SALE Theatre Company's production of Brassed Off will continue this weekend a after a successful opening weekend in Stratford.

Brassed off, written by Paul Allen, has been adapted from the screenplay by Mark Herman and tells the story of the people of the coal mining town of Grimsley in Yorkshire, England.

With an ongoing strike and the imminent closure of the mine, Grimsley Brass Band, led by the indomitable Danny Ormondroyd, strive to keep spirits up and the band still playing-even under these most dire of events.

This play is full of wonderful characters and is both moving and uplifting.

This popular story is under the capable direction of Darren McCubbin.

The cast of 12 is made up of new and seasoned performers. Jill McCubbin, Michelle Linahan, Donna Taylor, Allison Norfolk, Liz Doyle (Sale City Band), Matt Bullers, Gary Kruithof, Stephen Millikan and Meryl Edwards, with Jack Slayford as Danny and Kevin Christensen as Phil.

The enthralling music for this play is provided by Hugh Davies and Sale City Band members who are also involved in the action of the play.

Brassed Off will be performed at the Stratford Courthouse Theatre. Opening night will be tonight at 8pm. Performances will be held this Friday, October 29 from 8pm and this Saturday, October 30 from 2pm and 8pm.

The Sale City Band march down the main straight ahead of the main race

SALE'S carols by candlelight gathering, held in the brand new sound shell at the botanic gardens, has been hailed a huge success.

The carols was the first event to take place in the sound shell which is yet to be completed.

Wellington Shire councillor Scott Rossetti began the carols service with the official opening of the shell.

"All that's left to do is install the bi-fold doors on the back of the shell and erect some artwork which will go on the left of the shell,'' he said.

Cr Rossetti thanked open space project officer Sally Nowak and the builder Darren Young for their contribution.

"Without their work and the work of the Wellington Shire and Sale City Band the sound shell wouldn't have been possible,'' he said.

"Imagine the kinds of events we can have here - it's going to be great.''

Sale Lions Club provided a barbecue for guests and cooked sausages the entire night.

Master of Ceremonies for the carols service was Cr Darren McCubbin.

Performances by Sale's St Thomas' Primary school, Young Voices Community Group, Neve Hassett and the Sale RSL Pipe Band kept the large crown entertained, as well as Sale City Band and the Stratford Singers.

Candles were provided free of charge.

BAND IN TUNE
Hugh Davies, bandmaster, Sale City Band

THIS year the Sale City Band is celebrating its 140th year of providing brass music and tuition to the people of Sale and the surrounding districts.

On Anzac Day this year the band provided a bugler at both the Sale and Stratford dawn services to play the Last Post. The band also participated in the Anzac Dav services at Stratford, Sale and Rosedale, providing the marching music, the hymn tunes, the buglers to play the Last Post and the national anthem at all three services.

The members of the Sale City Band give their time and skills voluntarily to the band so that events such as Anzac Day can be celebrated with great success.

How disappointed were the band members when they read the Gippsland Times reports of the events of Anzac Day to see that they did not even receive one mention, or photograph.

The band is finding it very difficult to attract people who would like to learn to play the brass instruments, so some support from the press would help the image of the band and maybe encourage some people to participate in the band's activities.

Future Anzac Day marches will be very dull events if there is no live music and the Last Post is played by a recording over a loud speaker. The bugler at the Sale Service was Ray Jago, who has just turned 80 and has decided to retire from playing the Last Post after playing it for more than 60 years. Well done Ray, and I hope there are people in the community that are inspired by your effort and that they too will want to learn to play a brass instrument and to join the Sale City Band in the future.

Let's keep the music on Anzac Day live and not broadcast over a loud speaker for the next 140 years.

Editor's note: Anzac Day services across the shire were covered by Gippsland Times, but not every photograph or participating organisation could be represented in the limited 5pace available in a paper printed only two hours after the Sale 5ervice. If the newspaper had been made aware that Mr Jago was to play his last performance efforts would have been made to ensure coverage of such a notable achievement. The Gippsland Times supports and endorses Mr Davies' sentiments regarding live music at Anzac Day services and wishes the band a long and productive future.