S a l e C t y B a n d
Building the New Band Room
Buy a Brick and Help Build a Band Room
Sale City Band wants every person in Sale and district to buy a brick to help build its new hall. The price, $1 each. The band, which has just received approval from Sale City Council to go ahead, needs about $25,000 from the public appeal to make up shortfall. The hall will cost more than $30,000.
President Mr Ken Garner said today be was looking for "plenty of support from all corners of the community." Help was not only needed through monetary donations but also in labor and support from businesses. The band had already been guaranteed materials by one leading Sale firm at wholesale price.
"If we could generate this type of aid with others, it will go a long way to achieving the goal - the new hall." Mr Garner said he would approach local service clubs for help in constructing the building. Most would be on a voluntary basis by band members with supervision by tradesmen and council's buildings supervisor.
Over the years the band had performed many times for different organisations in the district, and he hoped they would now give some return help.
The band has had its present tin shed for 29 years.
Mr Garner said former bandsman Mr Len Pendlebury could remember when the building, which was draughty and damp, was moved to the Foster Street site from the East Sale RAAF Base. It replaced a hessian roofed barn, "which did not keep the rain out" that had been there since the 1920s.
The new hall with a fully equipped kitchen and instrument store will be built towards the rear of the Sale City Council-owned land. A driveway will run to where the present hall stands. Beautification of the area would take place with trees and a barbecue area. A car park for 11 vehicles would also be provided.
Mr Garner said that with the development, he hoped to generate new life for the band. The last few months there had been a growth in membership, particularly among young people.
Band master Mr Ray Jago said there were now about 10 learning instruments in use. Beginners were given lessons once a week by band member Miss Debbie Hemperger. Mr Jago said there were still vacancies in the band for concert and trombone players to add to the present 24 members.
First Sod for New Band Room
Work began on Friday on the Foster Street site behind the old rooms.
The rooms are being built on the same spot where Sale's first gaol was and there are still some signs of this with bearers in the ground. However, they will not effect the construction of the new building.
Works will be supervised by Sale builder and drum major Mr George Brown.
The band has a public appeal called "buy a brick" which it hopes to see every person in the district give a dollar, the cost of a brick. This would raise enough money to build the rooms.
Who Built the Hall
The Band committee was interested in replacing the very old building used as the Band hall, previously brought from the R.A.AF. Base in East Sale in 1948 to the site in Foster Street.
For 10 years the committee had applied to the Sale City Council for a grant to help them rebuild, and each year received the same reply: "Sorry, no money is available this year, but, plan to rebuild and develop on your present site."
During this ten year period the committee with the Ladies Auxilliary had been raising money for the 'New Building' project. Catering was the main fundraiser: painting the Sale Racecourse fence; dismantling an old house and shop; picking tomatoes; and by 1979 had raised about $13,000 for the building fund.
The committee decided to apply for a building permit and build with volunteer labour as among the Bandsmen were Carpenters, Electricians and Plumbers. A plan was drawn up and submitted to Council for approval, and about November, 1979 George Brown our Drum Major and his son Peter who were builders, pegged out the building and surveyed the levels. Vic Dean a committeeman for many years and a backhoe operator, dug the foundation which had to be three feet deep, because of all the filling, being the site of Sale's first Gaol - some red gum slabs were uncovered.
Brian Skeen a committeeman and player cleaned the trenches with shovel. Phil Mowat and Ken Garner poured the foundations. Jim Brown the bricklayer, built the brick footing. The sand bed was compacted by many people - all volunteers. Les Hempberger put the finishing touches to the steel reinforcement. Messrs Carter & Johns had contracted to pour the concrete slab and finish it off Jim Brown had given us a quote to lay all the bricks for $4,000 or if we supplied the labour, he would do it for $2,000.
In January, 1980 he rang to say that four of his bricklayers were 'idle' and could we start? With the help of many of our 'young players' we mixed mortar, carted and cut bricks. WE CANNOT SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF THE LABOUR OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. They worked like grown men. In one week the walls were completed. Bob Wallace made the 'open web' trusses for the roof. Stramitt had contracted to put in the acoustic ceiling and a clip-lock roof. Fred Thexton laid and polished the parquetry flooring: he was ably assisted by Les Hempberger. Russell Booth contracted to build the kitchen cupboards and the kitchen tiling was done by Debbie Hempberger and Ken Garner. Electrical wiring by W.R. & E.L. Jones. Alan Glover, the treasurer, undertook the big job of underground Electricity supply. Robert Johnson cared for the Gas supply and plumbing, and Bruce Garner fitted out the toilets. Painting of the Bandroom was done by Les Hempberger and Ken Garner.
Cr Lex Glover for the Council gave much valuable assistance with Council eventually contributing $20,000 out of a total monetary outly of $32,000
First Rehearsal in New Bandroom
14th July 1980
Moved into the new Bandroom, plenty of gas space heating, Gents and Ladies toilets, storeroom for music and instruments.
The first numbers we played were "Hootenanny", the second "Souvenir of Shakespeare" and the third was the well known "Colonel Bogey March".
After practice the senior members had a can of beer and the juniors a can of soft drink to celebrate the "arrival" of our new bandrooms. The drinks were supplied the Bandmaster Ray Jago.
Present for the first practice were:
| Side Drum | Geof Turner |
| Bass Drum | David Miller |
| Bass | Harry Fehst |
| Double Bass | Bob Wallace |
| Eb Bass | Peter Turner |
| Euphonium | Reg Boucher Len Pendlebury |
| Baritone | Bradley Hemperger |
| Tenor Trombone | Debbie Hemperger Ralph Greenaway Ann Davis Brian Davis |
| Tenor Horn | Gary Wallace Susan Hemperger |
| Cornet | Ken Garner Jim Woods Charlie Geddes Tony Gamble Brendan Rowait Leon Salter |
| Bandmaster | Ray Jago |
