Southern River MLA Peter Abetz, Riverton MLA Mike Nahan, Senate opposition leader Eric Abetz and City of Gosnells Mayor Dave Griffiths.d396123
Camera IconSouthern River MLA Peter Abetz, Riverton MLA Mike Nahan, Senate opposition leader Eric Abetz and City of Gosnells Mayor Dave Griffiths.d396123 Credit: Supplied/Matthew Poon

Group fears its music will die

Staff ReporterFremantle Gazette

Catch Music allows people of all ages, experience levels and abilities to play instruments together in nine locations across Perth, including Fremantle.

This year, however, it cannot find a part-time facilitator to work for the Gosnells group; and it has not found funding to replace a one-off $50,000 Disability Services Commission grant, which runs out in April.

Chairman David Colvin said the low session fees that kept the groups accessible did not cover expenses and overheads, and support the Gosnells group had had from local associations in the past had dried up.

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‘We are really keen to get the group going again because we had a diverse mix, with a lot of young people involved,’ he said.

‘We do really well at including people with mental illness and disability in mainstream activities.

‘Opportunities like that are really few and far between for them. They often get shunted in to segregated services and the rest of the community never gets to see what they bring to the table.

‘The groups benefit them, but also anyone who wants to play music, even the average person who might have a guitar gathering dust in a corner.

‘Playing alone is one thing but playing in a group just adds a whole other dimension ” the joy and the motivation it brings is special,’ Mr Colvin said.

Potential Gosnells group facilitators can call Julie Fedele on 0458 228 248.