The Rosetown Seniors Choral Group brings notes of cheer wherever they go. The group began in 1974 and was recently honoured with the Culture Promotion & Development Award by Rivers West District for Sport Culture & Recreation. Shirley Martin accepted the award on behalf of the singing group at a banquet held in the Neilburg Community Hall April 24.
The choral group was nominated for this prize by the Rosetown seniors' board. According to the glowing nomination, the musical group began with about eight or 10 people. "If you liked to sing and could blow a 'kazoo' and be a VOLUNTEER, you were a member," stated the nominators.
Hilda Brooks was pianist for the Rosetown Seniors Choral Group for 25 years. Cassie McDonald followed her in 1978 and is still tickling the ivories, accompanying the group today - at the age of 90!
The group practises weekly and entertains at the Rosetown Hospital Nursing Wing and at the Wheatbelt Centennial Lodge once a month (except for July and August). They also extend their entertainment to the Rosetown Seniors' Centre with a variety program in the spring and fall of each year. The proceeds from these variety shows are donated to the seniors' centre, Rosetown Hospital Nursing Wing, Wheatbelt Centennial Lodge and the hospital building fund.
The group goes out of town in the summer months - mainly to Elrose - and to Eston, bringing pleasure with their entertainment to the seniors in those towns.
Five members of the group are over 90 years of age. In addition to the pianist, Cassie McDonald, mentioned above, they are Mary Holliday, one of the original organizers of the group; Jessie Seymour, Anne Frechette and Clifford Simpson. When Shirley Martin went to the podium to accept the award on behalf of the group, she was quick to point out she was much younger than 90!
In 2004, membership in the Rosetown Seniors Choral Group totalled 29 individuals, but now it has been reduced to just 13 volunteers, all of whom continue to bring much pleasure to everyone wherever they bring their talent for entertaining. The group is a happy bunch who enjoy singing and hope to continue to entertain audiences for many years to come.
