Published: 5 January 2012

Turning one: Merry Hearts Choir, accompanied by service manager Jenny Totterdell (left), provides musical entertainment at North East Community Care's Christmas party

One year ago the Merry Hearts Choir of Centacare's North East Community Care (NECC), Northgate, made their singing debut and proudly lived their motto that "everybody can do something".

Their performance was a highlight of the service's annual Christmas pageant.

It was also a proud moment for NECC service manager Jenny Totterdell since the Merry Hearts group had formed a choir under her musical tutelage in 2010.

The group had become clients of NECC after an Ozcare day respite centre at Windsor closed to make way for busway and Airport Link infrastructure in Brisbane's inner north.

Not wanting to split up the group, Ms Totterdell said the service willingly accepted 17 new clients who had diverse backgrounds and needs.

The next challenge was to integrate the new group with NECC's existing day centre clients.

"I asked myself how I would do that," Ms Totterdell recalled.

"I wanted to create a link, and I needed to show my older clients that everybody is capable of contributing.

"When we showcased Merry Hearts my older clients were delighted.

"Merry Hearts is now an accepted group of enthusiastic people who enjoy the friendship and fun of the choir and mixing with other clients."

Under Ms Totterdell's direction the choir work from a repertoire of familiar and uplifting songs that are well received by audiences.

Merry Hearts performed with other choirs last year, including Sunnybank Community Choir "Vintage Voices" formed by Centacare's Amelia House Services, at a fundraiser for orphans of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

"Our choir received tremendous applause; their performance was amazing and we were very proud of them," Ms Totterdell said.

North East Community Care is part of Centacare Community Support Services and provides services that promote independence and well-being for frail older persons and younger people with a disability and their carers.

For more information phone (07) 3256 6722.