Menai lays claim to its very own Von Trapp family singers.
The five siblings from Sydney’s south all have incredible musical ability and have performed in some of Australia’s leading productions.
From Matilda, The Lion King, Love Never Dies, Macbeth and Cats, the big-budget shows have featured members of the talented Puse family.
And while they all like nothing more than being on stage, they admit it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.
The busy students from Menai’s Aquinas College and Holy Family Primary spend more than 45 hours a week attending singing, dancing and acting classes all over Sydney.
Aidan, 17, Ethan, 15, Leilani, 14, Kayla, 11 and Aubrey, 6, have taken part in musical training from the age of about 3 and take all the hard work in their stride.
Middle child Leilani has already decided she wants a career on stage and has plans to move to New York and do musical theatre once she finishes school.
“There’s nothing I like more than singing and making people happy,” she said.
“Moving to New York and performing on stage is the dream, it’s all I want.
“I love it because it challenges me, I try and put all my feelings and emotions into the song which makes a great performance.
“It’s really cool singing with my brothers and sisters, it’s something that makes us all very happy and that we can do together.
“I knew from an early age it’s what I want to do with my life and know all the hard work and missing out on other stuff will be worthwhile. We are very lucky we have been given these gifts from God which I want to share with the world.”
Mum Ranelle agrees that while juggling school along with musical tuition, eisteddfods and performances can be a struggle for her young brood she says it’s all worth it when she hears them perform together.
She is also quick to point out she’s unsure where their musical talents have come from.
“I must admit musical ability has skipped a generation with us, my husband and I aren’t musical at all, the kids have received it,” she smiled.
“We always thought it would be lovely for the kids to have some musical training: we just never thought they had so much talent.
“We started lessons when each of them were about three and they have just taken to it. They put in all the hard work and long hours and we are very, very proud of them.”