CANBERRA’S FIRST BAND
On this day 20 August in 1925, the Queanbeyan - Canberra Advocate mentioned that there had been some general development of ‘welfare activities’ in Canberra. The need for these welfare activities are outlined in our history book, Mr Chifley’s Baby: The Canberra City Band, 2013, written by William Hoffman OAM and John Sharpe.
The story, told on page two was that “The first federal government minister responsible for the Australian Capital Territory, a flamboyant, eccentric temperance advocate named King O’Malley, persuaded the rest of the cabinet that the new city of Canberra should be ‘dry’. This meant that those living there were forced to travel to Queanbeyan, 15km west of the new capital, if they wanted any liquor. Thus there was a nightly exodus from Canberra to the hotels just across the border.”
“The ban on liquor led to problems in the camps where most of the workmen lived, and the Chief Commissioner was keen to give the men something to do in their spare time besides going to Queanbeyan to drink.”
While the newspaper notes that there is yet to be a time and place advertised for the band rehearsals, a number of instruments had been sourced and that Canberra looked forward to being “brightened by the strains of good band music”.
We have attached the newspaper column for you to see, however those that can’t read the newprint, we have included the text here for you as well!
20 August 1925 Queanbeyan - Canberra Advocate
CANBERRA’S FIRST BAND
“While in another column we indicate that the general development of welfare activities at Canberra will not be available for publication until next issue, one phase has advanced sufficiently to justify present reference. Readers will have noted from daily contemporaries in the States that the Lord mayor of Melbourne, recently, on behalf of a few of the musical citizens of that city, presented to the Chairman of the Federal Capital Commission (Mr. J. H. Butters, C.M.G., M.B.E), a set of brass band instruments which the latter received on behalf of the Commission. This generosity, linked with the enthusiasm of a number of trained instrumentalists (who have combined under the aegis of the Outdoor Recreation Committee) who are planning regular and frequent practice nights - where, is at present not divulged, but that cannot long remain a secret - will bear fruit in due course, and Canberra will, it is hoped, foregather at various fixtures, which will be brightened by the strains of good band music, than which there is no more patent tonic to maintain the swing of an open air function. A fairly full range of instruments is included in the set, but the Recreation Committee has asked that some more be procured, and that certain adjuncts to the practice work of the band be provided.
Developments, together with the name of the volunteer performers will appear in our next issue. The public spirited action of the donors of the instruments, and the enthusiasm of the volunteer performers, deserve the hearty appreciation of the community of Canberra, and we have no hesitation in taking the liberty of tendering it on their behalf.”