Bandsmen to celebrate 75 years

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 24, 15 November 1983, Page 2

Bandsmen to celebrate 75 years

Several recent events commemorating local 75th jubilees serve to remind us that the year 1 908 was a very significant one for the Waimarino. Now it is the turn of another organisation prominent in the life and times of the Waimarino to celebrate 75 years of music in the Waimarino. The Waimarino Brass Band was formed in November 1908 with its headquarters in Ohakune. For the band's first public performance, 32 playing members from Ohakune and Raetihi took part using instruments — difficult to obtain in those days — provided by the Second Band of the Wellington Salvation Army Citadel. In 1927 a carnival was held to raise funds to purchase new instruments. It was a popular project involving a lot of hard work by those concerned but nearly £800 was raised and when it bought its instruments it was said to be the only band in New Zealand that had paid cash for its purchases. Interest in the^ band was maintained for many decades but in recent years the number of members has declined — there are only 1 4 at the present time. To finance the original band foundation members put in one guinea (£l.ls) each in cash representing a subscription of one shilling a week for 21 weeks. The original bandroom where practices and meetings were held was in the

Ohakune's Methodist Church Hall in Moore Street. The present bandroom which was erected, using voluntary labour, on a site donated by the Borough Council, is also in Moore Street at the entrance to the Motor Camp. The two World Wars greatlydepleted membership and it was only through the efforts of a small number of people that the band has managed to continue right through to the present day. Transport was another problem for the band in those earlier days. Whenever possible trains and coaches were used to transport bandsmen to functions but it was not an uncommon sight to see them walking the very dusty orvery wet three miles to Rangataua to play at a function or dance and then walk back to Ohakune. Only once has the band performed at a contest outside the Waimarino district. That was in Taihape in 1949 when it won the section for which it had entered. Not only was interest in

the Waimarino Brass Band greater in former days — the area also supported two teams of marching girls. With the advent of the electronic media and other forms of entertainment it was perhaps inevitable that interest in brass band music should decline. But there are signs of a recent revival of interest ... five of the fourteen present members are youngsters still at school who are learning to play instrument. The band's most recent public performance was two weekends ago when they provided a musical welcome at the Ohakune railway station for the 700 railway workers and enthusiasts who had arrived for the reenactment of the historicv spike driving ceremony. Another performance of note in recent years was the Waimarino Brass Band's appearance in the Raetihi film 'Skin Deep'. Next weekend's celebrations will fe^ture a street march through Ohakune at 2.30 on Saturday afternoon, followed by a dinner and dance, in the evening for all past and present meml^^ able to attend. About 200 bandsmen, exbandsmen and their wives are expected to be in Ohakune to share in the celebrations. They will be coming from as far south as Dunedin and from north of Auckland as well as from the West Coast. On Sunday morning a farewell will be held at the bandrooms in Moore Street.