The Sale City Band marched in the street parade with the brigade

Sale City Band at the Traralgon Eisteddfod

THE Sale City Band has been busy this year competing in eisteddfods across the state.

The results have been impressive - second place at the prestigious South Street Eisteddfod at Ballarat, second place at the Yarram Eisteddfod and an honourable mention at the Traralgon Eisteddfod.

The competition season is finished and the band has begun performances during the entainment season.

October is a busy month for the band. The band was at the Sale Fire Brigade march on Saturday and will he at the St Pauls' Anglican Cathedral fete tomorrow and the Sale Cup on Sunday.

Raymond Jago has blown his cornet in at least 70 ANZAC Day parades with Sale City Band.

RAYMOND Jago has been playing the same tune for over half a century. but said he will never tire of playing in Sale's ANZAC Day parade.

This year Raymond will play his 70th ANZAC Day parade with the Sale City Band. He is a life member at Sale and is currently its longest serving member.

Raymond plays the B-Flat cornet for the Last Post and Reveille at ANZAC Day services in Sale and Stratford. He also plays when diggers pass away.

"ANZAC Day is a big day, you want to put your best foot forward," Raymond said. "Practice makes perfect and after 70 years I think I have it down to a pretty fine art."

Raymond learnt to play the cornet as a boy at primary school in Kew East. "It's the only brass instrument I've ever played, .. he said. "There is a lot of skill involved."

Raymond went from the school band to the Kew Municipal Band before moving to Gippsland in 1950 when when his parents bought a sheep property at Giffard.

"I have very pleasant memories of my time in bands," he said. According to Raymond, a favourite memory was playing the then Victorian Football League (now AFL) grand final at the MCG in 1949. 'The roar when team entered the ground; I've never experienced anything like it," he said.

"We then went on to play at the grand finals in Adelaide and Western Australia, three grand finals in three states; it was amazing.

Despite playing the same instrument for over half a century. Raymond said he would never tire of playing the comet. "There is a lot of things to like about the comet. it produces a magnificent sound." he said. "It can be overpowering if you blow the devil out of it, but it's a beautiful sound if you do it right."

To commemorate his decades of service to the Sale City Band and local ANZAC Day parades, Raymond has so far been awarded badges marking is 25th, 50th and 60th year with the band.

'This might be my last year this year at age 78," he said. "I love it and I'm just lucky to have been fortunate enough health-wise to be playing for this long."

THE Sale City Band has added another trophy to the display case after winning this year's Victoria Bands League D grade state championships.

The competition is held each year in conjunction with the Royal South Street Eisteddfod at Ballarat.

In 2008 the Sale City Band was runner-up, but this time the band was awarded first place by a substantial margin.

The band is always busy this lime of year. Before travelling to Ballarat, it performed with the Sale Theatre Company in Breaker Morant at the Stratford Mechanics Institute Hall.

This Sunday the band will be again competing at the Traralgon Eisteddfod.

If you want to hear the band, why not come to Sale Memorial Hall on October 9 for au evening of musical entertainment from 7.30pm? Tickets at the door.

If you're really keen, come to practice on Monday evenings in the Foster St band rooms and join the band. New members are always welcome, phone 5144 6130.