By Kath Gannaway
THE Little Yarra Ensemble’s Wild About Life concert in Healesville on 12 August was a three-way success.
The concert gave the ensemble players an opportunity to play to a live audience ahead of their tour of Hawaii next month, it raised awareness and funds for the Coalition to Save Wildlife, and it was another exceptional concert for music lovers in Healesville.
The Little Yarra Steiner School music ensemble has been working solidly on the Hawaii program and the concert was the first real opportunity to run the full program in a concert setting.
The program features folk, Latin, classical and world music, including a traditional Aboriginal piece featuring didgeridoo and will be released as a CD prior to the tour.
Peter Hannaford, manager of The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Association (JESWA) shop in Healesville, the organisation behind the newly formed Coalition to Save Wildlife, said they were delighted to join with Steiner on the project.
“It was good to work with young people and see their enthusiasm and optimism, and their willingness to help wildlife and the environment,” Mr Hannaford said.
Introducing the coalition concept to the audience, Mr Hannaford said governments had shown that they would do little to save wildlife and their habitat.
“Environmental issues rarely feature in election campaigns,” he said, adding however that one million people did vote for The Greens.
“Imagine if those one million people united in a coalition how much could be achieved for wildlife and the environment,” he said.
He said membership cost $10 and all the money raised would go to projects whose aim was to save wildlife with all administration costs borne by JESWA.
“If we can’t give up the price of two cups of coffee once a year then there can be no hope for wildlife,” he said.
For a full list of organisations supported by JESWA, and information on joining the Coalition to Save Wildlife, visit the website – www.coalitiontosavewildlife.org.au , or call in at the Wildlife shop at 193 Maroondah Highway in Healesville.
