From the Archives - Marching into History
St Laurence’s College 1944 – 1999
In 1994, a Marching Band was formed at St Laurence’s College, inspired by the American Football marching bands. Brisbane had already fallen in love with the 1988 Expo Marching Band, where our own Director of Music, Ross Capern, spent eight months as a full-time performer.
In the 1950s, Lauries had a marching band even before this one. The Air Training Corps Bugle and Drum Band (pictured) was highly sought after due to their reputation for excellence. In 1955, the band played during the unveiling of the Tobruk Memorial in Beenleigh by Archbishop Duhig and led the Empire Youth March through Brisbane in May of that year.
Music at Lauries in the 1990s was quite different from what it is today and Ross saw an opportunity to introduce a new style to the students. The Marching Band began by learning to march to our School Song. Then, the band started rehearsing other choreographed pieces in the style of American football marching bands, taking cues from the Expo 1988 Marching Band. They became an instant sensation, especially after performing a routine to the theme from Ghostbusters at the awards night at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler.
Ross was then approached by two staff members: ex-Regimental Sergeant Major Marco “Kiwi” Gibbons, OAM and ex-Regimental Sergeant Major Neil Eiby, OAM. Marco served in both the New Zealand and Australian Armies, including tours with the 2 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) and Neil completed tours across South- East Asia in Vietnam and Malaysia with 1 and 3 RAR. They asked if the College Marching Band would march with them in the City ANZAC Day Parade. For a few years, the band proudly performed the school song and Waltzing Matilda whilst marching alongside their regiment.
“By 1995 instrumental and ensemble music had reached new standards. There were 18 musicians in the stage band, 30 boys in the wind ensemble and 15 in the marching band. There were smaller ensembles of senior strings, junior strings, guitar and percussion. The Music Association, a parent support group, was established in 1990 to provide logistical support and fundraising. Public and school performances were established as part of the school calendar”
Extract from “It is good for us to be here” by Ian McDonald
The band also took part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Fortitude Valley and at Runcorn before a First XV home game, making their mark as a unique and memorable addition to these events. By 2000, the band had made way for the Concert Bands that we all enjoy today. We owe a massive thank you to Ross Capern for his enthusiasm and dedication to Music at Lauries and the unique experiences the marching band brought to the students.
Damon Kelly, Class of 1998 Old Boy and Band member from 1997- 98 shares his memories of being a band member.
“Ross Capern was the Drum Major when I started with Peter Leszczynski also performing as Drum Major for some events. I played the clarinet and enjoyed the different events we participated in. It was a fun band to be a part of as the practice was quite different and we got to wear a hat. I remember we practiced on Savio Oval and may have ventured to Gair Oval - back when they both had real grass on them. Practice was a combination of learning our songs off by heart as we didn't use Lyres when performing our marching routines. Some of the songs we learnt that I can still remember were the School Song (obviously), Advance Australia Fair, Louie Louie, Waltzing Matilda and Gimme Some Lovin'.
The tricky part was learning to walk, playing your instrument and keeping an eye and ear out for the Drum Major, his whistle and mace. The Drum Major made sure we kept in time and directed us when to start and stop marching through a series of whistles and position of the mace above his head. I remember on some of the events the Drum Major throwing the mace into the air and performing some tricks of his own.
The events that I can remember are the ANZAC Day Parade and St Patrick's Day Parade in the City. Marshalling before the parades and early starts in the City were quite exciting for a young band member.
The ANZAC Day parades were special for me as my Dad was a Vietnam Veteran who served in the infantry during the Vietnam War and got shot in the Battle of Coral-Balmoral. I remember one year we set the VHS to record the ANZAC Day parade being shown on TV hoping to catch a glimpse of myself and the band in action.
The parade started up the top of George Street and went down Adelaide Street in front of King George Square and beyond. Often throughout the parade, depending on what was ahead, we had to march then stop and hold time and then continue to march but we continually kept time and didn't stop moving our feet. The main cameras and all the dignitaries' stages were set up at King George Square and just by chance we had to keep time right in front of everyone and the cameras. We received some good airtime on TV and the commentators gave us a good introduction. All was going well until we got the signal from the Drum Major to start marching again. I'm not sure what happened but I must have been slightly off and the whole band moved forward marching with their right foot and mine stood still and but then I caught up with the band when they marched forward with their left foot. I didn't realise at the time but when we all got home to watch the replay on VHS, you could see the entire band moving forward while I stood still and then me catching up on the next step. Dad especially enjoyed it as I think it took him back to the marching drills he had to do when first conscripted into the army.
I also remember the St Patrick's Day parade where we used to march from the City all the way to St Patrick's Church in Fortitude Valley. Quite the distance looking back at it now. The highlight was getting to play as loud as we could in the Ivory Street tunnel to get a big band sound and I’m fairly certain I managed to snag one of those marching band hats as a keepsake!”
