Content warning: This story contains reference to domestic violence
After months of rehearsing in isolation, is finally performing together in one room, sharing its message about the need to stop abuse against women and children.
The lyrics resonate for the group as they sing a chorus about no longer being a victim of violence.
Choir member Suzie Hill said performing in the same room with the group again has been extraordinary.
"To have that feeling of being back together and that sense of community, and that's what this suite of music does," she said.
The choir's showcase at the Australian Catholic University's Melbourne campus followed online rehearsals from July to October involving 100 participants - including members from the ACT, regional Victoria, NSW and Queensland - and an emotional in-person rehearsal involving Victorian members once that state's COVID-19 lockdown lifted.
Choir musicians at the No Excuses November rehearsal. Source: Supplied
The choir is made up of some women who have experienced domestic abuse and others who have not but hope to raise awareness of the issue.
Its original material has a dark tone but also moments of positivity, with messages of optimism for survivors moving on with a sense of strength into a brighter future.
Born in the Netherlands, domestic violence survivor Paulien George said she experienced sexual abuse and suppression over many years while with her late husband.
"I had no idea how much was within me that I had never ever been able to express or even realised what was happening."
I had no idea how much was within me that I had never ever been able to express. - Paulien George, domestic violence survivor
She said the choir has helped her personally through having the support of others while singing uplifting tunes.
"Because they are all true stories, based on somebody’s life and somebody’s experience."
"The people all around us, we’re all survivors, most of us, and the support that we gave to one another was just absolutely amazing," she said.
Psychology student Alisha Cheung is not a survivor of abuse but has volunteered with the choir to sing in solidarity with the other women.
Angela McFarlane (left) and Paulien George. Source: SBS News
"Given that there are women of all different ages and ethnicities and different classes ... it's nice to know that there is no one single woman or one single type of woman who goes through domestic violence and abuse especially physically and mentally," Ms Cheung said.
"I think it's powerful to be a cohort and as one together," she said.
Ms Hill said the choir's message had a broad scope.
Dr Kathleen McGuire conducts the singers and musicians. Source: SBS News
"It's very much about reminding us about the tragedy of domestic violence, particularly to women and children, not just in our community, but you know, many areas all around the world," she said.
She spent a year volunteering in an area of India and witnessed first-hand how some women she encountered were mistreated.
"I had my gap year in my 50s, some of the treatment of women and children ... is extraordinarily terrible," she said.
"But again, it's a product of the environment, a lot of the women have no rights."
Overcoming trauma
The shared experience has been helping survivors in the choir process the pain from their past.
Angela MacFarlane previously had a domestic violence order in place against an ex-partner. She said she has a bond with the other women in the choir.
"I understand what it is like to think you are not a victim of domestic violence and not to recognise you are living in an abusive situation, so it's really helped a lot of the singing and coming together with other people."
She said resilience is her strongest quality and that has helped her to cope with past violent experiences.
"If I wasn’t resilient I don’t think I’d be here, it’s made me a strong person,” she said.
The choir was formed and performed concerts in 2015 to highlight the issue of family violence and, because of recent public attention on the issue of women's safety, re-formed this year.
Choir conductor and co-composer Dr said despite some improvements in the domestic violence discussion, it remained an ongoing problem.
"It is still a huge issue for Australia, attitudes need to change, and also just things need to change for children because they grow up in a violent situation, they don't know any different," she said.
Dr McGuire recently won a community engagement award for leading the choir and the Bags of Love project at the Australian Catholic University.
She will also launch an academic study into the benefits of the choir to uncover how it has made a difference.
"So we’re conducting formal research of people who have seen the performances, people who have performed and hopefully that will then have a wider impact as well," Dr McGuire said.
Raising funds for women fleeing violence
The choir has already raised more than $6,000 to help the charity, 'Impact for Women', which supports survivors.
Last year, the charity packed 2000 Bags of Love filled with goods to be handed to women escaping violent homes.
This year, demand has grown with volunteers hard at work preparing 2500 bags with essential items such as make-up and toiletries.
Impact for Women's founder Kathy Kaplan said when one recipient of the goods became a volunteer, she explained why make-up was so important to her.
"When she said she liked the make-up I said: 'did it make you feel better?' and she said 'no, Kathy, it hid the bruises', so I no longer see make-up as a frivolous gift," Ms Kaplan said.
"Family violence, domestic violence, any violence actually or abuse is about lack of respect."
"It's about power and control and we need to teach everybody to treat everybody with respect and then we are going to have a much happier and healthier world."
The final song at the group's recent performance ended the show on a powerful note, as the singers proclaimed they were making no excuses for violence.
The choir will have a break over the holiday period and plan to perform again together in 2022.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000. The Men’s Referral Service provides advice for men on domestic violence and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
