Andrew Hocquard was presented with his life membership and commemorative plaque on 20th October, 2024. The following is a excerpt of the speech given at his endorsement:
Andrew commenced his musical journey at his local primary school, taking up the Trombone. Andrew continued playing through high school and in local Wind bands, before joining Waratah in the late 1990s. Andrew a versatile trombonist has owned the Bass Trombone chair for many years. Andrew is an Accountant in his father’s Chartered Accountancy firm and this has prepared him well to contribute countless hours of unpaid work as the band’s Treasurer and Public Officer. Andrew has always acted to ensure the bands financial interests are paramount and well managed, a reliable and trusted custodian of the band’s financial assets. The band has a running joke that Andrew is always late to band, usually by 15 minutes, because he has a baked dinner every Tuesday night….one thing to say, all jokes aside, is that Andrew is rarely, if ever absent from band rehearsal or engagement. You could count on one hand the number of times Andrew has missed rehearsal in the years he has been in the band. Andrew has accommodated player changes within the trombone section and has always put the musical needs of the band first. A dedicated and loyal bandsman and worthy of the awarding of this Life Membership – Congratulations Andrew.