Seniors celebrate to ‘sound of music’

Queensland’s Seniors Week kicked off with rehearsals of The Sound of Music filling the halls of a Toowoomba aged care service.

In collaboration with staff and residents, more than 40 people from Salem Lutheran Rest Home will play the roles of the famous von Trapp family.

Those involved are busy learning the famous lyrics and lines, creating colourful costumes and preparing for opening night on 4 December.   

The theme for Seniors Week 2012, celebrated this week, is Recipes for Living and Loving Life. For Salem residents, music and the arts are vital ingredients for coming together and making a valuable contribution to the community.

Registered nurse, Robert Shipley, has been cast in the lead as the Austrian Navy Captain, Georg von Trapp, and is excited to participate in the performance, particularly to strum his guitar and play Edelweiss. 

“I know every song off by heart, including the words and the music,” he says.

“It is a collaborative effort working on the costumes and sets and we are raising money to put the show together.”

Mr Shipley adds they will involve residents and their families as much as possible by allowing them to help create the sets, backdrops and clothing.

The performance will be held in the onsite chapel and will be open to the community to attend free of charge.

Salem activities coordinator, Chris Gould, is playing the female lead Maria and is also busy behind-the-scenes helping coordinate the project.

“At this stage we have at least four volunteers, residents of Salem and staff, parents and grandparents of staff assisting us with the sewing of costumes,” she says.

“Residents will get involved in helping incorporate all the activities for this project in our monthly therapy programs, for example craft sessions, painting sessions, music enjoyment sessions and so forth.

“It is also great for staff to work together and form closer bonds and build camaraderie between volunteers and staff.”

Resident Bev Palmer is willing to do anything to help out to ensure the success of the upcoming show.

“I have done sewing before and I could help make the costumes,” she says.

“I like musicals – the songs and costumes are very beautiful in the shows. Musicals are much better than the movies because they make you feel part of the action.  

“It is a great idea to bring residents and staff closer together, making us feel more involved.”

Salem general manager, Terry Arthur, believes Seniors Week is an opportunity for people to pay tribute to older Australians’ achievements.

“It is a week of positive recognition for the valuable contributions our older citizens have made in the past, and continue to make today.

“Many older Australians love music and this is an opportunity to showcase their creative talents and get involved in a live performance from inception to completion to bring alive the arts in our community,” he says.

Pictured: (Back row, left to right) Jenny Stollznow, Nola Follett, Terry Arthur, Kate Garrahy, Lynda Hilton, Leanne Willett and Pamela Walsh. (Front row, left to right) Mary Hunter, Bev Palmer and Robert Shipley.