INSPIRE NEWSCAST

In my last post I talked about the song that was the catalyst for the beginning of The Albany Shantymen. This time I share a video interview with two of the members of the Albany Shantymen. And hearing their point of view is worthwhile.

In a casual conversation you can hear two men talk about how they got involved with the Albany Shantymen and what it means for them to be part of this group. One of the group describes Albany Shantymen as being like a Mens Shed for blokes who don’t like woodwork. It emphasises the importance of men finding a place where they can belong and build resilience.

Join me as we explore more about the Albany Shantymen.

I love it when a story comes full circle in the telling. Back in the late 70’s I interviewed a West Australian band, The Settlers in my role as a reporter with the Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper. The boys asked me to take some photos of the group for their upcoming album, “Bound for Western Australia” so I drove them out to an old hotel north of Kalgoorlie where we did a photo shoot.

Forty-six years later I interviewed a member of the The Settlers, Alan Ferguson about a song he wrote that became the first track on their album. “Bound for Western Austalia” was specifically produced for the 150th anniversary of Western Australia and achieved acclaim for its popularity.

Alan’s song, Albany Emigrants, became the catalyst for the birth of an Albany shanty group, the Albany Shantymen and their success led to the establishment of a strong following of shanty songs around Western Australia.

This video is part one of a two-part series about the Albany Shantymen. Enjoy.

Art speaks to people in many different ways, and our purpose as artists varies from person to person. Abigail Parker took up painting later in life, but she is driven by purpose. Abigail, better known in Albany as Abigail’s EcoArt, has a passion to paint to protect.

When Abigail began painting, she investigated local wildlife and birds and realised that they were slowly disappearing. Now her passion leads her to paint a message about the importance of protecting our wildlife.

She has developed an ecosystem around her home, which means she is surrounded by birds, possums and other wildlife, which helps to keep her grounded. But inside her studio, Abigail’s paintings tell a story of nature’s beauty as well as its vulnerability.

This video captures Abigail’s gentle nature as she shares her story and her passion to protect.

Homelessness is a growing problem in Australia and it is always good to recognise those groups that are seeking to address the issue.

My video this week provides a voice to a man who has found hope in Shalom House in Albany. Shalom Inc is a locally-based Chrstian not-for-profit organisation that offers accommodation for men who are at risk of homelessness.

Brian Pearce takes us for a walk around Shalom House and proudly talks about the way the house has been a lifesaver for him, and many other men who find themselves without a roof over their head.

A community orchestra provides opportunities for people to come together to make beautiful music. These were the words of Roger Hey, the conductor for the Albany Sinfonia’s special 30th anniversary concert.

In this video I drop in on a rehearsal and see how Roger seeks to bring the best out of a diverse range of musicians of all ages and skill levels playing the full range of orchestral instruments. It is a joy to watch him leading this group and to see the way in which the musicians respond to his leadership.

It is another brilliant example of communities at work providing opportunities for people to discover and express their their interests and talents, and to meet like-minded people in a joyous celebration.

Those of us of “a certain age” will reminisce from time to time about the trades and crafts that were common in years, and sometimes centuries, past, but no longer seem to exist.

One such trade is that of blacksmithing, so when I met 17-year-old Calvin Ullrich selling his wares at a market stall and discovered he was a blacksmith, I knew this was a story that had to be told.

I love this story and enjoy hearing Calvin’s enthusiasm for this ancient trade. It was inspiring just to watch him at work on his home-made forge and to be reminded that with patience, enthusiasm and a “can-do” spirit, what is old can become new again.