And there is also great generosity.

While the choral group members are currently struggling to share their voice with others in the community, they haven't lost sight of a special feature of their performances.

Each year, in June and December, the singers usually perform to packed audiences at concerts in the Highlands.

A key part of those performances has always been to raise funds for Can Assist Southern Highlands through takings at the door.

It is has been a charitable focus of the Highlands Singers for about 30 years.

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Group spokeswoman Rosalind Beatty said that in recent years that focus had resulted in raising between $1000 and $1500 annually.

However she said, in 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Highland Singers had been unable to perform the June concert.

The December concert is also uncertain.

And that threw a spanner in the works for their fundraising efforts.

"Unfortunately singing is one of the worst ways to spread an airborne virus," Ms Beatty said.

"We have been advised not to resume rehearsals or performances.

"It is a sad situation. We are all good friends and love what we do.

"We are now looking forward to next year."

But the group's charitable focus in 2020 has not wavered.

Ms Beatty said the group members had already paid fees for the 2020 season.

"That money is usually used to print off music and to cover concert fees such as the rental of the hall where we practice," she said.

"We don't have those expenses this year so some of the members suggested we donate the money to Can Assist.

"Covid might have stopped lots of things, but sadly people are still getting cancer."

The decision has resulted in a $2000 donation to the charity which supports Highlands residents diagnosed with cancer, and their families.

It comes at a time when the charity is equally detrimentally impacted by COVID-19 from a fundraising perspective.

The charity was to have celebrated its 60^th anniversary this year with many fundraising activities planned, but those events have been shelved due to restrictions.

Can Assist Southern Highlands was also the chosen charity partner for the 2020 Tulip Festival, but this too has been put on hold.

Can Assist Southern Highlands president Jenny Harper recently told the Southern Highland News that the charity was distributing between $8500 to $9500 per month, which was a 20 per cent increase since January.

The Can Assist committee has welcomed the invaluable and ongoing support of The Highlands Singers in what is proving to be a tough year.

In the meantime, members of The Highlands Singers are restricted to tuning their vocal chords at home.

Or while travelling in the car, a Ms Beatty recently experienced.

She said she was travelling back from the Hunter region when a few songs from this year's performance program came on the radio.

"I started singing along," she said.

"I'm an alto and I remembered my parts," she added proudly.

The group is also hoping that The Highlands Singers conductor, John D'Arcy OAM will soon schedule something on ZOOM so that they can get together for some virtual practice.

Details about making a donation, offering sponsorship or becoming a Can Assist volunteer and member: www.canassist.org.au/southernhighlands or email southernhighlands@canassist.org.au

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