Newcastle City Choir commemorates Anzac centenary

Newcastle City Choir has wound his heartbreaking story into their upcoming concert honouring the ANZACS, called For The Fallen.

‘‘Private Keppie was 31 or 32 years old when he left for war, but he looked about 17 years old,’’ said choir musical director Callum Close.

‘‘We always hear about young and up and coming men sacrificing their lives for their country, but we wanted to also focus on the moving stories of the more mature men who also put their lives on the line.’’

Mr Close said John Gillam and Yvonne Fletcher’s book Their Story; Service, Sacrifice and Community Support about life through the eyes of soldiers had been a valuable resource when planning the concert.

Mr Gillam and Ms Fletcher will be delivering spoken word pieces including excerpts from Private Keppie’s letters to complement the 25-member choir performing songs including The Ode of Remembrance and ‘‘musical songs that became anthems on the frontline’’ such as It’s A Long Way To Tipperary and Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit-Bag.

Other songs to be performed include I Vow to Thee, My Country; Daniel Moe’s Cantata of Peace; Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus; Joy of Man’s Desiring and Pie Jesu.

Mr Close said Private Keppie’s story would unfold as the concert moved between themes including the ANZAC legend, mateship, life and feeling lost at the home front, death, the grim reality of war and the aftermath of conflict.

Mr Close said his understanding of war was largely informed by the experiences of his maternal great grandfather who fought at Gallipoli and his maternal grandfather, who refused to discuss his time on the frontline.

For the Fallen will be performed on Saturday June 6 at Adamstown Uniting Church. Tickets can be purchased at the door or from  www.stickytickets.com.au/25317/for_the_fallen.aspx