MARION CITY BAND

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (15:18): I rise today to congratulate the members of the Marion City Band's three musical bands for their outstanding success at the 2012 National Band Championships held in Melbourne last month. The premier outfit, the Marion City Band, outplayed 11 other bands to be named Brass C Grade Champion, as well as finishing third in the Open C Grade marching.

The Warriparinga Brass Band took first place in D Grade Street Marching and third place in the Open D Grade Brass; and the under-19 Warriparinga youth outfit was national champion in B Grade Junior Brass, having moved up a grade after previously winning C Grade. Emily Legg was named Junior High Tuba National Champion, while Ed Koltun took out second place in the Open Tenor Trombone.

With the crucial backing of the City of Marion, the support and talents of local musicians and their friends and families, the Marion City Band has grown to be a popular and proud ambassador for the City of Marion, whether it plays down the road, across the state or around the nation. The band has a history dating back to its humble beginnings in 1969, with Mitchell Park Boys Tech being its original feeder school. These record member numbers and a consistently busy calendar make it one of the busiest city brass bands in Australia.

When Veronica Boulton took up her role eight years ago, 14 players came to the first rehearsal for a single band. In 2012 the Marion City Band encompasses three bands with around 80 members aged from seven to 70. With an average age of 22, there is strength in the young numbers, but the band welcomes new members of any age. Its training group caters for beginner adults as well as youth and children.

The Marion City Band provides a wonderful opportunity and environment for learning a musical instrument and fostering that talent, with many players going on to study music at a higher level. I have to declare some personal interest here, too. My 15-year-old son, Bradley, plays trombone in the band. Indeed, family support and participation is a key part of Marion City Band's success in recruiting and retaining members and performing to a high standard. In some cases entire families become part of the band, with up to three generations all playing.

This is all part of the friendly, social atmosphere in and around the band, which Veronica believes is an important element of its success. Many of the players become really good friends and socialise outside the band's rehearsals and performances. The recent results in Melbourne further consolidate competition success that has been building for a number of years.

Six months ago at the Blue Lake Band Festival in Mount Gambier, the band won the titles of 2011 SA Champion C Grade Band, the 2011 South Australian Band Association Band of the Year and the Festival C Grade Champion Band, while Veronica was named Musical Director of the Year. While band members do not just get involved to play in competition, Veronica says that the challenges provided by such events as national championships have been the main reason the players have been improving so much. They look forward to competing and stretching their abilities.

An interesting and varied repertoire also provides plenty of challenges. Just at last week's rehearsal you would have heard a range of tunes, including the Mission Impossible movie theme and, from the 1970s, Crocodile Rock, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Smoke on the Water. In highlighting their success, I would like to thank Veronica Boulton, the Marion City Band executive, Bernice (who has been feeding members for years—and the supporters) and, of course, I must thank the players for their dedication and commitment and the wonderful contribution they make to our local community.