Life Members

Grahame Scott was presented with his life membership and commemorative plaque on 20th December, 2020. The following is a excerpt of the speech given at his endorsement: Grahame has been involved with Waratah Brass and Waratah Brass Academy band for a long period of time and has given his time to many positions within the...

Leonie Wilks was presented with her life membership and commemorative plaque on 16th November, 2013. The following is a copy of the speech given at her endorsement: Our First Horn player Leonie Wilks started playing at the age of thirteen in 1975. Her neighbours had joined a band and asked Leonie and her brother to...

Stephen Grice was presented with his life membership and commemorative plaque on 16th November, 2013. The following is a copy of the speech given at his endorsement: Our Principal Euphonium player Stephen Grice started playing Tenor Horn at the age of 10. He quickly moved onto Trombone, then Baritone and finally settled right where he...

David Wilks was presented with his life membership and commemorative plaque on 16th November, 2013.  The following is a copy of the speech given at his endorsement: Our Principal Cornet player David Wilks joined Waratah-Mayfield Brass Band on Soprano Cornet in 1989 (although his wife claims it was 1985 so we’ll go with that date!). ...

Therese Hayden was presented with her life membership and commemorative plaque on 16th November, 2013.  The following is a copy of the speech given at her endorsement: Our First Baritone player Therese started playing Euphonium at Mayfield West Primary School when she was just ten years old.  That same year, 1976, she joined Waratah-Mayfield Brass...

The Honorable Milton Morris AO was presented with his life membership and commemorative plaque on 29th September, 2013. Milton Morris AO is a most respected politician who represented the Electoral district of Maitland between March 1956 and August 1980. 24 years, which included 10 years as Minister for Transport. He was also Minister for Lands...

Jimmy MacNeill was awarded a Life Membership in 2011 for service to the band.  He had a deep love for Waratah Brass and he was passionate to the core about music and in particular brass banding.  Jimmy never played in the band but was at every concert and at rehearsal for a listen most weeks. ...

Ron Grice was awarded Life Membership of Waratah Brass in 2009 to acknowledge his major role and influence on the band. Ron came to Waratah-Mayfield Brass Band from the Salvation Army in the mid-1980s and bought with him his passion, knowledge and love of brass bands.  The band rapidly improved under Ron’s direction and players...

Ron Brossman was awarded Life Membership in 2002 for services to the band. He was the band’s Honorary Business Manager and worked tirelessly to lift the profile of the band, assisted with marketing and pursued of a permanent bandroom. Ron passed away in 2003...

 Lou Mottershead was awarded a Life Membership in 1994 for service to the band. Lou was not a player in the band but supported the band from the wings with help with organization and fundraising from the late 1970’s to the mid 1990’s...

Arthur Howard was awarded a Life Membership in 1994 for service to the band. He joined the band in 1958 and played trombone with the band right through until the late 1990’s...

Coralie Parrott was awarded a Life Membership in 1984 for service to the band. She joined the band in August 1968 when she was six years old under the instruction of the then band master Joseph Goodshaw. At that stage her sister and two brothers were also members of the band. She started off learning...

Charles “Roy” Moore was awarded Life Membership of the band in 1964 for his valueable assistance of the years both as a player and as a member of the band.  At the time it was known as Waratah-Mayfield District & RSL Band...

Wallace (Wall) Jory was the first ever member of the band to be awarded Life Membership.  He spent 49 of his 61 banding years with Waratah, including service as deputy bandmaster...