Southern Ports Festive Auslan Choir to perform Christmas Carols in sign language before outdoor movie night

In a bid to get the Shire of Dardanup community into the festive spirit, a community Christmas choir will sing and present carols in sign language as part of a festive-themed outdoor movie event this weekend. The Southern Ports Festive Auslan choir is set to perform a number of Christmas carols during a Movies by Moonlight event in Burekup on Saturday, December 17 as part of the Fuel to Go & Play Summer in Your Park series. Before the outdoor screening of Home Alone 2, the choir will form part of the pre-movie entertainment, along with several games of laser tag and an exciting silent disco. The Southern Ports Festive Auslan choir is a project backed by the Shire of Dardanup with the aim of building community participation, connection, accessibility and inclusivity. A group of 21 community members aged between eight and 70 years old have been attending an eight-week AUSLAN course, learning the signing of basic words, finger-spelling and signing of six Christmas carols. Joining the Auslan choir for the performance will be the Vocal Fusion Youth Choir. Dardanup Shire president Mick Bennett said the Southern Ports Festive Auslan Choir was a “shining example of the Christmas spirit”. “(The Christmas spirit is about) bringing our community together for a collaborative project with so many important and positive social outcomes,” he said. Southern Ports regional manager Lee Smith said Southern Ports was proud to partner with the Shire of Dardanup for the project.