As we reach the end of 2021, congratulations to all our Australian banding associations, bands, and band members on getting through another difficult year.
Thanks to BANSW for running the wonderful ANOFOB in April this year, where 73 bands from around the country and one from the USA came together to celebrate banding in a digital age. Congrats to QBA, WABA, and TBL on running successful state championships this year and our commiserations to VBL, SABA, and BANSW for having to cancel or postpone your states for 2021. I are sure they will be popular events when they return. Finally, thanks to all the state presidents for the work you do in grassroots banding including organising events and helping bands with funding.
Thanks also to all the band families around the country - we miss many Easters, public holidays, and lots of weekends and evenings for band rehearsals and concerts. Thanks for allowing us to pursue our banding passions.
Enjoy the holiday season, and I hope 2022 brings a year of prosperity, calm, and lots of normal gigs for our banding community. I especially am looking forward to the Nationals - it allows us another chance to show the world how we can pursue our banding interests in this strange COVID world.
Happy holidays, happy new year, and enjoy this break with family and friends.
Paul De Cinque
President
National Band Council of Australia
