Horowhenua Savage Club

Hello fellow members.

Spring is here now so it is time for us to break out some new songs. I hope you are all looking out something fresh for our next concert on October 13^th. Get in touch with me to book your place on the programme. (3672239)

Our September concert had its focus on our own members and potential members with no invited performers.   The whole hall supported the opening and closing brackets, and from where I was at the front it was pretty powerful. Really good. Norma had a booking down at the town hall at 3:00 so she was first up with three items – accompanying Dorothy with Lara’s theme and “When I fall in Love”; her own medley of Abba songs (my request) and then Dorothy and me doing “Buttons and Bows”. 

Charlie O’Regan sang “Oh what a beautiful morning” which was last sung at our place by Eric. Graham had spoken to Eric earlier in the week and he reported that Eric was doing well in Pahiatua and was back into doing some music with a group over there.  Charlie’s performance went well with lots of audience contribution at the chorus.

Leslie Anne with Hazel on the piano gave us Bob Dylan’s “Blowin in the wind” and “In the Garden” (which imagines Mary’s experience on resurrection day) – a beautiful song. Hazel then played variations on “Guantanamera” on the piano. She was followed by Tommy with his guitar accompanied by his computer and then he was joined by Jim with his saxophone to play “Once in a While” and “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen”.

We had a poem from Liz and closed as usual with the ode.

This week’s committee meeting was a short one with not much to discuss. We have a draft hall hire agreement to discuss with our regular users with a view to having it adopted at the AGM in November. 

That is it for now – cheers

Ross Nicholson

Hello fellow members.

We had good numbers for our August concert with 47 people in the hall. The “Sing Out Levin Choir” gave us a half hour of singing a range of songs – rounds, unison and two or three part items. They were also strong supporters of our other performers.  Our own members performed the opening and closing brackets, and supported Neville in ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’. Norma’s  piano pieces were from My Fair Lady and  there was a good deal of audience singing along with her. Jim (Saxophone), Tommy (guitar) and Tony (accordion) were also really good. We are fortunate that we get such huge variety in our concerts. Two of the SOLC choir and another singer Lesley Anne Murdoch sang the Simon and Garfunkel number “The Boxer” and they were excellent. Lesley Anne is planning to come back next month and give us two items. I am hopeful of persuading her to join us from next year. 

Next month our newest member Charlie O’Regan will be making his debut by singing two songs. After practice today he said he is feeling nervous about being up to the standard he wants to achieve, but I am confident that he will be fine.

At the committee meeting we most important matter that covered was to do with the floors in the toilets. A quote from Groutpro was tabled by Jack. For cleaning and sealing the existing grout the price was $590 plus GST. To replace the existing grout was a further $450 plus GST. After a close inspection we saw no value in replacing the grout. Liz offered to undertake the work of cleaning and sealing the grout herself. Since her daughter is in that line of business she has access to the skills and materials. This offer was accepted with gratitude.

That is it for now – cheers

Ross Nicholson

HOROWHENUA SAVAGE CLUB NEWSLETTER

May - June 2018

Hello fellow members. 

Our May concert followed the informal format of the previous one due to Jim being unable to be there. He had an operation on his eye and he will be seeing much better now. We started with the anthem and ode as usual except that with Jim away we had to use “canned music” for the accompaniment. Like last month we distributed the books around the tables for the choir bracket and had everyone sing our songs. Then Norma took the piano and gave us a couple of pieces and we had items from me, Graham, Maureen, Peter and Dorothy (who has re-joined the club). My brother in law Allen Lawrence was visiting and he gave us a couple of songs playing his guitar. That was followed by three songs from the song book and the closing ode. 

We had Jim back for the June concert, but this time Tommy was unable to be there. Liz had to duck off early in order to help her daughter with packing and shifting some gear so she went early in the programme with her poem about winter. Norma not only played her solos with her usual style, but accompanied Beverly in two songs, Dorothy in one song and me and Dorothy in two songs. Talk about earning your afternoon tea. Jim gave us some saxophone items and Tony had his button Accordion. These instrumental items are always a treat. Graham gave us My Way which he does so well that it always sends a shiver down my spine. He also won the raffle which is the first time that I remember him doing so.

The next matinee on our official programme is August 14th but that has been CANCELLED. We will be receiving Waitara on Sunday 22nd August and that will be quite enough effort for us that month. 

Other upcoming events are playouts at

·      Masonic Levin 29 June at 1:30  

·      Te Whanau Levin 6 July at 1:30

·      Inwards raid from Waitara July 22 at 2.00.

At the May committee meeting we covered the following matters-

1.     Bert Metcalfe has completed repairs to the damaged weather board on the south wall, as well as a new handrail on the north end steps.

2.     The contract for the hireage of the hall had quite a bit of discussion. Further discussion will be held at our next meeting.

3.     There has been a fall-off in invitations for us to provide playouts. Perhaps we should be focussing instead on running three bigger concerts per year with more effort going into each one. This to be further thought through.

My trip to Europe announced last newsletter is off. I went to see my sister in Queensland for a week in June instead.

We will be needing volunteers to do some cooking for the Waitara people’s lunch so please put on your thinking cap and let me know what you can do for that occasion. I will be doing some date scones. They are good with red jam and white cream. I need to hear from those of you who can make a superb soup or a succulent sandwich.

That is it for now – cheers

Ross Nicholson

President:                                                                      Secretary:

J (Jim) Lawrence                                                          R (Ross) Nicholson

105 Cedar Drive                                                            3 Avenue North Rd

Paraparaumu 5032                                                        Levin 5170

Ph: 04 905 3559                                                             Ph: 06 367 2239

Mob: 0272415959                                                     email: sandoral@vodofone.co.nz

email: jim.lawrence@paradise.net.nz                                                                                                                    

Hall: Horowhenua Savage Club, 28 Parker Ave, Levin