By Derek Schlennstedt
In 1985, the mimicry of lyrebirds was overtaken by the voices of hundreds of schoolchildren recovering from bushfires that had devastated parts of the Dandenong Ranges.
In one massive choir, they sung self-written songs to music composed by a professional artist.
Others danced, and the children interpreted the fear and tragedy inflicted on them and their communities, and the recovery from such an event. Their songs floated through the rainforests and helped to uplift and motive all who heard it. Such is the power of music in the Dandenong Ranges community.
The power of that event came from the Dandenong Ranges Music Council, who, this November celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Over 40 years, the organisation has enriched the lives of people across the Dandenongs by providing a platform where people can create music and engage with like-minded individuals.
Speaking to the Mail, Beverley McAlister said the DRMC was borne after visiting the USA, where she saw the benefits of community music.
“In 1976, Murray myself and our children moved to the USA to a tiny little town called Eureka,” she said.
“One of our surprises when we enrolled the kids there was that every child was expected to learn music, and they were expected to participate in a choir/band.”
“Our eldest – Andrew – joined the choir, Carolyn wanted to learn to play ‘one of those long black things you blow’, Mark played piano, and Kate who was still quite little took on the flute.”
“Music was a part of the community in Eureka and there was a great Marching Band which was required to play at all civic functions.”
The McAlister’s eagerly soaked up this vibrant community culture, but when they returned to Monbulk there was no community music programs available for the children to continue their music education.
”We all enjoyed the music in the school and in the community, so it really was the stimulus.”
“When we came back, there were very limited opportunities, particularly if you wanted to learn an instrument and play in an ensemble.”
As a nurse and midwife, Ms McAlister admits she knew very little about music, but she understood that community music’s greatest strength was its capacity for creating strong local communities, which could lead to independence from external drivers and forces.
After contacting the MP for Victoria Bill Borthwick the DRMC steering committee met on 1 November for its first ever public meeting.
“250 people turned up and everyone was excited and enthusiastic and all had ideas of what the community and the school needed,” Ms McAlister said.
“To be honest, I didn’t foresee that. I knew that if we set up a foundation and a good structure people would come and the community would tell us what they wanted, and they did.”
By its first year, over nine groups had formed. Today, that number is in the hundreds.
Community music is now a vibrant and widespread phenomenon in the Dandenongs, and from those small and humble beginnings in 1979 the group has flourished, enriching the lives of thousands of music loves.
Despite the group’s palpable impact, Ms McAlister remains humble.
“It’s been very rewarding and given me the opportunity to meet the most amazing people, but I still had no idea what I was doing, and without the influence of people like Sir Joseph Burke or professional musicians and they’re very generous advice the DRMC would not be where it is today. Because, I’m not a musician, I was a young mother with four kids and mid-wifery degree.”
