Greater Bendigo
Brass
PO Box 538
BENDIGO Victoria 3552
Australia
(formerly Greater Bendigo Concert Brass)
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Being a brass band, Greater Bendigo Brass is made up of both brass and percussion instruments. The players in the band range in age from 13 to 70 years of age. The band incorporates players of all abilities and is always looking for new players who wish to be part of a progressive community musical group. The band offers free tuition to those interested in learning music and can also assist with the provision of instruments. Please contact Colin Wellard for further information
Acting Musical Director
Colin Wellard
Colin started his playing career at Eaglehawk Brass Band on cornet at the age of 13, however he quickly saw the light and moved onto EEb bass and then onto what he describes as the world's best instrument, after the spoons, the trombone. Colin played in a number of bands including local jazz bands and he was a founding member of the Combined Schools Concert Band - now know as some wind symphony thing. Colin has conducted a number of bands in the local area including starting with the Golden Square Concert Band (now known as the Bendigo and District Concert Band) Eaglehawk Junior Band, Eaglehawk Senior Band, as well as a brief stint with the Maryborough Band. Colin has won a number of National, State and local titles both as a player and as a conductor. Colin is married to Leonie who plays tenor horn in the band. They have three children and he enjoys eating, sleeping, swearing and barracking for his beloved Western Bulldogs.
Eb Soprano Cornet
vacant
Bb Cornets
Julie Boyer
John Cairnduff
Tim Deboo
Harry Hood
Vicki Hynde
Tristan Rebein
Gary Rielley
It all began at Thompsons Foundry Band at age 10 with Don Normington (I didn't know he barracked for Essendon at that stage) I started on cornet but later played Baritone.
At age 22 Carol (wife) and I moved to Kangaroo Flat and I had a brief stint with Golden Square Brass Band. In 1985 my son Brett and I joined the Marong Municipal/Hopetoun Band where I played solo horn and Brett Baritone. My youngest son Steve also joined when he was 7 and played cornet. I have another son Mathew a couple of years after Marong M/H and Strathfieldsaye merged to form Greater Bendigo C B.
I retired from Banding to concentrate on a new business venture. In 2004 I resumed playing again and enjoy busking along with the band on cornet.
My interests these days outside GBB are Collinwood FC, family, gardening, whistling, and Collingwood FC
Bruno Siketa
Rendelle Wiseman
Flugel Horn
Peter Scott
Pete, 21, a.k.a. 'Mr Flugel Time', is a skilled and exceptionally talented musical entrepreneur who joined the band in 1999. The then pre-pubescent teen was captured and forced into the band by Mr Normington who happened to be on yard duty at the school.
Pete was happily moving through the cornet ranks until one day he caught sight of his stunning reflection on his instrument and instantly knew that he was destined for greater things. Through the power of the Flugel, Pete was able to wow audiences and melt hearts with his sweet brand of Flugel magic. When not creating beautiful Flugel tones, wooing audiences across the country and fellow band members, he strives to complete his Bachelor of Education so he can pass on his extensive knowledge to future generations.
Pete plays with his self indulgent 'noise' band Bang!Bang!Aids! and is fuelled by his addiction to Pepsi Max and love of attention.
Tenor Horns
Shauna Boyle
Originally a French horn player, I joined the band mid 2006 after Tim on cornet extended an invitation to come along. I was expecting to just come and watch for the first rehearsal, but was handed a tenor horn and invited to play. Having never ever seen a tenor horn before I was a bit shocked!
But after a few months of practise, I've picked up this new instrument pretty quickly and hopefully fitted into the band well.
As well as band, I'm a pharmacy student at Latrobe, and live with some friends in a share house. I also love seeing live music, hanging with friends, going out and playing more music!! Bring on the Nationals!
Jan Davey
Jan Davey came from a brass band family. Her father, the late Tom Peirce, was the bandmaster, and her brothers were all members of the Bendigo Citizens & Boys Band later to be known as Greater Bendigo Brass.
Jan was appointed to the position of Drum-Major in 1976, and has successfully led the band to take out various State and National titles in all grades, and has been awarded several Best Drum-Major titles including Champion Drum-Major.
She was the first female in Australia to become a Drill Adjudicator and become a member of the Drill Advisory Board of the Victorian Bands League.
Two of her children, Alan and Karen, are prominent musicians in Melbourne.
Jan started playing tenor horn at the tender age of 64 with the motto “better late than never.”
Jan has been President of the band for four years.
Barb Dugan
Barb began her musical career by learning to play the recorder in her mid-forties. She has also had a short “fling” with the clarinet and tenor saxophone. In 2002 she began to learn to play the tenor horn and is now filling the 2nd Tenor Horn spot in the Band. Barb is also a member of the “Phoenix Consort”, a Melbourne based recorder group.
Leonie Wellard
Leonie started learning cornet at the age of 11 with Eaglehawk Citizens Brass Band following in the footsteps of her two brothers and sister. At one stage, Leonie had five other siblings playing in the band. She saw the light and went on to play Solo tenor horn at age 15. Leonie had many successful years at Eaglehawk where she received many awards one being Life Membership in 2003. One of the most memorable moments would be winning the C Grade Australian National Championships in 1997.
Leonie married Colin in 1996. Eaglehawk Citizens Brass Band played at their wedding. 1998 saw the birth of twin boys (Colby & Caleb) and in 2001 welcomed a little girl (Sophie) into the family.
Leonie joined Greater Bendigo Brass in 2005 after her husband (Colin) took up the position of Musical Director, starting on 1st Horn and more recently promoted to Solo Horn. Leonie looks forward to the future with Greater Bendigo Brass – a fantastic social, musical and welcoming Band.
Andrew Young
Baritones
Howard Matthews
Howard joined Wedderburn & District Brass Band in 1949 aged 10 playing cornet. He also played with Charlton Band for a short period. In 1969 he joined the then Hopetoun (Bendigo) band later know as Marong Municipal Band and now know as Greater Bendigo Brass.
He is married to Margaret and has three children and six grandchildren. Howard loves fishing and eating Chinese food.
Trombones
Jim Craddock
Emily Kemp
Don Normington
Don was born at a very early age. His father played Euphonium with Thompsons Foundry Band in Castlemaine (as did his grandfather, his uncles and brother... not all at the same time of course). Don took up formal lessons at the age of nine and learnt from the bandmaster Mr Stan Doran, later taking lessons with Les Murdoch who later became musical director at Port Fairy. (Gary Rielley was Don's class mates in the early years.) Don played cornet, baritone and euphonium and became a committee member at Thompsons whilst studying Mechanical Engineering at Castlemaine Technical College and completing industrial experience at Thompsons Foundry as a design Draftsman.
Don completed Technical Teacher training and Married Janice in 1971. A posting to Wangaratta saw Don play trombone in the Wangaratta City Band and be appointed Musical Director. On moving to Kangaroo Flat in 1984 Don joined the Marong Municipal (Hopetoun) Band and has remained with the organisation in all its forms since. Don has been president, secretary and musical director at various points in the life of the band and still enjoys playing trombone with the band. Don's son Kaid took up brass when he was nine; perhaps it is going to happen all over again.
In the 50 years service the Bombers have won a premiership on average each 6.25 years and Don has participated in three winning National championship bands.
Don remembers when Footscray had a good band... they may have won a footy premiership when he was about six years old too?
Michael "TOOTA" Trewarne
Michael started learning brass at the age of 11. He joined Eaglehawk Citizens Brass Band on 3rd cornet in 1987. Michael then went on to play baritone, tenor trombone and is currently playing bass trombone. He had many successful years with Eaglehawk Brass winning numerous local and state competitions with the major highlight of the band being crowned Australian National Champions in 1997.
In 2003 Michael decided to travel to Europe on a working holiday and based himself in England. While in England he played with Cambridge Band and Delph Band. He played in numerous concerts and competitions including Pontins, North West Areas and the famous Whit Friday March competition. On returning to Australia he signed with Greater Bendigo Brass in 2006. Outside banding he enjoys travelling, tennis, golf, films and of course music.
Euphoniums
Pat Dugan
Patrick's musical career began at 11 years of age as a bugler with the St. John's Ambulance Brigade. In 1949 at age 15 he enlisted in the British Army as a Band Boy in the First Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, later transferring to the Staff Band of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. During his 20 year service he spent a year at the Royal Military School of Music, served in the Middle East during the Suez Crisis (where he earned his one and only medal) and with the British Army of the Rhine in Germany. Whilst in the Army he became interested in the recorder (probably because it's smaller than a tuba, which was his instrument at the time). After leaving the service he has played with many bands in the U.K. and here in Australia. He is also leader and founding member of the “Phoenix Consort”, a Melbourne based recorder group.
Robert Hallinan
Robert played cornet for a few years in Sydney at Macarthur District Concert Band and then with St Marys Band Club Brass Band. He played flugel at City of Liverpool Brass Band for 15 years before transferring to Campbelltown-Camden District Band where he played euphonium for 10 years. He played in Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany with Campbelltown-Camden District Band during their 2001 European Tour.
Upon moving to Bendigo he played euphonium with Eaglehawk Brass for a year before transferring to Greater Bendigo Brass band in early 2007 fill a vacancy on baritone before joining the Euphonium section. He is also vice-president of the Evergreen's Band where he plays euphonium.
Jarrod Handley
EEb Bass
Aaron Hoare
Brian McMennemin
I commenced my banding career at the age of 11 at Maldon. The baritone was the instrument given to me, and I later progressed to the Euphonium. In 1956 I entered the RAAF as a “Boy Musician” with the RAAF Band at Laverton. The year 1956 was a great time for me as I was able to attend several of the Olympic Games events including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
After leaving the RAAF in 1964, I joined St Kilda Band and remained with them until 1969 when I moved to Springvale and then joined Dandenong Municipal Band. Apart from being a playing member, I was also a Vice-President of the Band for 2 years and also the Bandmaster of the junior band. In 1976 I saw the light and moved to Bendigo to work with Empire Rubber.
Arriving in Bendigo in 1976 I continued my Banding as Bandmaster of Bendigo Central Band. Most people would know that Strathfieldsaye Municipal Band came about by the Sponsorship by the Shire of Strathfieldsaye in 1977.
In 1979 I became the Bandmaster of Hopetoun (Bendigo) Band after being asked to take the Band whilst the incumbent bandmaster took some much needed holidays. He never returned.
I took over the reins at Marist brothers Band in 1984 as well as still conducting Marong Municipal (Hopetoun) Band until 1981. As you can imagine, I was fairly busy with rehearsals as both Bands had a very successful run over these years.
I have been very fortunate whilst conducting Bands at National and State level, and the 3 national Titles were a great thrill to me however, being runner up 5 times was a bit of a downer.
I have been very fortunate right from the beginning of my Banding career in that I commenced at Maldon with a great teacher (Eric Desmond) and the consequent great tutors within the RAAF Band.
Since July 2006 I have been a member of the Greater Bendigo Brass as a Tuba player. I am enjoying playing in the twilight years of my musical journey.
Whoever you are, regardless of playing ability, always be self critical and aware of what you are doing and maybe you will impart some of the joy that you get in being involved in Brass Banding onto to the general public.
Footnote: - I was reading recently that "in Heaven, all Brass Bands consist entirely of Tubas"
BBb Bass
Denis Pinch
Denis started banding at the age of 10 with the Bendigo Municipal Band - starting on tenor horn, then baritone, then EEb bass. At 18 he joined Hopetoun Brass Band on BBb bass. At 20 he found other interests and left the brass band movement. At 40 he rejoined Hopetoun Brass Band on EEb bass. He continued as a player with them and the following the merger of Marong (Hopetoun) Band and Strathfieldsaye has continued on BBb bass.
He has 3 children, all of whom were in the Marong Band. The two boys found other interests, but his daughter Laure continued playing cornet and flugel horn achieving Australian Champion on both instruments. Denis said he cannot get a squeak out of either.
Percussion
Annette Conway
David Turpie
David Turpie has been currently playing percussion for more years now then he cares to remember. Being a percussionist he has no memory (or counting skills). On a serious NOTE though (they keep getting better), David has been performing with various brass and concert bands for the past 15 years as well as being involved with a variety of Theatre Company Productions such as 'Man of La Mancha', 'Fiddler on The Roof' and 'Grease' to name a few.
He intends to graduate to the trumpet in the near future with a jazz quartet as many people have commented on how he's full of hot air.