News Story

Mormon Youth Choir Marks 200th Anniversary of Major Australian Hospital

Over 100 young Australian members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded to an invitation from Liverpool City Mayor Ned Mannoun recently by performing at a reception to mark the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Liverpool Hospital.

Approximately 200 local, state and federal government leaders supported the event to commemorate 200 years of community service provided by staff at New South Wales’ largest hospital.

The reception was held at the Casula Powerhouse Art Centre on 27 September.

Mayor Ned Mannoun has become acquainted with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in recent months and first heard the Mormon youth sing at a stake conference (large church meeting) on 9 September.

“After the Mayor expressed his pleasure at hearing their beautiful voices, making a comment to me about the wonderful choir, I pointed out that ‘the choir was for hire... and better than that, they will donate their time and voices for free!’” Church spokesperson for the Sydney Australia Liverpool Stake, David Seacy, said.

The Mayor took up the offer and three weeks later the choir sang the Australian national anthem, ‘Advance Australia Fair,’ and ‘Consider the Lilies’ during the hospital’s anniversary reception.

Stake President Leo Gomez says that this is one of several opportunities that Latter-day Saints in the Liverpool area are taking to serve in the community. 

Last month Liverpool Latter-day Saints assisted the City Council’s Environmental Planning Office in two separate projects.  Church members have also participated in other ‘Mormon Helping Hands’ projects, such as supporting “Meals on Wheels.”

To assist Mayor Mannoun understand the Church’s strong emphasis on faith and families, local leaders provided the Mayor with a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

The proclamation includes a call to government and other leaders to strengthen families.  “WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

For Latter-day Saints, one way to strengthen marriages, families and homes is to encourage and provide opportunities for meaningful community service.

Liverpool Hospital in New South Wales is one of the leading trauma centres in Australia. It has 855 beds, 23 operating rooms and 60 critical care beds.  It also provides diagnostic and imaging services, emergency and trauma care, maternity, paediatric, cancer care, mental health, ambulatory care, allied health and medical and surgical services from birth to aged care.

Following the recent completion of the hospital's $390 million redevelopment, it is the largest hospital and tertiary referral centre in New South Wales and one of the leading trauma centres in Australia.

Having likely started as a tent hospital in the 1790s, Liverpool Hospital was established in a brick building on the banks of the Georges River in 1813, where it was run as a hospital for soldiers and convicts.

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.