Hello.

My name is Joshua. I have been living in Bourke NSW for almost two years. Being in a small, remote community can mean that many students do not have the same creative arts opportunities as children in larger cities and communities.

In November 2024 I began Bourke Children’s Choir, at the time a small fee per term community choir for primary aged children. In 2025 this choir was made free for all children.

I am planning to extend the music opportunities in 2026/2027 for a small group of students aged in year 3-6 to learn clarinet or saxophone from myself. This would be a low fee per week (around $20 per week), which would include all the music supplies needed, weekly clarinet tuition and one hour of band practise.

Sadly musical instruments do not come cheap. To purchase the instruments, supplies, music books, stands and all equipment necessary will be a considerable cost. Just for a standard Yamaha student clarinet has a price of around $900, as well as ongoing costs for reeds and repairs/service of instruments.

Please consider donating towards getting this project off the ground. All money raised from this Gofundme will go directly into the purchase of these instruments and enable students in Bourke to learn a woodwind instrument.

Goal Milestones:

$4000: four clarinets, reeds, books and stands to enable four students to receive clarinet tuition.

$6000: an additional two students can receive tuition and all supplies for 12 months.

$8000: enable an additional two students (total of eight students) to learn a real instrument from a qualified teacher.

Please note: lesson fees once the instruments have been purchased will solely be used for ongoing maintenance costs for the instruments, resupply of equipment. I will not receive any payment for this service, as it is my time volunteering.

My qualifications include the following:

I am qualified professional musician (Bachelor of Music Studies, The University of Sydney) and a qualified primary school teacher (Master of Teaching Primary, Australian Catholic University).

Thank you.

Joshua