OUR PAST
The OZY Youth Choir Honouring Defence Service (HDS) was the brainchild of OJ Rushton, who, at the time, was the Education and Music Director for the Kangaroo March Centenary Re-enactment - A Centenary of Anzac Project.
OJ saw starting an online youth choir with local chapters (or "Mobs") in each town as a way of connecting school aged young people with the March as it came through their town but more importantly, engaging them in what it means to be an Australian and to keep commemorative traditions such as Anzac Day alive and to pass on the Spirit of Anzac for generations to come.
She also saw it as a way of supporting local RSL Sub-branches, ESOs (Ex-service Organisations) and Communities to run commemorative services, using the arts as a platform to develop young leaders with an understand and knowledge of commemorative protocol and repertoire.
Rhondda Vanzella OAM, the Choir's President and co-founder, and OJ's vision has grown to support defence, transitioning and veteran families. The choir's unique online system means that, no matter where you are posted or whether you are a current serving or former serving, you can stay connected with your choir family. It is a place where young people can meet new friends, travel and perform whilst giving them powerful and life-changing leadership development.
With our community spirit and rural flavour, our choir brings the spirit of the bush to the stage. We are an “OZY” (Aussie) choir and, while we take commemoration seriously, we are a little bit larrikin and like to have fun just like those young larrikins who went off to the First World War who were also known for their singing!
We are an online, national choir based in NSW. Our goal is continue to grow to train and educate more young leaders, support more RSL Sub-branches, ESOs and communities with commemorations and continue to provide a place to belong for civilian, defence, transitioning and veteran families alike.
OJ saw starting an online youth choir with local chapters (or "Mobs") in each town as a way of connecting school aged young people with the March as it came through their town but more importantly, engaging them in what it means to be an Australian and to keep commemorative traditions such as Anzac Day alive and to pass on the Spirit of Anzac for generations to come.
She also saw it as a way of supporting local RSL Sub-branches, ESOs (Ex-service Organisations) and Communities to run commemorative services, using the arts as a platform to develop young leaders with an understand and knowledge of commemorative protocol and repertoire.
Rhondda Vanzella OAM, the Choir's President and co-founder, and OJ's vision has grown to support defence, transitioning and veteran families. The choir's unique online system means that, no matter where you are posted or whether you are a current serving or former serving, you can stay connected with your choir family. It is a place where young people can meet new friends, travel and perform whilst giving them powerful and life-changing leadership development.
With our community spirit and rural flavour, our choir brings the spirit of the bush to the stage. We are an “OZY” (Aussie) choir and, while we take commemoration seriously, we are a little bit larrikin and like to have fun just like those young larrikins who went off to the First World War who were also known for their singing!
We are an online, national choir based in NSW. Our goal is continue to grow to train and educate more young leaders, support more RSL Sub-branches, ESOs and communities with commemorations and continue to provide a place to belong for civilian, defence, transitioning and veteran families alike.