Sing for peace and make change

A GROUP of residents seeking a more peaceful society are inviting the community to join them at Barkly Square next week to sing.

The Big Sing for Peace will be held at the Barkly Square peace pole, and it aims to promote peace and the community’s capacity to show love.

Jodie Downey was inspired to start the initiative after hearing about neo-Nazi rallies around the state and the storming of Camp Sovereignty.

“I have been, like many people I think, so upset about the state of the world,” she said.

“I was beside myself. How can it be that now after all the work and everything we’ve tried to do about creating inclusion and peace and respect for people, that this is happening?”

The event will include speakers and local musicians who will teach participants some songs.

Musician and teacher Stella Savy said she believes music is the perfect way to bring people from different backgrounds together.

“When you play music together or sing, everyone’s working together on one common goal and there’s not many spaces in our communities, even in those that are harmonious, where we get to do that,” she said.

“There’s a whole lot of people who are upset, angry at the world and don’t realise that they actually need to flip that coin.”

Ms Downey said she hopes the initiative can become a regular occurrence and help people connect face-to-face.

“It’s to show children and young people that you can do this, you can come together in a group and look at each other, you can hold each other’s hand,” she said.

“We’ve got to build and restore community, and we can do that.”

The event will be held on Saturday 25 October from 3pm until 4pm. It will be moved inside in the case of poor weather.

The event is free. To register visit bit.ly/3VXJ9QS.