Despite being diagnosed profoundly deaf just months after her birth, Billie has defied the odds to be selected as a member of the prestigious Australian Youth Choir.

Just 18 months after her birth Billie, a Year 3 pupil at Telarah Public School, was fitted with a cochlear implant and as a result her life has taken a rather dramatic turn.

"When we were told that Billie was deaf I was just devastated because I never thought she would hear but thanks to the implant her life is very different to how I expected it to be and more surprisingly she can actually sing," Billie's mother, Jenny, said.

Billie was chosen from hundreds of young hopefuls to make the choir and will travel to Sydney on a regular basis for rehearsals.

"Billie can't participate in a lot of sport because of her implant so instead she has focused on music and dance and she has done really well," Mrs Charleston said.

"We were all so excited and immensely proud of her achievement and we still can't believe it.

"I mean making the choir is an achievement in itself let alone if you are a child who is deaf."

Source: http://maitland.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&story_id=443029&category=General%20News&m=12&y=2005