By BEN CAMERON
THE BEHAVIOUR of local dignitaries at the official opening of Cardinia Shire’s new headquarters in Officer was appalling, an angry attendee has claimed.
“Interested ratepayer” Jennifer Keates said she was disgusted when dignitaries and VIPs left “en masse” during a performance from Outlook’s All Together Choir, led by Jonathon Welch.
After an “informative” speech from the Governor of Victoria, and the mayor’s address, “it all went downhill at a rapid rate”, she claimed.
“I was appalled at the so-called pillars of society’s lack of basic good manners, common courtesy and respect for their local choir,” she said.
She said the choir, which had nearly 40 performers on the day, was only several bars into their closing song when “dignitaries and various VIPs all stood and left en masse for their free lunch and champagne”.
“The choir sang the national anthem at the beginning of proceedings, and then one other up tempo song at the end that would have lasted approximately two minutes.
“After waiting over two hours, surely they could have waited just another two minutes?
“(It left) the choir to sing to just a handful of people who paid them the respect of waiting to listen to them.
“From memory the governor was told to go cut the ribbon, as he was walking away the choir stood to sing.
“Well over 90 per cent of the VIPs stood and quickly left to follow him even though the choir had by then started singing, and they just continued to keep walking.
“I know that one councillor, I believe it was Brett Owen together with his wife and children, did stay to hear the song.
“The entire half of the audience made up of VIPs were conspicuous by their absence.
“They should update their etiquette and basic social skills before representing our community at future official events.”
A spokesperson for Outlook, which managed the choir, said it was disappointing people left during the performance.
“The report (from Mrs Keates) of the event is accurate,” she said.
However a Cardinia Shire Council spokesperson said attendees may have been misinformed about the structure of the ceremony.
“The Governor of Victoria and his wife were approximately half an hour late due to circumstances beyond their control,” he said.
“This was communicated to attendees prior to their arrival.
“At the end of the ceremony, attendees were invited to move around to the sliding doors at the western side of the building for the official ribbon cutting proceedings, while the choir provided background music as per the event plan.
“The choir member who wrote this letter may not have heard this announcement and incorrectly assumed that people were leaving the ceremony prematurely.”
The All Together Choir is a fully inclusive choir for all ages, abilities and disabilities.
