Singularity musical director Cecily Woodberry (left), Richard Wilson, Michael Woodberry, Alice Woodberry, David Woodberry and TEAR Australia supporter Tim Allchin sing from the same hymn sheet as goats Lottie and Gertie.– Ed Merrison
RESIDENTS of the Dandenong Ranges are invited to sing for someone else’s supper at a concert to combat world poverty.
The charity Transformation Empowerment Advocacy Relief (TEAR) Australia is hosting a carol concert at Holy Trinity Church in Upwey on Sunday.
The concert will feature local a capella singing group Singularity with plenty of scope for the community to join in.
Funds raised will buy gifts from TEAR Australia’s World’s Most Useful Gift Catalogue which has a variety of items to develop some of the world’s poorest communities.
The goat, the toilet and the water tank are some of the items in this thought-provoking alternative to glossy catalogues.
For example, a person donating through TEAR Australia pays for the goat and receives a card describing the benefits the goat will bring to its recipient.
The person then sends the card as a present to a loved one, whose gift is the pleasure of being part of the charitable cycle.
Each item donated benefits communities in an ongoing way by helping to develop local solutions to local problems.
Upwey resident and TEAR Australia supporter Tim Allchin said the catalogue had been part of his family’s Christmas giving for a number of years.
Mr Allchin said it provided an alternative to rushing around thinking of what to give people who already had enough.
“I have heard of Kris Kringles using it, year 9 groups at a school using it as part of a leadership course, as well as people sending (the cards) to friends interstate and overseas, which certainly saves on the postage,” Mr Allchin said.
The TEAR concert is at 4pm on Sunday at Holy Trinity, Upwey. Tickets are $10 each or $20 for a family. To view the catalogue, go to www.tear.org.au.
