The Canberra Choir recycles their way through the lockdown

posted on November 16, 2021

The 50 members of the Strange Weather Gospel Choir are not only talented singers – they are also enthusiastic recyclers.

The Canberra Community Choir – named after two iconic songs ‘Strange Fruit’ and ‘Stormy Weather’ – features a repertoire of folk, modern, African, indigenous and gospel and spiritual music.

Rachel Gilks, convener of Strange Weather, says that in addition to bringing people from all walks of life together to sing together, “we are very socially conscious and want to do what we can for the planet and for Canberra”.

So when the ACT Container Deposit Scheme was launched in 2018, one of the choir members suggested that container recycling would be a great way to raise money. Initially, members would bring containers to the rehearsals, and volunteers from the choir took responsibility for returning them.

“When COVID hit, we stopped meeting as a choir and it was a little harder to raise money,” Rachel says. “So we created a ‘how-to’ document explaining to members how to deposit containers at the various return points – we encouraged them to do it themselves.”

Rachel says that even though it was a good preliminary measure, they achieve the best results when the members can just take their containers to the tests.

“It’s been so successful because of how easy it is for our volunteers to just drop off bags of containers at the ACT CDS landfills,” says Rachel. “We were able to set up an account really easily, and all the repayments just go straight into it. It’s very easy to do – flexible and hassle-free.”

So far, they have raised about $ 3,650 – and returned a remarkable 36,500 containers. The funds will mainly go to cover costs for upcoming performances as well as the acquisition of new music and other choir administration, says Rachel.

She adds that despite returns falling last year under COVID-19 restrictions, they are starting to see an increase in numbers again.

“Members have reached out to their colleagues, family, friends and neighbors to pick up their containers, and people have been really supportive,” she says. “Some people have placed boxes next to the recycling bins at work and asked colleagues to leave recyclable containers there for fundraising.”

“Without the ability to raise money through concerts, CDS has been the key over the last few years,” she adds. “We were amazed that a small amount of bottles can be so effective.”

To find out more about how to raise money through ACT CDS, see: actcds.com.au/community-fundraising

To find out more or get involved in the Strange Weather Gospel Choir see strangeweather.org or facebook.com/strangeweathergospelchoir