Sally Hamond is a retiree who excited to now be spending more time on family and music. Ms Hamond plays clarinet and is the Public Officer and Treasurer for Greater Western Community
Band. She spoke to Star Weekly about her connection to Melton.
What is your connection to Melton?
I moved to Melton in 1989, enticed by lower housing prices and the parklands, gardens, open spaces, and the close proximity to country areas. Through local community groups such as scouting and band, I have made many wonderful friends. I think any group of people with like goals and interests can work together to create amazing results.
What is your favourite place in Melton?
I considered Woodgrove Shopping Centre, Melton’s Botanical Gardens (especially when I play there with the Band), Reading Cinema which is just across the road from me, Friends’ houses for a chat and cuppa…Then I realised it can be anywhere at all as long as a friend or two are there with me.
What, if anything would you change about Melton?
I would love to see the creation of a Performing Arts Centre with a large audience capacity, to be envied by all other communities.
The centre would be home to organisations such as Greater Western Community Band, the newly formed Melton Performing Arts group and Singing and Dancing groups.
This would serve as a permanent home for the individual groups to have regular rehearsals and on-site storage for each individual group.
What is something about you people would be surprised to know?
I once sang while in the Choir Box of the Melbourne Arts Centre Hamer Hall while the audience applauded thunderously. I was at a concert. The Choir Box was opened for the audience as it was a sell-out concert. During the applause, I warbled a few lines from “Sound of Music”.
Tell us about your work with Greater Western Community Band (GWCB)?
I am a proud Founding Member of GWCB. The band was formed in 1991 with a core of dedicated adult musicians and many music students from local schools.
We quickly developed to become a well balanced group of musicians performing regularly.
We love to play at community events and special events such as Botanical Gardens Open
Days, Djerriwarrh Festival, Platypus Festival, Dream Big Festival, Christmas Carols, and concerts.
In the past we have played for Zonta’s, Probus Club, Singing with the Stallions and many others.
Like many groups, the numbers of members have dropped since Covid. We’re slowly rebuilding.
Recently we have seen a shortage of student musicians. Originally, about 75 per cent of members were school aged music students.
That number has declined.
Any school music students are more than welcome to come along to GWCB.
If you are an adult who used to play an instrument but gave it away due to the pressures of family and a busy
working life, or any adult who is now learning an instrument, we welcome you to come along!
