Concert
in Keith - May 2005
Maurice
Elkin helped arrange a concert in his home town of Keith, in the
South East of South Australia. His organisational
skills came to the fore, and the day was a huge success.
P.E.A.K (Promoting Entertainment & Arts Keith) were a great
help too, and the Magors Bus Service provided comfortable travel
on the coach which ferried us there and back. Funding
through Arts SA allowed us to perform under the banner of
P.E.A.K.
The
Goolwa Concert Band performed a variety of tunes, and were
joined by 8 local youth from Keith on various instruments.
A guest soloist John Stewart joined in for a number of songs,
with his well rounded, full bodied vocals!
Paddleboat
Jazz, the Flute Ensemble, Waterport Quartet, and the Junior
Band, all took their place at various times during the
afternoon, to present items of their own to the appreciative
audience.
In
memoriam: Ron Turner 1922 - 2001
The
band suffered the loss of its Honorary Musical Director, inaugural
Life Member and prime mover with the death of Ron Turner. Ron
was born in Pt Augusta in 1922. Ron played with a number of
bands in Adelaide, including Henley & Grange Band, before
moving to Mt Gambier where he established a business. He was
Musical Director of Mt Gambier band for many years until he
retired to Goolwa in 1982.
Ron
became Musical Director of the Hahndorf Band before taking up
that position with the Goolwa Band, then a brass band. He instigated
the move to a concert band, arranging music to suit the instruments
available. He taught himself to use music software on his computer
to speed up the process. During the last few years he was unable
to continue as musical director due to ill health. However,
music was still important to him and he took up the saxophone,
attending band rehearsals as often as his health would allow.
He was always available to help out answering any queries and
arranging music. Our sympathy goes to his family. He is sadly
missed.
Keith
turns 80! - May 2001
Our
musical director Keith Pope recently turned 80 - and we celebrated
by presenting him with an OBE award (Old Bastard of Eighty)
at a supper party after practice.
Band
members celebrating with Keith
|
Musical
Director Keith (the birthday boy), his wife Val, and RonTurner,
Consulting Musical Director
|
Assistant
Musical Director John Duffield advising Keith on how to
cut the multicoloured cake
|
Jack
Bennett receives Award of Merit from Concert Band Association
- September 2000
Our
oldest member, Jack Bennett, received an Award of Merit from
the Concert Band Association of South Australia at our September
Annual General Meeting. Jack was nominated by the Goolwa Concert
Band committee for attending practice so regularly despite many
health set backs including hip replacement, heart surgery, and
treatment for cancer. Jack is a great role model for all of
us and is always willing to help the younger players. He plays
alto and tenor sax in the band.
Peter
Hansen receives life membership - September 2000
Peter
Hansen, who is one of the original members of the band, was
given life membership on 12th September 2000 for his longstanding
support, membership, and significant contributions to the band.
Peter plays a trombone and bass guitar in the band, and always
has a joke to share with the rest of us!
Ron
Turner receives life membership - September 1998
Ron
Turner has been one of the driving forces of this band from
its inception in the 1980s to its change to a concert band in
the late 90s, when he worked long hours to arrange our existing
music for concert band instruments. Ron was the Musical Director
of the band for a long time until health reasons forced him
to hand over to current MD Keith Pope, but he remains on the
committee and still plays in the band. In recognition of Ron's
contributions to the band, he was presented with the inaugural
life membership award on the 22nd September 1998.
As
well as being Musical Director, Ron used to play trumpet in
the band. When he became unable to continue with the trumpet,
he took up saxophone, and in his late 70s is an inspiration
to all of us.