from Footscray Memorial Gardens down Geelong Road to the Footscray RSL on Saturday morning, 18th of January. A ceremony was then held, with the band performing national anthems, and Brenton Burley playing the Last Post.
The band has been relocated to Victoria University: Footscray Nicholson Campus, just 500 metres away from our 10a Hyde Street location. The VU campus is just west of the train line, still a short walk from Footscray Station.
The Hyde Street location is perfect for the development of an early learning centre to be built adjacent to the school. More information about this project here.
We had a wonderful time hosting the 2019 Yarraville Carols in the Gardens. The evening was compèred by the multi-talented Chelsea Plumley; music lead by Louisa Trewartha with the combined forces of Footscray-Yarraville City Band, Western Brass, and the Hyde Street Youth Band; a joyful massed choir made up of local choirs; and special guests Nina Ferro, Andrew Broadbent, Naomi Cochrane, Belinda Sofra, John Connors, Byron Crump, and special mention to Felicity Baldock who did
an amazing job filling in last minute for Margaret Haggart.
With an enthusiastic and ever-increasing crowd before us, and due to much thoughtful planning by the FYCB committee (particularly Kathryn Cooper) the event was relaxed, enjoyable, and thus a huge success.
Thanks to everyone who attended. See you next year!
Hundreds of people flocked to the zoo on the first day of summer, 2019. We performed a selection of creature related songs, such as The Bare Necessities featuring Laszlo Szetey, and Jurassic Park; hits like Eternal Flame featuring Hannah Trewartha, Uptown Funk, and Lemon Tree; and some festive tunes including our favourite Jingle Bells, Batman Smells arranged and performed by the talented Byron Crump. Although storm clouds threatened throughout, we and our wonderful audience had a great time.
Thank you to Maurice Mammoliti for hosting us. We hope to see you again in 2020!
My roommate is still sleeping so I’m sitting on the window sill watching the sunrise, writing a one fingered update on my phone.
The flight was ok, first one 8 hours – no sleep, 3 movies. Then a 15 hour flight. Maybe 4 hours of dozing. Binge watch of 6 episodes of picnic at hanging rock. At Paris airport for 3 hours going through customs, sorting out lost bags and finding people who were meeting us there. (Only lost one bag (not mine) should turn up today).
But then! We took the coach to Versaille. So beautiful! Wandered around the grounds for 3 hours with such beautiful weather. We walked through manicured gardens, paths, through the forest and endlessly found new twists and turns. Took lots of silly photos on a few different cameras.
Lovely day, great lunch. Back to Paris, went for a wander, had omelette and wine.
Bed at 7, just had 11 hours sleep.
Great day.
– Emily Furlong (solo trombone)
Where would we be without our helpers and supporters? Well, we would not be able to do half of what we have achieved during this Armistice Centenary year. Footscray-Yarraville City Band would like to thank all our helpers and supporters who do fundraising, promotion and community engagement, selling tickets and memorabilia, Front of House, Back Stage and technical support as well as providing sound advice to enable the band to achieve it’s goals. We’re incredibly grateful to have such a talented and willing crew supporting the band in it’s endeavours. Each and every helper is as much a part of the band as the those who sit in rehearsals and make the music.
Of special mention is Lorraine Wright and John Hoppe who have both thrown themselves into The Silent Anzac Project with an astonishing amount of dedication and perseverance. Lorraine and John have been working hard all year to promote our shows, develop contacts with potential project partners, fundraising, coordination of commemorations, poppies and wreaths, copious amounts of letter writing, research and just plain hard slog. Thank you, John and Lorraine.
The saddest times of the war were when families received notification that their loved ones had been killed. Letters were the only form of communication between soldiers and family and often the first inkling of a soldier’s death was when the family didn’t receive replies to the letters sent to him. This could cause months of worry before confirmation one way or another was received.
“It was with a very sad heart I read Ivy’s intimation of poor Leslie’s death. I had greatly feared something of the kind for about two months before. I had written several letters and had no reply and that was so unusual for him, but they were not returned and I still had a hope that whatever was wrong it would not turn out so serious as it has done.”
(Extract of letter to Elizabeth Scouller from her cousin)
Sometimes the first intimation of a soldier’s death was a returned letter marked “Deceased” and “K”.
The recent performance of The Silent Anzac at the Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading, was a great success. There were not many dry eyes in the audience at the end of the performance. We were graced with the presence of Whitehorse Councillor Prue Cutts, Captain Ken Greig OAM RAN Ret, Colin & Val Hamley, President, 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion Association, Pitsa Binnion – Principal of McKinnon Secondary College and students Andrew and Mitchell from the Box Hill North Primary School.
The performance of the show was our third this year and it was very pleasing to see the level of interest in the show especially from our younger folk. The poppies laid during the show by Box Hill North Primary School students Andrew and Mitchel were handcrafted by students at the school and will be laid by the band at the Australian National Memorial in France in November this year.
There was also a lot of interest from our patrons with the WW1 memorabilia and poppies display in the Waratah Room with Captain Greig, Secretary of the AE2 Commemorative Foundation, remarking that he was impressed with the display and information on the AE2 that was put together by our John Hoppe. Captain Grieg was also involved in the search and discovery of the AE1 near the Duke of York Islands in December 2017. The AE1 was lost with all hands in September 1914. In June 2014, Captain Greig was a member of the “Project Silent Anzac” which conducted a final maritime archaeological assessment of AE2. The project aimed to preserve, protect and tell the story of AE2.
Footscray-Yarraville City Band is very excited to announce that we will be live streaming our concert at the Williamstown Town Hall on the 27th October 2018. This is a free live stream for all to see!
Head to http://www.fycb.com.au/the-silent-anzac-concert-live-stream/ to view the performance.
