Banging the Bass Drum

The marching tempo has ended for Sale City Band member Bob Wallace, after 35 years playing the bass drum.

The demands of long marches have physically become too much for the retired Bob Wallace although he hopes to continue playing the E^b bass in static performances.

In his 35 years , he has marched in two Melbourne Moomba parades and played under 5 bandmasters.

He began learning the cornet in 1942 from the then bandmaster, plumber Bill Heron but war service intervened and Bob Wallace did not return to the band ranks until 1966 when he was elected secretary.

Music is on Bob Wallace's maternal side, his mother Ann (nee Wain) had her own band, known as Fannie Wallace's Old Time Orchestra, early last century, playing for dances at the Sale Mechanics Institute and Australian Natives Association hall.