The Ballarat Health Services group is made up of singers who have an acquired brain injury – usually caused by a stroke – which has affected their speech. 

The choir was able to raise more than $2000 at a film fundraiser yesterday to keep the choir together and continue improving their communication skills.

While aphasia means the production of speech and the ability to read or write is stalled, people with the condition often retain singing ability despite their communication struggles.

The choir’s name was originally suggested by chorister John Hall. Hailing from Wales, there’s an area in his home town called The Mumbles, and he thought it seemed an appropriate name for the choir.

Mr Hall said while there was some shyness when the choir first started, the group had melded together.

“Straight away we can harmonise together … we do feel a bit better about everything after every session we have, and we laugh. 

“Your thinking is there, it’s all working, but it just doesn’t come out.

“So when you’ve got people who are the same as us, we can communicate and talk to each other.” 

Discussion and friendship within the group has become boisterous. So much so that a tea break at their weekly three-hour choir session had to be moved right to the end, in order to make sure practice wasn’t abandoned in favour of a chat. 

Choir leader and musician Geoff Hassall said the choir had grown in confidence and closeness over the journey. 

“The bonding aspect is a powerful tonic to what the music therapy is doing already,” he said. 

“We’re in our third year now, and it’s safe to say that everybody in their own way is communicating better, they’re certainly more expressive.”

“They’ve really lost the fear of having a go.”