The Dutch Choir and Folkloric Group Dee Why was a choral group formed by 25 Dutch parishioners of the Dee Why Presbyterian Church in Sydney, Australia in 1958. Initially, the group was primarily focused on performing liturgical music for the church, but it later expanded its repertoire to include Dutch folk music.
Under the leadership of Isidoor Lammers, the group became a well-known and respected part of the Dutch community in Sydney, and it participated in a number of important cultural events over the years. These included the Shell Folkloric Festival, the Warringah Eisteddfod, Carnivale, Carols by Candlelight, and the Holland Festival. They also performed at the Sydney Opera House and Carols by Candlelight in Sydney’s Domain.
Despite its success, the Dutch Choir and Folkloric Group Dee Why eventually became defunct. However, its legacy lives on as a testament to the important role that Dutch immigrants played in shaping the cultural landscape of Sydney.
The following text is from a booklet published by the Federation of Netherlands Societies Ltd. in February 1985. The research for this booklet was done by Mijntje Hagen.
