3 June (Wednesday) – Western Suburbs Lunch Gathering
After a long break, our Western Suburbs Senior Lunch Gathering was held once again at the ever-popular Chiba Restaurant.
Although only a few Japanese war brides were able to attend due to some now living in aged care facilities or currently in hospital, it was wonderful to see familiar faces and learn that they are doing well. We were especially pleased that some were able to join us with the support of their daughters.
Among the Japanese war brides, some will celebrate their 100th birthday this year, while others will reach this remarkable milestone next year. This led to lively conversations about the congratulatory cards sent by the British Royal Family to centenarians.
We wish all of our senior members continued good health and happiness, and we look forward to seeing them again at future gatherings.
12 June (Friday) – Minazuki 22
Minazuki 22 practises on the second Friday of every month.
During our June practice, staff at the South Yarra Senior Citizens Centre invited us to perform at their Friday afternoon tea gathering.
As one of our members was in Japan, six members performed on the day. Around 20 people attended the afternoon tea. Our performance included Sakura, Princess Mononoke, Hiyaku, Nada Sousou, Hanagasa Ondo, and Tanko Bushi. For the last two songs, many of the participants joined us in dancing, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.
One participant told us, “Even if our countries and languages are different, music brings our hearts together. Music is wonderful.”
It was a fun and rewarding performance for all of the Minazuki 22 members, and we hope to have another opportunity to perform again in the future.
19 June (Friday) – Voice Adventure Club Report
The Voice Adventure Club session was held at the podcast studio of Narrm Ngarrgu Library.
We welcomed both returning members and first-time visitors who joined as observers, making it a lively and enjoyable session.
The session began with vocal warm-up exercises and tongue twisters to help improve pronunciation and clarity. Participants then practiced delivering a 30-second introduction of ANE’s regular activities, focusing on clear and concise communication.
19 June (Friday) – Yukari West Practice Session
Fourteen members attended today’s practice session. As usual, we gathered at the Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre in North Melbourne.
With our concert in August approaching, everyone has been working hard on rehearsals. The group is so enthusiastic that there has even been discussion about adding extra practice sessions to prepare for the performance.
After a meeting to review the music scores and discuss the concert program, we spent the remainder of the session rehearsing together as an ensemble. It was a productive and enjoyable afternoon, with everyone focused on making the upcoming concert a success.
20 June (Saturday) – Natsumero Kissa
Despite the unfortunate weather, many people attended our June Natsumero Kissa, making it another great success.
This month, we were delighted to welcome three special young guests as well as several first-time participants. Together, we enjoyed a warm and cheerful time that helped us forget the winter chill for a while.
As part of our usual opening vocal warm-up, we introduced the “Pa-Ta-Ka-Ra Exercise,” which was featured in a recent seminar.
The theme for this month was “Songs about Glasses, Glass, and Drinking Vessels♪”.
From enka classics to songs requiring impressively high notes, there was something for everyone. During the break, participants enjoyed delicious snacks and lively conversation. As always, the event was filled with smiles, laughter, and wonderful music.
21 June (Sunday) – Meljoy Club
There were 14 participants in this month’s Meljoy Club outing. Unlike the rainy weather the day before, we were blessed with fine and pleasant weather.
We walked from Flinders Station along Flinders Street and arrived at the Treasury Building. After entering, participants enjoyed viewing the exhibitions at their own pace during free time.
We then moved on to the State Parliament House around 11 a.m. Unfortunately, the exhibitions inside the Parliament House were closed on Sundays. As the Route 35 City Circle tram we had hoped to take did not seem to be arriving, we decided to walk to our lunch destination instead.
21 June (Sunday) – Carers Victoria Information Session and My Dashi Workshop
The event was held at the Multicultural Hub, starting at 12:00 pm. As it was lunchtime, we began by enjoying a Japanese-style lunch together, followed by an information session presented by Carers Victoria.
A Japanese interpreter was present throughout the session, making the information easy to understand for all participants. Many attendees commented that they had not been aware of the wide range of services available through Carers Victoria, and several said they found the session both informative and valuable.
After a five-minute break, we commenced the My Dashi Workshop at around 3:15 pm. The workshop began with a short introduction to umami, explaining its role in Japanese cuisine and its health benefits. Participants then created their own personalised dashi blend by combining six different umami-rich ingredients. Each participant took home approximately 100 grams of their own custom-made dashi powder.
