Endeavour Battle of the Bands returns

The Endeavour Foundation at Redcliffe celebrated the organisation’s 70th birthday in style this month with a party to mark the occasion.

Site manager Callan Stout says the celebration gave clients and their families the chance to enjoy music and dancing, as well as lunch and a sneak preview of this year’s entry in the Foundation’s annual Battle of the Bands.

“They really enjoy music and the arts, getting out into the community and socialising with people, and it brings them a lot of joy to be able to come here,” Callan says.

Focus on ability

The Endeavour Foundation Battle of the Bands began in 2014, aiming to bring live music to everyone, no matter their ability.

This year’s Battle has the theme “the future is bright”.

Endeavour chief executive officer Andrew Donne says people with a disability are often told what they can’t do and the Battle of the Bands empowers participants to show the world what they can do.

“Our Battle of the Bands has the power to make people feel included and accepted,” Andrew says.

“However, people with intellectual disability haven’t always had the same opportunity to showcase what they can do.

“Seventy years ago, there was little support available for people with disability and children with intellectual disability were being excluded from Queensland’s classrooms due to overcrowding in the post-war baby boom.

“Endeavour Foundation was born from the voices of parents who started by demanding one of the most basic rights for their children – the right to an education.”

Watch the Battle live

More than 100 performers with a disability across 16 acts will show off their talents and love of music by taking on songs by music legends such as John Denver, The Beach Boys, and Elvis Presley in this year’s Battle, which will be streamed on Facebook.

While the Endeavour Foundation formed 70 years ago, Callan says its Redcliffe centre was established 65 years ago, originally as a school.

“Redcliffe was one of the first schools – it used to be the Tamariki Special School – and rolled over to a Lifestyle and Learning Centre in the mid-’80s to adapt more to the needs of our customers,” he says.

“A lot of our guys here have been around for 30-plus years.”

“This place is really home to them.”

Watch Endeavour Foundation’s All Abilities Battle of the Bands via Facebook at 1pm on Friday, June 25.

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