Boroondara Brass; Stonnington City Brass prepare for Anzac Day march in Melbourne
Marching with one shoe is just one challenge marchers have faced when taking on the Swanston Street Anzac Day march
Inner East
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The pounding of a bass drum and shrill of a trumpet are undeniably entwined with Anzac Day marches.
This Anzac Day, Boroondara Brass band and Stonnington City Brass will be marching along Swanston Street.
The Shrine of Remembrance steps and tram tracks along Swanston Street pose “unique challenge” for a marching band, artistic director Danny van Bergen said.
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One year he lost his shoe in the march after the heel became stuck in the tram tracks.
“I had to do the rest of the march with one shoe,” he said.
The band was formed in 2000 and is made mainly of under 30 year olds.
“It’s great to see a renewed interest in Anzac Day for younger people,” Mr van Bergen said.
“I think bands are vital to marches, it doesn’t have the same impact otherwise.
“it provides that instant stimulation and moral support as well as entertainmanet.”
Mr van Bergen said the history of marching bands goes as far back as wars, and he’s honoured to be part of that.
“Watching those people marching you can see them spring into step and their backs straighten when they hear the bands playing.”
Since 1911, Stonnington City Brass has enriched the ears of the community with their music.
Marching bands are undeniably entwined with Anzac Day and Stonnington City Brass has been involved for so long in the Swanston St service its members aren’t sure when it first undertook the 1.2km march.
Music director Kevin Hillier has been keeping the band in tune, and in step, for more than 20
years and said its an honour to continue the Anzac Day tradition each year.
“Its an honour to give back to the veterans and help them out on their day,” he said.
“For veterans, it brings them back to their days in service.
“You see their chest puff out, their step increases and there’s a real sense of pride.”
Stonnington City Brass has a wide age range of players, with the youngest being 10 and the oldest 82.
This year Stonnington City Brass is combining with Oakleigh Brass to lead the operational service since Vietnam (Gulf War) starting 8.50am from St Paul’s Cathedral.
You can catch Boorondara Brass band playing with the Malaya and Borneo Veterans section of the march starting from St Paul’s Cathedral at 9.20am