Bayside Brass History
Bayside Brass is the performing name of the Wynnum Manly Citizen’s Band Inc.
The band is situated in the Moreton Bay area alongside Brisbane’s coastline in Queensland, Australia.
Our history can be dated back to the depression days of the early 1930’s when two bands performed around the Wynnum and Manly area. One being the Manly Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Harold Walmsley, and the other being the Moreton Bay Band, generally made up of Junior Boys, under the direction of Mr. Reg Dearlove. Both Bands were based in the district – Manly (RSL) Community Hall and General Gordon Club on Florence Street, Wynnum, respectively.
Both Bands enjoyed success during this period. The Manly Concert Band won a minor band contest just four months after being formed and obtained third place in the D Grade Section of the Australian Championships at Maryborough in Easter 1932. Mr. Walmsley was still to attain his majority and was the Tenor Horn Champion at the same contest.
At the onset of World War Two, both bands broke up. Returning members of both bands formed a single band after the War. From 1954 the band was known as the Wynnum Manly and Citizens Band.
The Band co-funded the erection of a new Band Stand at the Darling Point Reserve (now George Clayton Park), an idea which gained momentum in the early 1970’s. With then Counciller Eric Shaw ensuring that ‘the only delay would be the provision of labour’, the agreement and collaboration saw the bandstand both funded and erected in approximately 12-months. The Honorable Clem Jones officially opened the Band Stand on July 17th, 1971.
The band has reinvented itself many times over and worn many uniforms and colours. In the late 1990’s, the band successfully entered into a corporate sponsorship with the family-owned ‘Yellow Cab Co. (QLD)’, and up until 2017, was known as ‘Yellow Cabs Bayside Brass’. The band wore all-black with striking orange ties which aligned with the sponsor. It is believed to be one of the longest standing continuous corporate sponsorship of any Brass Band in Australia, if not the world.
In 2017, the Yellow Cab Co. (QLD) became privatised, and corporate support for community music came to an end, setting about the mammoth task of a complete rebrand for the band.
In 2018, the band officially became ‘Bayside Brass’ as it is known today. The band returned to the iconic vibrant blue colour of the 1990’s and after thorough consultation with the members and community, the band unveiled their new logo, uniform and branding.
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