By Mikayla van Loon
For people living with disability, the art of singing can bring so much joy, something that was first discovered 14 years ago when an all abilities karaoke night started in Mount Evelyn.
Every fortnight since the beginning, those with disabilities of all kinds and their carers have come together on a Monday night to live out their moment singing glory.
The idea sprouted from two friends, Irene Stewart and Julie Cuffe, who had a love of karaoke themselves and wanted to share that experience with others.
“So with a lot of help from a lot of people, Julie put it together. She purchased all the equipment and it started with her daughter and one other person. That was maybe 14 years ago and it’s been growing,” Irene said.
When Julie died four years ago, Irene said one of her last wishes was that the karaoke continue, so it has since been renamed to Julie’s Karaoke as a legacy to be remembered.
“She was very adamant and I was too, something so good shouldn’t stop just because the person does because there’s so many people that need it,” she said.
Although Covid-19 did have an impact on people returning each fortnight, Irene said the last one they held on 14 March had 16 people attend but she would love to see more people.
“We could have up to 26 and each of them has a carer. We try to make it a function for people that have a support worker because a lot of them are profoundly disabled but they love the music.”
Irene said seeing the joy it brings to these people’s lives, it is the highlight of her fortnight.
“The people are just so genuinely happy. On Monday night, I put a dance song on, The Time Warp, and everybody was up there singing. So it’s a group thing and that’s what makes it happy.”
The happiness felt has kept people coming back for 10, 11, 12 or sometimes 13 years and Irene puts that down to being in “a non intrusive, comfortable, secure environment [where] they’re not frightened. They’re just their natural genuine self.”
From that, Irene said comes a confidence and social interaction some of these people might not get elsewhere and that’s why some travel from Gembrook, Healesville, Dandenong and Blackburn just to be there on a Monday night.
The group meets fortnightly on a Monday night at Mt Evelyn Pizza and Bar on York Road from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
A donation of $10 covers new equipment, CDs, microphones, door prizes and little gifts on special occasions.
