Historic Annual Reports

The Bandmaster (Mr. J. H. Apps) reported for the half-year ending December 1912, as follows :-The Band, has had occasion to meet 56 times, 19 being charity and public performances, 5 engagements, 2 benefits and 30 rehearsals.

As seen again the charity calls are far greater than the engagements. The public should see the necessity for their assistance to maintain their band.

Recently the ladies held a bazaar in aid of the band, but owing to not being allowed to hold raffles it was not the success anticipated. The ladies who worked so hard under such conditions must be congratulated as a profit of £51 was shown. The band stall under Mrs. H. Richardson did good work. The ladies expressed a desire to see the band in new caps. I hope the committee will be able to do this as the present hats are very shabby also the uniform wants slight repairs and cleaning.

The band has some 25 instruments which are the property of subscribers; six of these are in good order. 14 slight repairs and 5 lots of repairs. I have been waiting for some months to start some lads, but have not been able to on account of the condition of the instruments.

I have to thank the Maffra and Bairnsdale bands for their assistance at our bazaar, also the Lyric Orchestra and the lady and gentlemen artists who assisted at the bazaar concert. The bandsmen gave the ladies who assisted at the band ball and bazaar a complimentary boat trip to Lake Wellington, although the bandsmen lost financially on this trip, every one present enjoyed the outing.

The possible attendance for practice and parades is 56; the bandsmen turned out well considering they receive no pay for their services and have often to lose their own time. The first three on the list are Master J. Apps 52, F. Boyle 51, J. Richardson 144. There are at present 25 names on the roll.

The band has given 19 charity and public performances and I think they have been appreciated by the public. We must thank the council for laying on the gas to band platform at Victoria Park. It is a convenience to us and an improvement to the Park.

During the Christmas holidays the band visited Cunninghame and played programmes each evening. Collections were taken up, which paid expenses and the bandsmen enjoyed the trip. We must thank the Cunninghame people for their kindness to us during our visit. To conclude I wish to thank all the ladies and gentlemen who donated to the recent bazaar.