National choir to sing at UQ Thanksgiving Service

The high profile Australian Youth Choir will sing at The University of Queensland’s annual Thanksgiving Service, at Mayne Hall, St Lucia, on Wednesday, May 1 at 5.30pm.

The University’s free annual Thanksgiving Service pays public tribute to people who have donated their bodies for the advancement of education for students in the health care professions.

The service gives the donors’ families, friends and visitors a chance to meet with University staff and students in a common celebration of thanks to honour the donors and their bequests.

The Australian Youth Choir comprises some of Australia’s finest young artists, who last year sang in Athens, Rome, Florence, Salzburg and Vienna.

They are affiliated with, and will host the 2002 Australian visit of the Vienna Boys Choir.

For the UQ service, 55 boys and girls from the Brisbane Chamber Choir of the Australian Youth Choir based in Brisbane will perform under the direction of Sarah McGarry.

Executive director of the Australian National Youth Performing Arts Group Peter McKenna has released the choir for the performance following an approach by Associate Professor Shaun Collin of UQ’s Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology.

UQ Thanksgiving Service organising committee chair is Leo Brown of the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology. He said this year the service would specifically honour 49 donors who died during 2000 and whose bodies had assisted students over the past two years to gain increased knowledge of human anatomy.

“The names of these donors are inscribed in a Book of Remembrance which is carried in procession at the interfaith service,” he said.

“A central and very solemn part of the service is the lighting of knowledge candles and the ceremonial reading of donors names. It’s a very moving occasion.”

Mr Brown said UQ had held the Thanksgiving Service annually since 1992. The model has been so successful, it has been adopted by other tertiary institutions in Australia and New Zealand.

“I have received many positive comments from families and friends of donors. They express their gratitude that the University conducts this service in such a compassionate manner and that it provides a closure to the grieving process,” he said.

During the service, University Chaplain Reverend Ian Howells will be joined by other ministers of various faiths, together with staff and student representatives to conduct this event.
A floral bouquet will be presented to each donor’s family. Service details are available at the web site: www.uq.edu.au/news/events/thanksgiving.html

For further information, contact Leo Brown (telephone 07 3365 2515) or Associate Professor Shaun Collin (telephone 07 3365 4066).