Peakhurst resident Dr Marguerite Foxon has recorded a noteworthy performance in NSW's bushfire recovery efforts
Marguerite is spearheading a drive to replace recorders in schools that were destroyed in bushfires.
In the past three weeks she has collected more than 80 recorders which will go to schools in remote areas of the state and Victoria/
Marguerite describes herself as an enthusiastic amateur musician and is a member of the Sydney Society of Recorder Players.
After reading an article in the magazine Limelight about the Resound project which aims to replace musical instruments that were lost in the bushfires she contacted Dr Rachel Hocking of the Resound project and asked if the Sydney Society of Recorder Players (SSRP) could help.
"She asked if SSRP would help Bobin Primary School about 350km north-west of Sydney to replace their musical instruments," Marguerite said.
"They had lost 15 descants, four trebles, two tenors and two basses.
"The response has been absolutely overwhelming. Donations of instruments, music stands and cash have come in from across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Illawarra, Ulladulla, Shoalhaven, the Southern Highlands and Canberra.
"We have received 83 recorders to date, over $3000 in donations including $600 designated for a bass recorder and $116 for a tenor."
Marguerite said the unexpected number of donations means that she will be able to supply musical instruments not only to Bobin Primary but also to Wytaliba School and even a third school.
She delivered the musical instruments to Bobin Primary School this week.
"But I'll continue collecting instruments as long as Resound keeps getting requests for recorders, musical stands and money for schools," she said.
Marguerite has played music all her life including the piano, violin and clarinet.
"I've been a lover of music all my life," she said.
But she only started playing the recorder six years ago after she developed arthritis in the thumbs and found the clarinet too heavy to hold.
"I heard a recorder being played in a concert in the United States. It was a concerto for recorder by Vivaldi and I thought 'what a beautiful sound'," she said.
"Music is absolutely important to children's education. There's buckets of research on how important music is to their intellectual and social development.
"Kids love making music so to give them back the recorder you are giving them the opportunity to find some enjoyment and meaning in the middle of all this loss.
"This is what music does for you. It gives you deep meaning and takes you somewhere else."
Details for the Resound project are at: www.resound.org.au
If anybody would like to donate a musical instrument they can contact Marguerite at margfoxon@yahoo.com
They can make a cash donation to:
This project is under the umbrella of the Sydney Society for Recorder Players:www.sydneyrecorders.com.au/
Donations to Sydney Society of Recorder Players account
BSB 062-022
Acct 0090-1589
Put Bushfire and surname in subject line.
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