'A lot of noise, a lot of joy': Sydney sea shanty club singers raise the roof in raucous reunion

Redfern bar shakes like the hull of a ship as devoted community comes back together after year apart

Over the past year, various members of the Redfern Shanty Club found different ways to cope. Robert Boddington, with his thespian's voice and easy stage patter, gathered a few friends and tried to sing in public places, just turning up in the dead of night and quietly singing away". Robin Howard says he got the shakes". Emma Norton, a train driver with a soaring Celtic voice, says: I sang to myself a lot, I guess."

On Monday night, as restrictions in Sydney were almost completely lifted - with relaxed caps on capacity in bars, and no limits on singing - this devoted and joyous community finally returned to their favourite weekly ritual.