By DANIELLE GALVIN
ONE OF the shire’s oldest icons is in danger of hanging up their band uniforms and calling it a day if more members don’t come their way.
The Cardinia Civic Band is looking for members and a bit of funding to keep the band alive.
Members perform at the Pakenham Remembrance Day service, ANZAC Day service as well as most community events in the shire and they say being involved in the band is like nothing else, and it’s a way to stay connected with other musically inclined people in the area.
Committee member and trumpeter Tim McClimont says the band is in danger of closing in the next few years, but the committee was confident that this wouldn’t happen when more members join in the fun.
He said the level of talent in the band was undeniable.
“Some of us hadn’t played for up to 20 years, then decided to dust the cobwebs off the old horn, and I am certain that there are others out there that would like to join if only they knew we existed and we looking for people,” he said.
“There is no audition or selection process; just come and join, any skill level welcome; we want to be more about enjoyment for the players and the audience.”
There are about 30 members in the band, but Mr McClimont says there is always more room for people to join.
“This has been running for just over 100 years – and we are struggling for funds, so we’d like to bump up our numbers,” he said.
“That’s why I’m asking people to dust off their horns and come and give it a go.”
Mr McClimont has been involved for about three years and says there are members in primary school and others in their 80s.
“We are all volunteers – we just love it,” he said.
“We are trying to target people in the community who don’t realise there’s an outlet for them if they have played before or even if they haven’t.”
The band rehearses at the Pakenham Upper Hall on Tuesday nights from 7.30-9.30pm and it’s a social outing for the musos too.
Mr McClimont said the band would be missed if the band folded in the next couple of years.
“From a community point of view, we play everywhere,” he said.
“Anytime there’s an event, we play at it, and I think the community would be at a bit of a loss if we weren’t there.
“We certainly never have enough members and we have big gaps in the brass and sax sections, but at the end of the day we don’t care what anyone plays, all they have to do is come on a Tuesday night and watch.”
The band is also a way for younger musical stars to learn from the band members who have been performing for years.
“For me sitting next to people who have been playing for years – that’s pretty amazing,” Mr McClimont said.
Kim Thomsen from the band said the band used to be called the Pakenham Brass Band and it was in operation before 1899.
“We have documentation dating back to then and There are photos of the band in the Pakenham Historical Society and the Toomuc Valley historical book of troops coming home and the band playing in the main street,” she said.
The committee is also hoping to run some variety nights and is also encouraging everyone to visit their Facebook page and come along to a practice.
