favourite school memory

I have one favourite memory from high school, but let’s start from the beginning.

I had always learnt and was able to read music growing up. My first instrument was the organ. I did this through primary school, and when I made it to high school, I switched to the clarinet.

Band Tour

I played in the school band through high school. We went on many band tours around New South Wales, including Coolamon and Ulladulla. We all had so much fun. Lots of memories were made on the bus, meeting kids at other schools. We also did concerts at school. I made many friends and experienced so much I otherwise wouldn’t have.

One memory I have is when I broke my braces! We were about 2 hours into the trip, and I had a fantale, a chewy caramel lolly. I chewed on it and broke off one of the bands on a back tooth. I ended up with wire sticking into the back of my mouth for the whole time!

One of our concerts on tour in N.S.W This is me at about 15. I think this was in Ulladulla

ANZAC Day March

But by far my favourite memory was in 1996 or 1997. At that time, the music teacher made us into a marching band. Many hours were practising to march in straight lines while playing an instrument.

In 1997, we were invited to the ANZAC DAY March in Sydney.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the First World War.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War

The march occurs yearly and all those soldiers from all Armed Services; past and present, march the streets of Sydney. It gives others a chance to thank them for their service to our country. There are many bands that are interspersed between the different groups. We were one of them. It’s a memory I will never forget. The crowds lining the streets, the sacrifice of the soldiers, it was AMAZING! I will never forget that experience!

Although this was a picture taken after I had left school, this is how we looked for the march. I still watch the march each year to see the band.

I enjoyed being in the school band! Although I don’t play the clarinet anymore, I have some great memories and life experiences from that time!