09/12/2019
This is the speech I SHOULD have made last night:
Firstly, thanks so much to Sunny, Chris and Gus for letting us overstay our welcome yesterday, make a mess and splash tears on all the furniture.
Thanks everyone for coming and singing and sharing stories. Thanks, Maree, for putting together the memorabilia sparking many conversations and for Sunny for putting that awesome pictorial history book together. I’ll treasure it. I’m loving going through and looking at all the faces, remembering the moments, events, lives and connections. Thanks, Rebekah, for the beautiful words (wish I had recorded them – it made me feel so very good about myself I wouldn’t mind hearing them again in times of uncertainty). It certainly brought home to me how much we’ve shared over the last 12 years.
This morning, when Ruby played ‘Going To The Casino’ to accompany our muesli, she told me how she’d been holding back her tears for each song yesterday and how much a part of her life the choir has been. You’ve seen her grow up (and up and up). We’ve shown her how to make a healthy community. And it made me feel extra sad and sorry to let go.
As you know, I can’t let go.
I made a bit of a dud speech last night, focusing on the demise of the group and of course it’s been a struggle to keep the momentum going, but what I wanted to say was…there’ve been, oh, so many highlights it’s hard to choose.
In addition to the wonderful social aspect, the almost inevitably energising sessions, the support we’ve been able to offer each other in times of hardship, and the lifelong friendships begun in our self-forged community, my favourite moments of La la Ville have been when we’ve sung songs that really resonated with an audience and created a special place for ourselves as voices of and for the community including:
• holding grief so courageously and beautifully at the Red Nose Day service in the city,
• enthusiastically learning, recording and posing for the hilarious YES pic on the filthy floor during the marriage equality campaign and reaching over 40,000 people on Facebook,
• singing with the kids choirs in Yarraville,
• being able to sing and dance with the people at the Maribyrnong Detention centre (in spite of the aftermath, which in may ways proved the power and vulnerability of people and music),
• watching our latest unashamedly feminist xmas song being shared by thousands
And also, the trust you’ve given me, including performing a funky, trippy song that came to me in a dream (remember ‘Begin’) complete with bubble blower?
I will never, ever be able to thank you enough for the support and kindness that buoyed and sustained us during the time Nick was sick and my dear Dad died. As a group you cooked, cleaned, babysat, made dolls and even ran the damned choir.
And, as some fabulous songwriter said, I can’t let go.
Jen T suggested, ‘Before we leave, let’s make a time in February to meet and sing.’ We did try but didn’t quite pinpoint a date. But we will. I think we need that. Certainly those of us who were the last ones standing need it. What we’ve had is too precious to discard.
So here’s to something like the La La song-life-saving club, (SLSC), part social, maybe monthly just to keep our vocal chords supple for being a rapid response song team…it will evolve (I promise, did I mention the not-letting go thing?)
I feel genuine love for all who have sung with us. I know many of you intended to be there last night but couldn’t (terrible time of year).
So…please be safe and look after yourselves in the hectic time and I wish you happy holidays and maybe just maybe see you next year.
BIG LOVE AND GRATITUDE,
Jennie
xox
