Two Mildura volunteers are using music and song to welcome newcomers and bolster social cohesion in the community.

Mavis Francis and Megan Sullivan run a weekly music session for newly arrived migrants and refugees as a way of improving their English and connecting them with the local community.

The choir is made up of English language students of migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia.

 “I play piano, and Mavis is the choir leader for our group,” Megan said.

Megan is a former primary school teacher and a semi-retired piano teacher. Maeve runs the Sunraysia Community Choir.

“We love volunteering with AMES. The students always greet us with smile,” Megan said.

“And it is great fun choosing the songs we sing. Recently, we decide to teach the national anthem Advance Australia Fair. One of the ladies said ‘oh, that’s the song they play at the school’.

“It was a lovely moment. It made us realise that we are helping people on their journeys in Australia – and maybe towards their citizenship,” she said.

Megan said the rewards of volunteering far outweighed the effort she puts in.

“I enjoy talking with the students. I get as much out of volunteering, or even more, than I contribute,” he said.

“I enjoy learning about different cultures, and I go home enriched by the experience of volunteering. I would recommend it to anyone.”

Mavis said that choirs were passion.

“I love music because it brings people together in a wonderful way,” she said.

“It’s rewarding to be able to help people to start their new lives in Australia through music,” Mavis said.

“The students are terrific, and we love working with them. They are wonderful people. I really admire them for committing to learn English so they can assimilate the customs, culture and information needed in a new country.  

“We have also sung as a choir at a few community events and audiences have thoroughly enjoyed their performances. The choir members have enjoyed the experiences too, and they have become known for their happy smiles and enthusiasm even when singing in English.”

AMES Australia Hub Operations Manager said the music sessions helped the students with their spoken English and with learning about Australia.

“The songs they sig help them learn the stories of Australia; the stories of people and our history,” Albi said.

“The music sessions also connect the students with the local community. They sing at aged care centres,  and they performed at a recent Harmony Day event,” she said.

About twenty students attend the weekly sessions.