SONIA Bennett knows that music can bring people together and for well over a decade, the Wisefolk club has been uniting members of Toongabbie's senior community.
Sonia co-founded the group, which meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Toongabbie Bowling Club.
She said everyone who wanted to perform was welcome to put their names down at the start of each meeting and to play.
Current members include musicians playing a number of different instruments and some poets.
Sonia estimated the group had been around for about 14 years.
The 73-year-old has been playing music ever since she first picked up a guitar at the age of 19, has recorded a number of her original songs and performed at the first Woodford Folk Festival.
She said she decided to form the group because she knew how music could bring people together and thought members of the senior community might benefit from it.
"The group brings people together and gives them a reason to get out of the house," she said.
"Members are mostly people who have retired and want to meet people who are interested in similar things."
She said the group currently had around 20 members, ranging in age from their 50s-90s.
"Our oldest member is 93. He hasn't been in for a while because he can't carry his keyboard, so we are trying to arrange for him to use someone else's."
"We have another gentleman who just sings. He was a jockey who rode in the Melbourne Cup in 1956 and comes dressed in a different coloured suit every month."
Sonia said members could perform whatever type of music appealed to them and new members and guests were always welcome.
"I don't care how many people turn up, I just want to play music. At the end of the day, that's what musicians want to do," she said.
.For more information, email soniabennett@rewound.com.au or call 0423-162-205.