About

  • Goals and Objectives

  • To provide the opportunity of brass musical education and enjoyment to the people of Baw Baw Shire.

    To be good ambassadors of the Baw Baw Shire community through regular band performance and competition throughout Australia.

    To provide an opportunity for self development of members at their own pace.


  • Band Makeup

    Generally speaking the band consists of members drawn from the Shire of Baw Baw municipality and caters for brass and percussion players of both genders, of all ages and from rank beginners to the very experienced.

  • From within its membership two bands are established. Firstly there is the Warragul Municipal Learner Band which is mostly comprised of learners and students. This band is for those aged under 19 years. And secondly there is the senior band, which comprises those over 19 years of age together with many of the accomplished juniors. An example of a ‘contesting band’ would normally greet the judges with a field of 22 players plus up to 3 percussionists.

    The instrumentation of a brass band consists of cornets, flugel horns, tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums, trombones, tubas, tuned percussion and kit percussion. Generally the cornets are the solo instruments but each instrument is has an important part to play. The band itself is a collection of people who play music using brass wind instruments.

    Over recent years the make up of the membership of the band has changed dramatically with an even balance between juniors and seniors being achieved. Previously the juniors would have significantly outnumbered the seniors due to the high intake of students from district secondary schools. However, now many of these schools have their own music programs and musical groups, resulting in a reduction to the number of available juniors


  • Band Family

    The band prides itself on family participation with the membership consisting of many family groups. Parents are encouraged to get involved through committee work, music library or as ‘roadies’ who assist with the setting up and dismantling of equipment on play-outs. Parents and friends are very welcome to come to the bandroom to listen to rehearsals and participate in other band activities.

  • The band has young people and older people. There are chorus members and skilled soloists. There are boys and girls, seniors and youngsters. It is a cross section of the community, working not only to provide enjoyment for others, but to develop their talents as individuals and as a team, working to achieve something, to reach their own goals and the goals of the team. A team who are all joined together with their common interest in music. It’s an activity the whole family can participate in whether it be practices, play-outs or trips away whilst contesting.


  • Community

    For the most part the Band sees itself as a community service organisation, providing the pageantry of brass music at ceremonial occasions throughout the Shire.

  • For example, the band’s year starts off with Australia Day,with Band attendance as required to mark the day at Australia Day events in both Drouin and Warragul. Probably the next most, if not the most important playout is on ANZAC Day. The band has a leading role in the annual march and commemoration at the Warragul Cenotaph. The event is always well attended by the players who deem it a privilege and honour to be able to participate in this most important of national days.

    From time to time the band plays at what could only be described as ‘once in a life time’ experiences. Joining with the Baw Baw Shire or local organisations to officialise events such as the fanfare unveiling of our updated seating in the West Gippsland Arts centre. With many historic examples, such as the recent Olympic Torch Relay Street Parade in Warragul and the Federation March in Melbourne.

    Other community events attended by the band are Carols By Candlelight (Drouin & Warragul) , Ficifolia Festival, Hospital Fair, Service Club Dinners.

    During the year the band is also involved in ‘in house’ competitions at regional, state and national levels. This usually goes un-noticed by the general public but is an important activity of the band as it provides a yardstick for its musical competency. There is no better way to motivate the players and bandmaster alike than to enter a competition and contest against other bands in friendly rivalry. The spin off from this is that the playing of the individual and band improves.


  • Band Complex

    The band complex is located at the rear of the Education Centre in Smith Street Warragul and adjacent to the south entry of the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

  • The ground floor complex consists of a main rehearsal room, photo copier room and kitchen whilst upstairs houses a meeting room together with instrument storage and an extensive music library.

    The main band room is used almost every week day with the main practices, lessons, training band and ensemble practices. The walls of this room are adorned with trophies, photographs and memorabilia of the band’s exploits and achievements which go back over one hundred years.

    Almost all the instruments are owned and maintained by the band and are provided to members for a small charge which is included in the nominal annual membership fee.

  • Organisation

    The Band is an incorporated body and is administered by a committee which meets monthly (annual general meeting in August) at the band room. Anyone can be on the Committee of Management, provided they take out membership of the band and are nominated and elected onto the Committee of Management at the Annual General Meeting.

  • WMB is affiliated with the Victorian Bands League. The League looks after player registrations, clearances, transfers, competition rules, sets test pieces for competitions and generally represents the brass band movement on a state basis.


Life Members: