Women will meet and raise voice of relief

COUNTRY Women’s Association members from Melbourne will join their rural cousins in Inglewood to raise funds for the Harcourt fire recovery appeal.

Owner of Inglewood’s historic Nimmatabel and CWA metropolitan member Lisa Calandro is organising the afternoon of music, refreshments and a tour of the restored mansion on March 28.

She said tenor David Chalmers would enterainment throughout the afternoon.

“David sprang forth from two generations of musical family members - so he couldn’t be anything other than a singer,” she said.

“He started in school choirs and eisteddfods, and was then classically trained as a lyric tenor.

“He has sung with Opera Australia, Victoria State Opera and also locally with Wagner’s The Ring Cycle in Bendigo in 2023.

“David has performed in over 60 musical productions gaining leading roles in most - including Les Miserables, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma, Pirates of Penzance, and many other Gilbert and Sullivan productions.”

Lisa said the afternoon would be a way for CWA members and friends to support recovery in Harcourt after the January 9 fires.

“All funds raised will be donated to the Harcourt Progress Relief Fund which was set up after the devastating January bushfires,” she said.

“This fund is managed by the Harcourt Progress Association, a long-standing local community organisation that supports the wellbeing, development, and resilience of Harcourt, and they will direct all funds back into the Harcourt community to support individuals and families affected by the bushfires.”

It will be the second year Lisa has brought CWA metropolitan and country members and friends together at Nimmatabel.

Bookings are essential for the musical afternoon.