Echuca Federal Band in action at the Port of Echuca.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
Doug Morison isn’t exactly coming out of mothballs, but he does admit he has been doing a few arm stretches and shoulder rolls to limber up for the Echuca Federal Band’s 170th anniversary extravaganza on November 14 and 15.
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Because Doug was the band’s conductor for 27 years before hanging up the baton and calling it a day.
And he has been invited back to conduct a massed band at Hopwood Gardens on Sunday, November 15 from 11am.
Band president Peter Heywood – who described Doug as a legend of the Echuca music scene – said five bands will combine for the massed finale on the Sunday, after giving individual performances beforehand.
He said with EFB being joined by Rushworth and District Concert Band, Numurkah Town Band, Bendigo’s Evergreen Brass Band and Boroondara Brass Band from Melbourne there will be more than 100 musicians in action.
“Our own Federal Band will open the performance, with each band then given its own segment, with the grand finale being the massed bands,” Peter explained.
Doug was an instrumental teacher whose career took him around the state and saw him conduct bands in Wonthaggi, Melbourne, Shepparton and Echuca.
It was a lifelong dedication to music which in many ways was pivotal to not just the success but also the survival of some of those bands.
Peter said the band is proud to be the modern face of a long-standing local legacy.
He said its 170th anniversary honours a musical tradition that stretches back to the early days of our community – in fact back to impromptu campfire music sessions.
“We are one of the oldest community bands in existence in the country, but we have also showed the foresight and flexibility over the decades by transitioning into different band formats,” Peter explained.
“From our brass band roots we have gradually expanded to include woodwind and percussion, developing into a full concert band and jazz ensembles,” he said.
“This transition allowed us to broaden beyond traditional marches to include classical, film, musicals, popular arrangements and contemporary works.”
For Doug the journey from Wonthaggi to Echuca for the event will be a serious trip down memory lane.
Not just for the years he devoted to the band and the music scene, but also for the recollections of the many young students he helped launch successful careers.
Peter Heywood from the Echuca Federal Band and Eric Sanders from the Rushworth & District Band
Photo by
Jemma Jones
Turning 77 the day before the anniversary weekend, Doug said he was hopeful he would only have to stand up in front of the bands and wave his arm in any direction.
“I’m pretty confident the musicians will know exactly what they are doing regardless and what my baton is waving,” Doug laughed.
“If they don’t, we might all be in serious trouble,” he said.
“I am very honoured, but this is an honorary position, so I am pretty sure they are not expecting too much of me.”
