Australia 1999

A two-hour journey up the coast took the choristers to the stunning bright lights of Brisbane, where they arrived at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. This astonishing concert hall, which sat a capacity crowd of 2,300 people – with many seats situated behind the Choir– was sold out weeks in advance. The evening concert was truly unbelievable as the cheering, flag-waving Welsh made up a large section of the packed hall and greeted the Treorchy men with tumultuous applause. Treorchy left the stage safe in the knowledge that they were the victors of Brisbane.
A free day on the Saturday allowed the Choir the opportunity to visit Carumbin Beach with its white sands and crashing waves on Elephant Rock to enjoy drinks in the Viking Surf Club. At 5pm they made their way to the glitz and glamour of the Seagulls Club in Tweed Heads where a crowd of 700 people crowded the plush red lounge for the concert. Another earth-shattering performance lay ahead!
It was with great reluctance that the Choir left the Isle of Palms on Sunday, November 14th, stopping in Yamba for lunch before reaching Coffs Harbour, yet another gorgeous resort with the sun reflecting off the lakes. Staying at the Big Windmill Hotel the choristers unpacked, changed, boarded the coaches once more and headed for the Ex-Serviceman’s Club. All 600 tickets were sold and the response from the audience was again excellent with another standing ovation.
On Monday the journey continued with a brief stop in Taree for fish and chips and then continued to Gosford’s Ramblers Inn Motel. After a quick change the Choir went to the Gosford Central Coast League Club to entertain the 600 capacity crowd – filled to the brim – of course! The Choir – complete with nine of the newcomers who had arrived from Wales – marched on stage to a rousing applause – a taste of what was to come. Yes, another standing ovation!
An early rise on Tuesday saw the choristers travel to Australia’s capital city of Canberra – an incredibly quiet destination! Although the Canberra audiences are renowned for their ‘conservative’ approach, they warmed considerably towards to the Choir at the performance in the Royal Theatre that night. Returning to the hotel later in the evening, choristers visited the Italiano Club for celebratory drinks.
A free day in the city allowed members the opportunity to explore the many museums, war memorials and government buildings in Canberra. Others enjoyed the opportunity of visiting a local wildlife reserve to see koala bears and kangaroos up close.
On Thursday the Choir departed for Albury, with a concert in the town’s Performing Arts Centre. Another superb concert for 500 spectators followed by an enjoyable social evening at the Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen Club for dinner. An early wake-up call allowed the Choir to prepare for the short journey to Shepparton where members booked into the Park Lake Motor Inn and settled into the tranquil surroundings. The evening concert at the Town Hall with its capacity audience of 500 people was another exceptionally good performance, resulting once more in a standing ovation.
On Saturday choristers were on the road to Melbourne, reaching the splendour of the Bayview on the Park Hotel by noon and enjoying the day to venture through Flinders, Burke and Swanston Streets. The evening concert at the Regent Theatre saw a packed audience of 1,300 people reward the Choir with tumultuous applause after every item, resulting in yet another standing ovation from the delighted crowd.