The longstanding Sunshine Community Brass band celebrated the achievements of its 38 members at the band’s weekly practice session last Tuesday.
Eleven awards were handed out to members on November 25, including one for 60 years of service, the musical director’s encouragement award, badge of honour, badge of merit and the Ed Jenkins Memorial Trophy to band person of the year.
Sunshine Brass vice president Andrew Wilson has been performing with the band since late 2004, and said the awards night was exciting for the community group.
“I love playing music. The making of music and the friendships that come about through it, you know, everyone is pretty good friends with each other,” Mr Wilson said.
He said that band practice was a chance for members to “have a laugh” each week.
This year was the second time Mr Wilson had won the Ed Jenkins Memorial Trophy – an award which is voted by all band members.
“To win it once is amazing, to win it two years in a row is just humbling … I was actually shocked,” he said.
For Robert (Bob) Tabor, recipient of an award recognising 60 years of service to the Victorian Bands League, weekly band practice at Thomas Hall is a necessity.
“Oh, it’s my life. I think of it every week. I do it every Tuesday night and you couldn’t take me away from it,” Mr Tabor said.
“I don’t know really what to say, I’m happy about receiving it [the award]. I have been there a fair while now.”
The Sunshine Community Brass band was established in 1904 in Braybrook and became known as Sunshine Community Brass in 2002.
