Christine Anu joined an impromptu choir of 900 on Sunday to add her voice to the lobby against domestic violence.
Stand Up, Sing Out Sydney at the main hall of Sydney Grammar School was organised by Hummingsong Choirs to raise money for the White Ribbon charity.
Anu, who was joined by singer-songwriter Lior, said: "I have been reading the statistics and I just think we need to be speaking out about domestic violence so much more in the public forum."
Singers paid $20 to join the choir with their performance videoed for YouTube to promote the power of singing and community. What they chose to sing seemed appropriate – Respect by Aretha Franklin.
She said: "We chose Respect because it comes from a woman who has gone through a lot when it comes to personal issues in her life and Respect because of the things I have experienced in my life and also Respect for all the women and men and children out there who have had to go through hardships in their lives around domestic violence. This is for them."
Jen Turner who sings regularly with Hummingsong said there was a great healing power being part of a choir. She said: "I had a partner who passed away and this has been part of my healing process. When I heard our guest speaker Christine talking about healing from singing, it resonated with me."
Hummingsong Community Choirs are a network of women's a cappella choirs in six different locations on Sydney's Northern Beaches and North Shore. More than $100,000 has been raised over the last four years for women's refuges.
