Performers showed off their multiple talents at a Pleasant Sunday Afternoon in the Rendelsham Community Hall recently.
The concert featured the Millicent Choral Society and local guest artists Trevor Rayson and Adam Hamilton.
The usual choral society venue for this annual performance was not available and Wattle Range Council offered the Rendelsham facility instead. As a coincidence, the hall turns 100 next year while the society will mark its 50th birthday.
The Pleasant Sunday Afternoon has been a choral society favourite for many years and is marked by its variety.
This was evident in the 2023 program as Mr Rayson is a Hatherleigh farmer and raconteur.
Mr Hamilton’s maternal forebears arrived in Rendelsham in the nineteenth century while his father Paul Hamilton was formerly a member of the Rendelsham Dusty Peat Flat band.
The other members were Robert Lesslie, John McLoughlin and the late Bob Payne.
Adam Hamilton plays the guitar and harmonica well and his fine singing voice was well suited to his folk music repertoire.
Under the leadership of Michael Bleby, the 14-strong choral society performed some crowd favourites as well as new pieces.
They drew from a variety of songbooks including compositions by Sting, Leonard Cohen, Rogers and Hammerstein and John Rutter.
As is customary with Millicent Choral Society events, the $15 admission fee included a sumptuous afternoon tea.
An unusual break from the music was provided by society supporter Doris Bleby who presented a light-hearted quiz.
It asked participants to match pre-recorded music to the themes of 15 popular TV shows from the 1950s until the present-day.
The winning team with a score of 11 comprised Mr Rayson, Fred and Robyn Smith, Colleen Hammat, Virginia Pawsey and Tony Henderson.
The choral society is on the look-out for new members with one recently calling time after 41 years of singing with the group.
They are also rehearsing for a December 9 event as part of a long Christmas tradition.
They will present the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Millicent.
