Geelong’s International Harvester Choir – Victoria’s oldest surviving male voice chorus – will perform in Drysdale next Tuesday.
The choir began in 1943, as the men of North Shore agricultural machinery factory made mines, vehicles and aircraft for the Allied Forces in WWII.
The men sang as they worked, and 25 workers in the factory tool room started their own choir. They rehearsed in the canteen and sang at community events, concerts, gatherings and celebrations.
They sang when the war ended and when the factory returned to making tractors.
The choir was still meeting and singing, even through hard times in the 70s, when drought hit Australian farms and government cut tariffs to allow cheap imported machinery.
The men continued to sing, even after their factory closed in 1982.
Initially, the choir had remained together to meet its community bookings, but then the men stayed together for the joy of singing.
In February 2015, the International Harvester Choir broke with tradition by appointing its first female director Jeanette Johns.
Ms Johns founded Geelong Ladies Welsh Choir and was its long-time musical director.
Jeanette’s expertise – and her Welsh heritage – has taken the International Harvester Choir in new directions.
The male chorus now has a repertoire that ranges from the lusty Stout Hearted Men and Ghost Riders In The Sky, to the delicate Bring Him Home and the Welsh classic Myfanwy.
The choir will bring these songs, and more, to their next concert at Drysdale’s Potato Shed for the Morning Showtime series.
Produced and introduced by Colin Mockett, Geelong’s Glorious Male Voice Choir begins 10.30am on 6 June.
“It promises to be a heritage-listed treat,” Mr Mockett said.
