Australian Concert Bands

Hey Guys

Not sure if you heard, but i read in the Daily Telegraph last week that the Royal Australian Air Force is closing down the Air Command Band, based at Richmond. The musos will transfer to the RAAF Central Band in Victoria

'Tis a pity...I have heard the Air Command Band and they were really good!

Ill see if i can find the article with more info

Got It!!



The RAAF Air Command Band is a 75-year-old institution that has provided hours of entertainment at military, charity and community events, including the Sydney Olympics.

But this year the final note will sound on the only NSW-based RAAF band.

Despite protests by the Air Command Band's supporters, the Australian Defence Force will scrap the band of 40 full-time musicians, based at RAAF Richmond.

The band will merge with the RAAF Central Band - which also has 40 permanent musicians - based at RAAF Williams, west of Melbourne.

The new RAAF Band will operate from January next year, meaning NSW will no longer have an RAAF band of its own.

The ADF insists no jobs will be lost and every one of the Richmond musicians will have the chance to move to Victoria.

Yet, at the same time, it says the new band will only have 44 - a mix of reservists and permanent military personnel.

"This decision will release over 40 permanent Air Force positions for employment in higher priority areas, particularly the introduction of new (military) capabilities," an ADF spokeswoman said.

However, appreciators of the Air Command Band's performances have been saddened by the loss of NSW-based musicians.

The band originated as a part-time brass band, the RAAF Richmond Band, in 1932 but did not become full-time until 1969.

It gained its present name in 1988 and in 2000 performed at Homebush Bay for the Olympics.

It tours each year and holds a monthly concert that attracts a growing number of music buffs to St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney.

Roger Williams played trombone in the band in 1952 and regularly attends the cathedral performances.

He recently put a petition to Federal Parliament in an unsuccessful attempt to save the band.

"The band itself has been a link between the service and the public - and an important one, to my mind," said Mr Williams, 74.

He said despite talk of an "amalgamation", the decision meant the number of musicians with the RAAF would be cut by half.

"The effect is the same: there will be no air force band in the Sydney region," he said.

The spokeswoman said the decision to base the band near Melbourne was due to the availability of space and easy access to RAAF bases at East Sale and Wagga Wagga, where "a large part of the band's duties are performed".

"The new RAAF Band will provide the same high standard of music," she said.

 The band will play in Martin Place from 11am today to commemorate the Battle of Britain.


Sourced from the Daily Telegraph
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22412811-5006009,00.html

That a real shame! They had some wonderfull people in that band that did alot of community banding in Western Sydney, but they all left for Vic months ago....werid

Gotta love government organisations lol!

TypicaL of small minded, penny wise pound foolish, bean counters, another good band gone, how long before they wake up to the fact, that service bands are one of the best recruitment avenues they have. this is on top of the huge public services that these great musios provide.

This has been coming for quite a while actually. It would be several months ago that I first heard about it. It just has not been made public, for whatever the reason was.
Its a pity. Was quite a good Band. This will also mean one less band on Anzac day here in Sydney.

Ive actually known about the RAAf Band for some time and signed a petition against what they are doing even as far back as last year.
Years ago and I'm talking 1990, the State Labor Government tried to close down the NSW Police Band. They succeded in getting rid of the Police Choir and the Police Pipe Band (the pipe band has come back with civilians in it recently)
This was the Police Minister at the time Ted Pickering. He was very quickly told to leave the Police Band alone and they were then made the NSW State Band and legislation was introduced into Parliamant so the band would also continue.