WINGSONG is a Wingham-based community choir who has a history of singing for worthwhile causes.
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On Thursday, March 19, 2015 they will be hosting an evening of song, talks, and supper to raise awareness for Aboriginal health.
Oxfam's National Close the Gap Day highlights the fact that there is a gap of 10 to 17 years between the life expectancy of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, and significant gaps in nearly every health condition such as childhood mortality, diabetes, obesity, heart and kidney disease, to name a few.
Wingsong member, Sandra Kwa, in collaboration with conductor Telly Bertels, initiated Wingsong's involvement in this nationwide movement out of concern for the lack of progress in health equality:
"It is obviously not anyone's lifestyle choice to be sick and unhealthy," Sandra said.
"So if there is still such a stark disparity in the health of one particular group in our society, we simply must work harder at identifying the causes and finding solutions through genuine consultation and adequate funding, that group being our indigenous Australians.
"It is particularly concerning that over 200 years, our modern Australian society has not even succeeded in returning the original peoples to a state of health comparable to that which they enjoyed before 'modernisation'."
The Australian parliament recently tabled the Close the Gap report and acknowledged that negligible progress has been made over recent years.
Wingsong is extending an invitation to the wider Manning Valley community to come along and show support for, and learn more about, closing this gap. A light supper will be provided. Please come to 25 Queen Street, Wingham (opposite the Town Hall) at 5.30pm this Thursday, March 19.
