Our musical chaplain

Alisha Fung is hitting the high notes as Uniting AgeWell’s musical chaplain.

From starting with Uniting AgeWell at Noble Park Community to now being at Camberwell Community Condare Court, she’s spreading the joy, note by note!

She’s more than just a beautiful voice – she also runs a number of wonderful initiatives including Soul Café, a Poet’s Corner and meditation for residents.

Alisha, who moved from Canada to be with her partner, used to play her ukulele and serenade residents at Uniting AgeWell Noble Park Community during COVID-19 lockdowns. She would also perform at karaoke events and sing one-on-one with those seeking a hymn or a song or two. All while wearing a mask and a face shield! But singing through two layers of plastic only strengthened her resolve to keep on going!

Then Residential Services Manager Nancy Carganilla invited her to teach the staff – and herself – how to play the ukulele, bought more instruments and Alisha formed a band. Performing was great for team spirit and of course for the residents, who absolutely love the music. The ukulele band now plays and sings at special events, including at the Care and Ageing Well Expo earlier this year.

Since moving to Condare Court Alisha has also spread her ukulele magic – and she and the staff are sharing the joy, song by song.

Their band is called U-Dare (combining the words ‘ukulele’ and ‘Condare’) and they practice every week. It’s morphed into a singing group for residents as well who do various performances throughout the year, with the next big ones for the Christmas season.

Despite the beauty of her voice, Alisha has had no formal singing training.

Alisha has also introduced Soul Café’ which is a gathering to decrease stigma and generate conversation around dying and death. It involves discussing fear, gratitude and of course sharing stories.

She also runs meditation for those of all faiths and none, to practice silent presence and reflection.

There is also Poet’s Corner where residents listen to the podcast, ‘Poetry Unbound’ by Padraig O’Tuama (the Irish poet with a beautiful voice) who reads a poem and elegantly deconstructs it.

During Spiritual Care Week, Condare Court has organized a masseuse to give staff massages and gifts of soap, indigenous made notebooks and bookmarks to give to staff with a note about the importance of spirituality and invitations to be spiritually well in themselves.