Chelsea makes her mark at Telstra Dome

By Sarah Schwager
CHELSEA Edwards hit a high note at the EJ Whitten Legends Game last week.
Standing on the centre of the Telstra Dome, the 11-year-old Beaconsfield girl sang the Australian national anthem as the football legends prepared to make their mark.
Chelsea, who attends Casey Grammar in Cranbourne, has dreamed of becoming a famous singer since she first found her voice.
In 2005 she was judged winner of the Cranbourne Idol, run by Jansz School of Singing at Centro Cranbourne Shopping Centre, and she has not looked back.
“There were a lot people watching (at the footy game), but I was not really nervous. I loved it. I want to do it again,” she said.
Her father Steve Edwards, who runs a sports’ events and memorabilia company, asked that Chelsea audition for the coveted singing role at last Wednesday’s game.
Mum Linda said she blew them away in the audition and at a larger gathering to test her nerves before the big event.
“But on Tuesday night she almost had no voice, I thought we were going to have to ring up and cancel. I was feeding her honey and lemon drinks,” Mrs Edwards said.
“Then the sound checks didn’t sound great, it was echoing and she’s not used to that and so didn’t sound like she normally did. Then on the night she had two starts because the first time there was no sound in the microphone. It was so nerve wrecking.
“But by the end, all our friends in the audience were in tears and cheering. I was so proud of her. All night the players and people from the audience were coming up and congratulating her.”
Chelsea said she dreamed of becoming a famous singer and following in the footsteps of her favourite divas, Avril Lavigne, Pink and Hilary Duff.
She said she felt very lucky to have had the experience. The Richmond Tigers fan also said it was great to meet some footy legends, such as Doug Hawkins and Wayne Carey.
Mrs Edwards said while her daughter had had a break from singing lessons for a while, she was now considering signing her up with a musical theatre company to fulfil her love of singing and dancing, which she has been doing since she was just four years old.