Our girls went to high school at John Paul College a local school. It was a private Christian college. In 1990 Carol had finished school and was at University but Sonya was in Year 11 at JPC. Both girls had followed in their father's footsteps and played the trumpet. They had both been in the school concert band and marching band. Marching Bands were not popular in Australian schools but the music teacher at JPC decided to form a marching band at JPC. The school invited Canadian Marching Bands to visit JPC and coach the teachers and children in marching band techniques.
In 1990 JPC Marching Band was invited to the Calgary Stampede and the International Marching Band competition in Calgary. The children organised all kinds of fund raising activities to raise $500,000 the cost of getting 200 children to Canada and Disneyland in LA.
Sonya is on the right.
After months of practice and fund raising they were on their way.
Carol farewelling her sister at the airport.
The students almost filled the 747. (Sonya second row on the right) They had 15 hours to travel to LA and then more to Calgary. The students were billeted by Canadian families. They had to quickly adjust to the time difference and be ready for an 8km march through Calgary. The flag girls came first and the band came second.
Sonya left.
They performed in a concert and later in the International Marching Band Competition.
We couldn't believe the news that John Paul College had won the competition against Canadian and American teams. (Blue and red uniforms)
On the ay home they were invited to March at Disneyland and the Spruce Goose.
There was a huge welcome home crowd at the airport with banners and balloons. The captains of the band held their trophies high as they emerged from customs.
Carol congratulated her sister.
Bill, Grandma and I were all very proud.
Wow ! I can believe that you all were proud and for Sonia it was a wonderful experience !
ReplyDeleteWow, happy memories of Sonya and the band! Great photos. Take care, enjoy your day and the new week ahead.
ReplyDeleteHow marvellous and what an experience. It took to the second column of the newspaper to mention that the band was Australian.
ReplyDelete$500,000 was a huge amount to raise for the trip.
They achieved so much in the 90's. Always in the news and involved in so many events in SE Queensland. Just wonderful to watch. I had to google just now to see if JPC still has the band, as I haven't heard of them in a long time. Yes, but no longer centre stage.
ReplyDeletePlaying in the school band is fantastic... in giving pleasure to the music players, raising school spirit and creating friendships amongst the students. I played a fife in Grade 5 and 6, playing in the assembly ground and marching each year back into their class rooms.
ReplyDeleteBut I must admit that going overseas would have been even better :)
Oh my goodness what a marvelous trip and the money raised, wow. Good memories for all Diane.
ReplyDeleteWow! How exciting for Sonia and for your entire family and well done to the JPC for the big win. You may or may not know that the Calgary Stampede just ended about 10 days ago or so. Believe or not I've never been to it though I have been to many smaller stampedes.
ReplyDeleteWow what a great encouragement for them! And if it was in 1990 and they played at the Spruce Goose, they were just within a mile of the office where I worked in downtown Long Beach. It's a small world.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun trip down memory lane, the band looks very professional.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
That was a wonderful accomplishment for the John Paul College band members. I know this is something they and their families will remember for their lifetimes.
ReplyDeleteWow that is pretty exciting What an experience for Sonia and marching through disneyland sounds pretty cool as well
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