Chorus Voices Ep 52: Christmas Voices 2020

Chorus customers in Albany enjoy a Christmas feast

Or listen on: Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Spotify | YouTube

In this year’s Christmas Voices, Angela Johns, Mandy Waters and Judith Hatton join Dan Minchin and Louise Forster to dive into inspiring journeys of survival and recovery in 2020.

We look back on what was memorable in 2020: taking the plunge to get into the pool; getting out of the house to pursue fashion design; and staying connected with the community after a paratrooper accident. We reflect on how it felt to save a life through a simple gesture of a meal delivery. At the end of 2020 we also welcomed new family members from disability provider Kira.

Angela, Mandy, Dan, Judith and Lou in the back room at Chorus Kitchen looking back on 2020

In a year dominated by COVID, it was a time of adaptation and growth as we were challenged and inspired to stay connected and work safely.

“Customers were getting a bit scared of coming in. So, the team came to me and said, look, we need to look at a different way of working,” says Mandy.

“Make a plan on the Friday; change it on the Monday. That was exactly how we were working.”

We also talked to people across the Chorus community about what was memorable for them in 2020. Overwhelmingly it’s been a year of caring for each other.

“I’ve learnt compassion and understanding like I never have before,” says Susan.

“And so we’ve gone into this process of really major change to our organisation to make it more local, simpler to operate in, spend more time with customers, which is ultimately what our mission is all about,” says Dan.

We wish everyone the best for the festive season and next year. Enjoy the Christmas podcast and see you in 2021 on Chorus Voices.