promoting musical enjoyment and entertainment, for the

second year in a row, Coleambally Central School students are the recipients of a musical Christmas gift to add to the schools’ music department.

The Coleambally Community Volunteer Stage Production Company (COLCOM) gave the schools’ music department a Squire electric guitar and amplifier last year to help budding guitarists, and in consultation with CCS music teacher Anthony Firth, this year has given

students an Epiphone S.G. electric guitar, worth $500, to help

further their musical talents.

Funds permitting, COLCOM has given a firm commitment to provide a piece of musical equipment each Christmas to the school to further develop the love of music, and COLCOM music director Robert Gervasi sees the equipment as necessary tools for the development

of this particular interest.

“Music is not only enjoyable, but also gives a sense of self-satisfaction and worth. And in our (COLCOM’S) business of entertaining, we also have an alternative motive!” Mr Gervasi said.

“We also give the equipment to our students in the hope that one day they may consider joining all of us at COLCOM in providing quality entertainment for our

audiences. And let’s face it, we all need a little enjoyment in this day and age, what better way than to please others – and enjoy doing it at the same time.”

Furthering the enjoyment of musical talent of the area’s young, next year COLCOM will organise and conduct the Cole-ambally Battle of the Bands during National Youth Week (April 10-18, 2010).

A resounding success, last year’s inaugural youth Battle of the Bands proved most popular with youth from a wide cross-section of the community. But this time, COLCOM’S intentions are to go one step further.

Working with various youth workers and councils throughout the Riverina, it is anticipated seven heats of the 2010 Battle of the Bands be held at events throughout Riverina towns’, culminating in a grand final to be staged at Coleambally on Saturday, April 17. The massive event will be named ‘Rock on Riverina - Youth Battle of the Bands’

Still in the initial planning stages, local youth interested in the event, wether to compete, participate in the organisation, or merely to attend the concert are advised to keep an eye out in The Observer in January for further details.