As usual, it is impossible to get a full band to the service, which we have attended for many years. This year, a group of our players gathered to participate.  As it is a church service, a number of hymns were played, the National Anthem, and the Requiescant – a piece in the style of the Last Post, written especially for Australian Police Remembrance Day services.

Thank you to those who attended.

The crowd enjoyed a varied selection of music, from the traditional marches to popular items. This was the final engagement with the band for our secretary, Madison, who will be leaving Rockhampton shortly to take up a new job.

A number of aspiring conductors from various organisations gathered at the band hall to take part in the event, with instruction being given by Lewes Peddell.

After the initial instruction had concluded, an ensemble drawn from a number of local music groups was played to give the newly inspired conductors some practical experience. This is probably the first time that a group comprising brass, woodwind, strings and percussion have gathered in the band hall in its 60 years of existence.

Thanks to all involved, in what is hoped to be the first of many such gatherings.

The band will play at the Rockhampton Heritage Village Markets this Sunday March 14th at 9am, 10am and 11am.

For Band Members

We will be playing just inside the main front gate which is opposite the Parkhurst Tavern which is in the street off the highway.

When you enter optionally pay the gold coin donation, turn right and we are playing  on the road at the back of the “wool shed” so it should be very easy to find. There is a big three there too I believe  but I don’t know if it will give us shade.

We are to play at 9, 10 and 11 so arrive by 8:30 to help with final set up please. We are planning on about 25 minutes per session.

Uniform

Dress that was decided was white shirt, no tie, but hat in case of sun.

Playlist

Songs will be selected from these depending on who is there at each session.

• Brass Band boogie
• Beer Barrel Polka
• Boom boom
• Cross Of Honor The
• Flintstones
• Fiesta Della Costa
• Guantanamera
• Greenbrier
• James Bond Theme The
• In The MOod
• Lion sleeps Tonight The
• Kracken
• Mr Jumms
• Pink Panther Theme
• Sing Along Max
• Side By Side
• Sweet Gingerbread Man
• Smoke On The WAter
• Those Magnificent Men
• Valero
• What A Wonderful world
• Voice Of The Guns The
• When The Saints Go Marching In
• Volare
• Victoria

See you there!



An audience of over 100 people were entertained by the band, soloists and an ensemble, with almost $300 being raised for the cathedral renovation appeal.

Soloists Nathaniel Fitzgerald-Hood and Megan Murray performed, as did the Saturday Ensemble, and deputy conductor Ellen Ronalds conducted the band in her first public concert. Unfortunately, this was the last performance with us of Solo Cornet player Paulo de Figueiredo before his move interstate.

The band has one more engagement for the year, at the Emu Park Carols on Sunday December 13th.

The venue is St Josephs Cathedral in Allenstown, commencing at 7.00pm. Entry is by a gold coin donation, which will go towards the cathedral renovation.

Soloists, an ensemble and the full brass band will be heard on the evening. Our Saturday ensemble group will be heard for the first time in public, and is pictured here following their final rehearsal before the concert.

All are most welcome to attend.

The Saturday Ensemble

The band played a number of hyms prior to and during the service, and also performed the Requiescant, a bugle call reminiscent of the Last Post, but specially written for the event. We believe this is the only Police Remembrance Day ceremony held in Queensland, and possibly Australia, that has a brass band participating. Our performance was well received by all. Thank you to those members able to participate.

We’ll post some more “after” photos, but here’s a quick look at the much cleaner area under the hall and the very consistent looking stumps (with sixty tonnes of concrete!). There’s still some plumbing work to complete but things will be working for Bingo’s return and then tidied up next week. There’s a a little more work to fix up the back stairs and decking as well as replacing the battens but then the whole building will be finished.

Well done to Lammi Bros Restumping for a job well done and a big thank you to those who assisted us get to this point. The Gambling Community Benefits Fund provided us with a grant of $28 000 which covered nearly half of the whole cost and has enabled us to undertake the project.