Another fabulous morning of singing to help raise funds for Clive & Barb's Art with Heart project. Despite the wet weather, local residents gathered at the Uniting Church Hall in Coolum on 27 March for the morning tea - helping to raise $3826 from door takings, raffle, plus $800 from Marcoola Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank on behalf of Cool Harmonies and $1000 donation from Cool Comfort Air Conditioning. Additional contributions have been made by Cool Connections women's group, the Men's Shed who made the easels, plus paint donations from  Gaye Bolton, Lorraine Benson & Alma Buckley. The funds will support weekly art classes for the long-term unemployed, people living with disabilities/mental health concerns, people living with the effects of abuse, lonely or aging people, with a view to increasing their overall health and wellbeing.  Photos: Hari Kotrotsios

Cool Harmonies are grateful to have received this wonderful handcrafted quilt, donated by the awesome ladies from Coolum Beach Quilters, to use as a prize for our next major fundraiser. We have a wonderful collaborative relationship between both our groups, and this presentation demonstrates again just how strong and supportive people are in the Coolum community, supporting each other's endeavours.

The Uniting Church hall was filled to capacity at our Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. Photos: Chris Whitton

What an awesome outcome at our Biggest Morning Tea, raising $1,870 for the Cancer Council! More than 60 guests attended today's fundraiser, which featured entertainment by Girls with Pearl, Cool Harmonies and the Off Beats marimba and drumming group. Congratulations to the lucky raffle winners and thanks to prize donors Marcoola Community Bank Branch (1 x $150 account, 1 x $100 account and two golf umbrellas), and Coolum Theatre Players (1 x family pass to their upcoming pantomime Puss in Boots). There was an equally abundant selection of morning tea treats on offer! Photos: Hari Kotrotsios

Inspired by a request to support indigenous singers from remote Central desert communities to attend the Big Sing in the Desert 2013 event, Cool Harmonies is sending a $250 donation, raised through a bucket collection over the past three weeks.
The donation will contribute towards the costs of transport, accommodation, food and workshop fees for Indigenous singers, with some travelling more than 700km to attend the workshop at Ross River Resort, an original homestead near Alice Springs. 
Choir members generously contributed additional funds to top up the initial $100 donation from our community chest, which sits at the front door. Each week the chest is filled with donations from the choir, their friends and family, members of the public, local businesses and paid performances. 
"Money raised through this community chest, along with money we make at fundraising events throughout the year, allows us to donate to a variety of community projects, both locally and further afield," said choir director Yvonne Corstorphin. 
In 2012 choir members raised $9,078.70 through various fundraising activities, just up from $7,740.50 in 2011.
"Our members are equally passionate about spreading harmony throughout the community; with a generosity of spirit in everything we do, we enjoy sharing our gift of song with others, as well as our friendship, support, care, kindness and time."

Our fabulous choir members not only enjoy creating luscious sounds when they get together in song each week, but also enjoy whipping up a delectable storm when they gather in the kitchen. So we have compiled some of our favourite recipes in our latest project 'Harmonious Feast' featuring 66 deliciously decadent dishes that will set your taste buds alight! Proceeds from the cookbook will got towards Christmas hampers for local families and residents. Photos by Chris Whitton and Rosalie Hall.