
Ms Hollingworth said the “big job” of putting on the show would also offer the choir’s young members a meaningful way of contributing to their community.
Geelong Animal Welfare Society’s Nadine Williams said she hoped the fundraiser would help with the centre’s running costs.
“It does cost a lot for food, bills, vehicle costs and maintenance of the place,” Williams said.
“The community donates a lot of great things but the bills just don’t stop.
“I think the event will also provide an opportunity for parents to teach their children more about pets. Lately we’ve been seeing a lot of cruelty cases, so now more than ever is the perfect time to start educating people on how to look after animals.
“Even if you have a house full of pets and can’t adopt you can always help in other ways and learning to sing and showing emotion that way can be a very nice thing.”
Hollingworth said anyone who wanted to participate in the concert should contact the choir.
The group would have four weeks of rehearsals starting this month before the performance at Deakin University’s KD Stewart Centre on June 5.
Geelong Youth Choir was founded in 1988 to provide young people in the community with access to “high-quality music education”.
