Lucky for us we managed to get together for our bi-annual retreat the week before we went into lockdown - phew! As usual there was lots of fun and merriment over the weekend with a jam-packed program that included singing, eating, dancing, a raucous ABBA themed movie night, meditation, silly games, cabaret acts, a highly charged Trivia Quiz, singing, eating, dancing, and-  just to finish it off - more singing in the amphitheatre. The two days always fly by so fast and our wonderful Cool Harmonies family once again took away many special memories of happy times together. Photos: Tina Stubbs

Our last choir session for 2019 involved dress ups, laughter and singing. Photos: Tina Stubbs

Another fun and entertaining end of year celebration with these fabulous harmonians. We look forward to another year of singing and laughter in 2020. Photos: Hari Kotrotsios

Today we decked ourselves out with festive decorations and sang a few tunes at the Marcoola Merry Melodies event hosted by Marcoola Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank. 

Our big hearted choir members have shared the love again this Christmas by donating 17 bags of food and gifts to St Vincent de Paul, plus $200 worth of Coles gift cards from our talented Copper Creations ladies, Carol and Merilyn. Photos: Tina Stubbs / Fine Images Photography

We joined in the Harmony Day community event at Cotton Tree Park, celebrating our cultural diversity.

Photos: Hari Kotrotsios

Cool Harmonies recently donated $750 towards ​Coolum State School's musical program to buy loan instruments for students who are unable to buy their own. We love sharing the joy of music to the young ones in our community. Choir director Yvonne Corstorphin is pictured with school principal Pat Cavanagh and music teacher Roz ​Mackay.

We do love a good dress up. So we thought up some fun themes for each section to feature in our 2019 calendar project. Photos: Christina Stubbs / Fine Images Photography
Special thanks to David and Sandra Torrens for the loan of their Thunderbird car for the altos shoot.

Cool Harmonies put a little love in the community’s heart on Thursday morning raising $3256 to give a helping hand to Orange Sky Australia which provides a free mobile laundry service for homeless people on the Sunshine Coast.
The donation included $250 from Marcoola Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank, plus two baskets full of toiletries which will be distributed to the 65-70 people using the laundry service each week.
More than 100 people enjoyed the annual fundraising event, held at the Uniting Church hall in Coolum Beach, which featured heart-warming harmonies and a delicious morning tea.
“It’s such a joy to bring the community together at these events as we not only get to share our varied and uplifting songs with everyone but have the opportunity to raise funds for local not for profit organisations,” choir director Yvonne Corstorphin said.
The event included a presentation by Vehicle Manager Rob Scoates and his wife Delise from Orange Sky, which has been operating on the Sunshine Coast for the past three years.
“I want you to imagine you are cold, hungry, lonely and don’t know where you will lay your head tonight to sleep,” Rob asked the audience during his presentation.
“And with what little cash you have in your pocket, will you spend it on food or go to a laundromat to wash your clothes each week?”
Rob said there were about 1600 people who were homeless on any given night on the Sunshine Coast, includes those sleeping in cars or couch surfing with friends, with about 42 percent of them under 25 years of age. 
Last month, Orange Sky delivered 250 washes on the Sunshine Coast, with 60 volunteers and approx. 360 hours of non-judgemental conversation.
“With our homeless friends, it’s knowing that someone cares about them, and what we do at Orange Sky is all about hope,” he said.
Rob told the audience the free mobile laundry service, which relied on donations and sponsors to keep the vehicle on the road, cost between $200 and $300 per week to cover the laundry, wear and tear, maintenance and insurance.
Story and photos: Hari Kotrotsios