Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Ernabella School and Community Choir shine at Adelaide Carols by Candlelight

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, has congratulated the Ernabella Children's Choir from the APY lands on their performance at Adelaide Carols by Candlelight.

    The 50 member children's choir travelled from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, where they attend Ernabella Anangu School, to perform for hundreds of families who gathered in Elder Park.

    Ms Macklin met with the choir before their performance to wish them all the best.

    "Congratulations to the children and their teachers on all their hard work and on their fantastic performance," Ms Macklin said.

    "It was wonderful to hear the choir sing in both English and the traditional Pitjantjatjara language, and to see how much the audience enjoyed it.

    "I know Ernabella is both a well travelled and very popular choir, which has released two CDs and won the Centralian Eisteddfod in Alice Springs in 2010, and it was a real honour to attend their performance.

    "The Australian Government provided $45,000-in addition to $15,000 from the South Australian Government-to help the children, their families, school staff, and elders, with travel, food and accommodation costs.

    "The Australian Government is proud to support this choir and school, which play a very important role for the children of Ernabella.

    "By having Elders teach Pitjantjatjara songs, traditions and culture, the school is ensuring that their students retain a connection with their traditions and culture.

    "The children have formed strong bonds with the elders, which has helped improve school retention rates and build the children's confidence, as well as encouraging greater community and family involvement in the children's education.

    "This, in turn, helps build safe, strong communities."

    The Ernabella Anangu School is the largest school in the APY lands, consisting of about 150 students from preschool to Year 12.

The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, has congratulated the Ernabella Children’s Choir from the APY lands on their performance at Adelaide Carols by Candlelight.

The 50 member children’s choir travelled from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, where they attend Ernabella Anangu School, to perform for hundreds of families who gathered in Elder Park.

Ms Macklin met with the choir before their performance to wish them all the best.

“Congratulations to the children and their teachers on all their hard work and on their fantastic performance,” Ms Macklin said.

“It was wonderful to hear the choir sing in both English and the traditional Pitjantjatjara language, and to see how much the audience enjoyed it.

“I know Ernabella is both a well travelled and very popular choir, which has released two CDs and won the Centralian Eisteddfod in Alice Springs in 2010, and it was a real honour to attend their performance.

“The Australian Government provided $45,000-in addition to $15,000 from the South Australian Government-to help the children, their families, school staff, and elders, with travel, food and accommodation costs.

“The Australian Government is proud to support this choir and school, which play a very important role for the children of Ernabella.

“By having Elders teach Pitjantjatjara songs, traditions and culture, the school is ensuring that their students retain a connection with their traditions and culture.

“The children have formed strong bonds with the elders, which has helped improve school retention rates and build the children’s confidence, as well as encouraging greater community and family involvement in the children’s education.

“This, in turn, helps build safe, strong communities.”

The Ernabella Anangu School is the largest school in the APY lands, consisting of about 150 students from preschool to Year 12.