By Morwenna Harslett
On Thursday last week (1 June), I had the privilege of being invited to the weekly assembly of Warwick West State School. My role, as a representative of the Border District Eisteddfod Music Committee, was to present three of our event’s major awards.
I have long been critical that the arts do not receive equal support in our country when compared with sports. This, however, was not the case at Warwick West!
Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted and then heard the ‘bell’ ring to signal the commencement of assembly. I say bell, but it was actually a broadcasting of the Tina Turner song ‘Simply the Best’ in memory of her recent death. As the children streamed into the assembly hall, many were singing, skipping and generally bringing with them a joy and enthusiasm that is synonymous both with children and with music. I was then treated to a rendition of their school song, followed by Welcome to Country and our National Anthem. Three songs to start the school day! I will tell you about my role later but before the assembly ended, the children were introduced to a new song, a Mickey Mouse number called ‘Friendship’ which had been selected by one of the staff members. The Principal told me this was a weekly happening –t a staff members selects a song which, along with its associated YouTube clip, is played for everyone to enjoy. And enjoy it they did – there was much laughter and frivolity at the antics of the Disney characters onscreen. The assembly ended with another school song and simple dance, which was clearly designed to get the little bodies stretched and moving and the blood flowing ready for the scholastic day ahead.
As for me, I was there to present the Primary Choral Championship trophy to the Shining Westies Choir. These children then performed one of their Eisteddfod tunes, ‘Just One Person’. This song has been performed in many Muppet productions, and if I were a betting person, I’d say that it had originally been introduced to the students in much the same manner as ’Friendship’ was during my visit. The choir of just five children sang this piece unaccompanied, starting with a nine-year-old soloist who was gradually joined by her fellow singers, aged between nine and twelve. How brave to be able to stand up in front of several hundred peers and sing, not to mention the stunningly beautiful quality of that singing! The Shining Westies scored 98/100 for their Eisteddfod performance, the equal highest score of any music performance throughout the week, which earned them the Primary Choral Championship Trophy.
I had one more duty to perform, the presentation of the Brenda Matthews and Joan Smith Awards. The Brenda Matthews Award is won by the person who receives the highest mark in a solo vocal section. The Joan Smith Award is given in honour of one of the founders of the Border District Eisteddfod, and as well as a trophy, includes a $400 bursary to be spent by the recipient on their choice of course to further their musical studies. In 2023, both of these awards were won by ten-year-old Layla Abdel. Upon receipt of her trophies, Layla agreed to sing for the school, again unaccompanied and clearly unprepared, she delivered a stirring rendition of ‘Cover Me in Sunshine’. Picture this tiny, young figure, dazzling the auditorium with her stunning voice as she covered this hit song by P!NK. And in true superstar style, when she got to the chorus, the entire hall of children spontaneously joined in!
There are some who believe that music is not a particularly important part of our school curriculum and that eisteddfods are an outdated and irrelevant tradition but my morning visit to Warwick West State School proved to me just how important and alive music and singing is, and should be, in our schools and in our lives.
* Morwenna Harslett is a Border District Eisteddfod Music Committee representative.
