Blog Archives

Scattered people Day 7 @ Pinkenba

July 25 2011  |   dillonsc  |  community music, Social Inclusion, Social Justice, Wellbeing  |  Comment

 Dear Singers  (those who sing in tune and the rest of us),

Day 7 at the Detention Centre began with expected challenges – apologies being received from Paola who had lectures today as well as from me (Brian) with a planning day ahead.

Unbeknown to all, these challenges were to escalate as the morning progressed.

Yani telephoned in – too sick to come. A contingency plan was hastily prepared. It would be a stripped-back coordinating team today. Simon and Aleathea would lead the music while Matthew (Mateo) with peripheral vision, would write the notes to be used in this report. Rachael from Songlines was thankfully able to be present to add strength to the vocals and to give special musical attention to the children – her forte.

Read More

Tagged , , , , ,

Scattered People Day 6 @Pinkenba

July 14 2011  |   dillonsc  |  community music, Social Inclusion, Social Justice, Wellbeing  |  Comment

 Dear scattered friends – near and far,

Day 6 in the Pinkenba Detention Centre.  We were greeted warmly by the SERCO staff – entry for us behind closed doors is now swift and uncomplicated. They told us that Thursdays is the favourite day for the detainees. They said that this is good for the Centre – good for everybody.

There is an irony for us about all of this. ‘Scattered People’ was conceived within a hostile political and social environment twelve years ago – a fusion of asylum seekers from various cultures singing passionately about having the right to stand together in safety and in freedom:

calling all you thinkers that you might understand, calling all achievers, artists and schemers, you workers on the land
we’re calling those of you who care, have other people in your life,
just listen if you can
and stand with us tonight

Read More

Tagged , , , , ,

Scattered People Day 5

July 7 2011  |   dillonsc  |  community music, Social Inclusion, Social Justice, Wellbeing  |  Comment

Dear scattered fellow travellers,

Day 5 in the Pinkenba Detention Centre – a kiss on each cheek (and one again for good luck) from our translator for each of us. She has the confidence and freedom to greet even us males in this way. Yani and Paola received their expected kisses and embraces from the rest of the gathering. Simon and I had to be content with the vigorous handshakes. Aleathea, Matthew and Pete had put in apologies for today.

We are here as community musicians – traversing together those mysterious emotional realms where music seems to nuzzle in and find a home.We came with guests though – grateful that SERCO had granted our request that they join us for this ‘one-off’ occasion – Rachael from the Songlines Responsibility Choir and Laura from Musicians Without Borders. We had assured SERCO that their visit was not just for inquisitive observation (fragile people don’t need the ‘fish bowl’ experience) but that their attendance would benefit the program we were offering. Our guests had agreed to be respectful of the opportunity to bring music into the Centre and, in spite of whatever personal beliefs held about Detention, not to use the experience for politicizing. Read More

Tagged , , , , ,

Scattered People Day 3

June 23 2011  |   dillonsc  |  community music, Social Inclusion, Social Justice, Wellbeing  |  Comment

Dear Scattered People companeros,


This morning (Day 3) at the Detention Centre saw us back in the more comfortable common area – shielded from the winter winds, the noise of the nail guns and the booming overhead aircraft. Our Farsi translator alerted us to the presence of a Tamil family from Sri Lanka as well as some single Afghanis. Her interpreting skills could not extend to assist these people.

Undeterred, Yani invited us all to our feet and then proceeded into the warm-ups. The children looked bewildered and then started to giggle. They probably had not seen for a while their parents stomping in rhythm to Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ or mimicking Yani’s vocal depiction of surprise, disappointment and then excitement. It was a logical segue into ‘Rock-a-Bye Your Bear’ – the children and their parents picking up the melody quickly – if not the words –  laughing as they followed us with the hand gestures to “everybody clap, everybody sing, bow to your partner, then you turn around, hands in the air, rock-a-bye your bear, bear’s now asleep”. The song was not in our play list. Yani saw the children and adapted. It worked.

Read More

Tagged , , ,