Kyneton local Robert Smith tells Zoe Moffatt about his more than 50 years in the Kyneton Brass Band and time spent in the community.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I joined the Kyneton Brass Band on February 11, 1971 when I was 11 years old. A family friend, called Stan Martine got me involved in the band and was actually its longest standing member with 72 years in the band. I had about three or four months of learning music, and then I stepped up and started playing. My first play out was December 4, 1971 for the Kyneton Marist Brothers Old Boys Christmas party, and I’ve been playing ever since.
What is your connection to Kyneton?
I was born and bred in Kyneton, I was educated at Kyneton Primary School and Kyneton High School. I then went on to be assistant manager at Woolworths in Kyneton many years ago and I am currently driving buses for Dysons.
What do you like about where you live?
I enjoy bush walking and having a look at the old goldmines and other things out in the bush, I really like history. I enjoy Kyneton because you’re central to things, you are an hour out of Melbourne, less than an hour out of Bendigo, an hour out of Ballarat. You’ve got a bit of everything, and you’ve got all the services, or if not, they’re fairly close.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
If I could change anything I would probably slow the growth down a little bit, it’s just a little bit busy in the streets. Although that is a lot of places, especially if you are within commuting distance to Melbourne the town’s busy.
Where is your favourite place you have performed at?
I don’t think one place really stands out, we’ve played right through central Victoria, and do play outs at school fates, birthday parties, etc. Anzac Day is another big one for us, we do four services on the day, including at; Malmsbury, Kyneton, Woodend and Taradale.
Having been in the Kyneton brass band for more than 50 years, tell us how that has impacted your life?
It has been a big part of my life. We practice as a band every Friday night, so I’ve actually never gone anywhere those nights, I just wander off to band practice. Then if there is a play out, as we call it, say on a Sunday, that’s what you do on a Sunday. There are also lifelong friends that you develop, so theoretically, after family and work, band would come next. In the festive season and coming up to Christmas, you govern your activities around what the band’s doing and where we are playing Christmas carols.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you?
Probably nothing, I have no hidden secrets.