History of the BIU Band

[woodies]

Hi there.

This is a plea to anyone who may venture onto this site and forum. The BIU band is currently researching its history. If there is anyone out there who could help with missing pieces of information about past activities, past members, past champions and stories about the band then please feel free to contact the band through this forum.

Also, if anyone has information about earlier bands in Broken Hill such as The Broken Hill Band, Bartley's Barrier Brass Band, The Silverton Tramways Band, The Amalgamated Miners Association Band, The Barrier Citizen's Band, The Broken Hill Salvation Army Bands, The Silver City Ladies Band, The Broken Hill Police Boys Band, Marist Brothers' Bugle Band or any of the school Fife and Drum bands, then please contact the BIU Band.

Thanks,
Woodies

[Tubaman30]

Hi BIU Band,

When I was at High School you crurrent Vice President, Wayne Orr introduced me to the world of brass banding, this was one of the best things ever to happen to me. I started of on Tenor Horn and now I play EEb Tuba.

I am the Editor of the BANSW publication The Music stand. If you are trying to locate historical information I can suggest you contct our historican Mr. Jack Grieves, His phone is 02 6386 2531 and postal address is 133 Swift Street, HARDEN NSW 2578. Unfortunately Jack does not have email. If there is any information available I am sure Jack will have it.

If I can be of any assistance please let me know.

Regards to all
Allan Lock
Sydney

[woodies]

Thanks Allan. Geoff Moore gave me Mr Greaves' number a few weeks back. Also, many others have passed on his name since I posted a message on spitvalve. Thanks though.
Nice to hear from you. I hope Wayne didn't have too much of an influence on you

Craig Wood

[Tubaman30]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your reply post, and good luck with your historical search, there is certainly a lot of history with the BIU Band. I am proud to be part of its history.

Wayne was only a positive influence and it great to see he isstill involved in the band banding world. Stephen Podner was also a positive influence when I began banding. Please pass on my regards to the the band al anyone who remembers me.

Allan

[woodies]

To encourage people, here are some of the facts I have unearthed that were previously little known.

The first brass band west of the darling river was the Wilcannia Town Band in 1883. There was a band prior to this in Wilcannia but for some reason it disbanded. the Mayor of Wilcannia, Walterus Brown reformed the band in 1883 with strong suggestions that no playing members occupy committee positions as was the case with the previous band.

The first brass band on the Barrier was definitely the Silverton Salvation Army band in 1884 closely followed by the Silverton Brass Band a month later.

The first Brass band in Broken Hill was not Bartley's Barrier Brass Band as previously documented but the Broken Hill Band. The Broken Hill Band was active in the skating Rinks and theatres from 1886 onwards, Bartley's Band formed in 1890. Mr Andrews was the conductor of the Broken Hill Band.

German musicians were the earliest and best brass soloists. A German Band, the Rhein Band, existed in Broken Hill in 1899 and reviews in the paper suggested they were more capable musicians than the established Broken Hillites.

There, that might not jog any memories but I hope it inspires people to think about our history and the potential that exists in researching the subject.

Craig