This week, a handful of the Tairawhiti Songsters entertained Te Wiremu House residents over pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Picture by Liam Clayton
Unsung singing group the Hospice Tairawhiti Songsters can't be found on Spotify, but they are familiar faces and voices in Gisborne's rest homes.
This week, a handful of the group's members entertained Te Wiremu House residents over pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
“The choir formed when palliative care volunteers got together
in 1992 to perform for Telethon,” said group leader Betty Stephens.
Known then as the Palliative Care Singers, the group is now known as the Hospice Tairawhiti Songsters.
“We perform twice a week at rest homes around Gisborne. I put together a book three years ago of about 350 songs. Songs range from World War 1 tunes to ABBA and Boney M,” said Mrs Stephens. “They're all in our comfort zone but we do have people who do harmonies.”
