If you'll allow us to blow their horn for a trifle ...The cornerstone of ceremonies across the Valley since 1920 is fast approaching its 100^th anniversary milestone.

“So if anyone would like to reignite their musical passion, then now would be a good time to join because they’ve got two years to sharpen themselves up for the centenary,” tenor horn player and president Sandra Sims said.

“We’re planning to have a big celebration and a big blast out.”

The Band has provided the musical soundtrack to many of the Shire’s notable moments, including the original Macksville Bridge opening in 1931, the Macksville Hospital opening in 1958, the inaugural Back to Bowra festival in 1975, and the recent opening of the new highway and Phillip Hughes Bridge.

They regularly feature at the Australia Day Awards ceremonies, the Valla Beach Christmas Carols, the Macksville Gift, and they make the annual post-haste pilgrimage to at least four of the Shire’s ANZAC commemorations.

“And we do an annual concert at the Anglican church. People love to sing out loud, and when they’ve got this big oompa-ly brass band behind them, they can let their hair down and sing out big,” Sandra said.

“We try to get out at least twice a month at the markets or down at the river for no reason in particular – regular gigs give you that little extra pressure to get yourself up to speed for a performance.”

Sandra said that while the community gets something out of the musical exchange, the players are likewise rewarded by the experience. 

“Music always enriches the life of the performer as well as the listener,” she said.

“The Band provides the perfect group atmosphere for people of all ages and walks of life to come together and share the love of music … and the challenge.”

And when she says all ages, she means it: the youngest member is just eight years old, while there are seven players pushing 80.

“A number of times we’ve had kids join the band and because their parents have to drive them to rehearsals and sit there every week, we’ve had quite a few parents pick up an instrument too,” Sandra said.

The Band rehearses every Tuesday night at the Senior Citizens Hall in Macksville (next to the library), with the beginners group starting at 6.15pm and the senior band at 7pm.

Vacancies exist across a number of musical sections; though there are currently only two saxophones amidst the brassy bunch, they are more than open to some woodwind weight.

And if you happen to have a percussionist’s panache, then please come on down!

Instruments and tuition are provided free to all band members.

For further information, you can contact music director Ian Flarrety on 6568-3921 or Sandra Sims on 0422 041-799.