IN times gone past, band competitions were frequent and their prizes sought-after.
Bands were very competitive and one can understand why considering there were great prizes in equipment, cash and large silver trophies.
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In the late 1880s and 1890s, when many bands were in their infancy, the various band instrument makers offered good prizes to encourage bands to purchase more equipment, especially their brand. Our photo this week shows the silver Besson and Boosey cups which were awarded for the Intercolonial Band Contest and were valued at £80 when they were made in 1896.
On November 23, 1885, a group of local men headed by Samuel Lewins gathered in the blacksmith’s workshop at the Bathurst Railway Yards to see what interest there may be in forming a Bathurst Railways Band. Twenty-three people decided to form a band and a secretary and treasurer were selected.
The meeting formally endorsed Mr Lewins as bandmaster, but after approaching the New South Wales Government Railways to fund the new band, permission was not forthcoming, so the band changed its name to the Bathurst District Band in 1886.
The band set numerous records and attended almost every formal occasion, procession and charitable event. For more than 50 years, 53 actually, it was led by the popular bandmaster Samuel Lewins. This bandmaster was always on the lookout for talented people to play in the band and would individually coach young musicians if need be.
Fifty years after the band was formed, in November 1935, the Bathurst District Band commemorated its Golden Jubilee. Samuel Lewins was there to celebrate his remarkable 50 years as its bandmaster. It was a sad day in Bathurst when Samuel Lewins passed away in 1940.
The Besson and Boosey Silver Cups were named after Messrs Besson and Co., and Messrs Boosey and Co., who were famous instrument manufacturers in London. They simultaneously decided to donate an ornate handled silver cup for band competition purposes in NSW. One cup is larger than the other, but a prize keenly sought after.
The sole condition laid down by these firms was that the cups were to be competed for only in championship contests in NSW and if won twice in succession or three times in all, the band gaining that distinction was to retain the cups as its property.
The trophies were played for on eight different occasions. The Bathurst District Band won the cups in 1901 and 1904, both contests being held in Bathurst. At the same time, Newtown Band had also gained two wins for “this notable prize”.
The two bands finally met for the final of the cups at the Australian Natives Association Exhibition Contest in 1905 and the Bathurst District Band won, becoming the first band to win them for a third time.
It was the third success which entitled Bathurst to retain the cups for all time. Telegrams had already heralded their win in Sydney and just imagine the excited band members returning to Bathurst on the steam train.
After the cups arrived in Bathurst, they were exhibited in several shop windows around town and were later placed on display in the Bathurst Technological Museum in the Technical College in William Street.
Dr T.A. Machattie, who was the president of the Bathurst District Band from 1885 to 1924, was a great motivator and canvassed local businesses for constant donations for the band. In 1909, the band won the Championship of Australia in Sydney. These magnificent trophies are on permanent display in the Bathurst District Historical Society Museum.
In the early 1920s, the Bathurst City Band was formed under bandmaster Lou Lupp. It took at least two meetings to form the new band. One was in Lou Lupp’s home and the other took place in the School of Arts on the corner of William and Howick streets.
