Pare’s brass band to play on Anzac
They’d never so much as played more than a note between them.
But with nine months of training, a group of eight employees from the Department of Corrections played at an Anzac dawn service in Paremoremo last year to around 300 people.
This year, they’ll be back again with two hymns and the national anthem. Two of the players will even be doing solos.
Band tutor and also an employee of the Department of Corrections Billy Middleton said he had to ‘‘start from scratch’’ with the novice musicians.
He began with four weeks of music theory, before members of the band rented brass instruments to start on.
They rehearse once a week on Saturdays for around four or five hours - time and money, Middleton said, members all put in themselves.
The idea to form a band came from a former senior officer at the prison, who Middleton said was keen to involve corrections officers more in the local Anzac service.
‘‘It’s about connecting with the community,’’ Middleton said. ‘‘It’s also about presence and... just a show of respect.’’
The Anzac dawn service is held at Sanders House, Sanders Rd, Paremoremo, April 25 at 6am.
Other services for North Harbour include Albany, Coatesville and Hobsonville Point.