Community & Business
5 April, 2022
Students ready to make memories on the big stage
STUDENTS from Mareeba State School will hit the big stage again this year without restrictions for Channel 10’s Creative Generations State Schools on Stage (CGEN), performing “Memories” in Auslan Sign Language.
Since 2019, The Auslan Choir have taken to the big stage alongside other schools from across the state to perform popular a song in Auslan alongside a variety of singers, musicians and dancers.
The last two years saw restrictions around density and travel due to Covid, with CGen using the power of video conference to make sure the show went on, but this year it’s back to its original three-day format.
MSS Head of Special Education Services Pina Carroll said the signing group was honoured to be accepted again this year, being the only school north of the Southeast Corner to make it to the Auslan Choir.
“It is a great honour to be invited once again to join such an outstanding state school program providing a wonderful opportunity to showcase our students’ talent,” she said.
“Students have been involved in Auslan and the deaf community, both in school and in the wider community.
“This year we are excited about having 17 students performing live on stage at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre as part of the Queensland Signing Choir.”
Alongside Toowong State School and Indooroopilly State High School, the 60 students will be led by renowned Auslan Choir conductor Elizabeth Fletcher to perform in four shows to thousands of live audience members.
This isn’t Auslan captain Alice Gilman’s first time on the stage, and she expressed her excitement to take her friends, new and old, down to Brisbane and join her for another year.
“It’s very exciting because it’s a great opportunity to meet lots of other people from different schools,” she said.
“This is my third year doing this and the whole experience has been good because you get to meet new friends and sign songs that we may not have heard before.
“I think Auslan is very important because some people in our community are deaf and it’s a great way to communicate with them.”
Ms Carroll expressed how important it is having Auslan sign language a part of big spectaculars such as CGen and promotes an inclusive environment to audience members.
“CGEN is broadcast nationally and therefore the presence of the Auslan choir not only promotes the awareness of Auslan to a national audience but demonstrates the show’s inclusivity of all talents,” she said.
“The Auslan choir was established in 2013 as a Mareeba SS extracurricular activity – Giving Back Auslan to the Community program.”
CGen will be held from 14-16 July at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
