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    A MUSIC JOURNEY: Ararat’s Kylie Finlay, left, performs at a Wild At Heart gig at Ballarat’s The Eastern Hotel with mentor Geoffrey Hassall. Ms Finlay will be attending Wild At Heart’s first Stawell-based songwriting and wellbeing workshops.

‘Medicine for the soul’

By Lotte Reiter

A songwriting and wellbeing program will use music as a ‘vehicle’ to carry the stories of regional people struggling with mental illness, disability and disadvantage.

Community arts company Wild At Heart is partnering with Stawell Neighbourhood House to host the first ‘Life Is A Song’ workshops in Stawell.

Across two weekends, July 27 and 28 and August 10 and 11, group mentors will help people write, produce and record original songs to perform at Stawell Performing Arts Festival in September.



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Wild At Heart’s executive director Phil Heuzenroeder said the workshops, combining music and community connection, offered people the chance to tell their unique story in a supportive environment.

He said the process, ‘full of life and vibrancy’, reaffirmed that taking the time to listen to and appreciate others can be important in their healing and wellbeing.

“We know the rate of mental health issues and suicide is extremely high in regional and rural areas,” he said.

“So sometimes it might seem ridiculous that writing a song can change things for people, but music carries a lot of feeling. 

“It can be a powerfully transformative path and a way of communicating that words cannot always achieve.

“Alongside other necessary support, this can help change the trajectory of someone’s life. I see people happy, people have smiles on their faces. The starting point here is ‘you are enough’.”

For Ararat’s Kylie Finlay, stories of her traumatic past are a stark contrast to the joy and family she found at Life Is A Song.

Ms Finlay, a mother of four, said she felt tainted with bad luck, with a life of neglect and violence, but her days were better when she had music.

She said the experience of participating in four workshops, soon to be five, was ‘life-changing’.

“I’ve been through a lot of childhood abuse and trauma. I’ve always said I was cursed at first breath,” she said.

“It’s quite hard. I’ve only seen my two sons about eight times in their lives. 

“But this is a way for me to express to my children how I’m feeling and that I love them, even though they might not hear it.

“It’s medicine for the soul and has been a really big thing for me. I know I’m going to be okay when I’m with Wild At Heart.”

Ms Finlay heard about the program through her mental-health support network.

She said it was an empowering process to produce and record an original song alongside inspiring and supportive mentors.

She hoped to release her own recordings  in the future, with profits going to Wild At Heart to support their work.

“It’s about giving us the power to give them the power to continue doing what they do so well,” she said.

“They inspire me because they are trying to do good in the world. They are one-of-a-kind type people.

“I’ve finally found where I fit in. Most of my life I’ve just been placed somewhere, but this is like family.”

Mr Heuzenroeder said workshops went through the process that all songwriters did, but with additional mentors ‘holding your hand’ along the way.

He said this made musical experience unnecessary when registering for the program.

“We make it accessible. This is for everybody,” he said.

“People who have never played an instrument or written a single word of a song can come to this because our mentors are there to help.

“When a person has others, who support and listen to them, that sense of friendship and affirmation is very valuable.

“We have the power to impact the life of another.”

Workshops will be at Stawell Neighbourhood House. People can use their NDIS plan to cover costs or pay $35 a weekend. Numbers are limited.

People can register by calling 9326 9970 or email info@wildatheart.org.au.

The entire July 17, 2019 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!