Hi everyone, I have just found out that a number of my MULLER ancestors were in Kretchmar's Brass Band, a well known German band in the 1800's and into the early 1900's in Toowoomba. Does anyone have information on this band or know where I might find some. I am particularly interested in a photo of the band in the early 1900's. Chris Buckley

Hi All, I do not have any information on the Kretchmar's Brass Bank, but from what I can gather, Brass Bands were very popular in the time. In the book German Settlement in the Rosewood Scrub by Frank Snars, it has a section on social life and states: "The brass band was a popular institution in most country towns of the late nineteenth and eatly twentieth centuries. Members assembled resplendant in smart military type uniforms for special parades and processions and visits of VIP's, or to entertain the local community on Sunday afternoons. Posing here in front of the old school of arts is the Marburg Brass Band in 1910 which included many German names. Their minutes book records a constant struggle for survival; instruments were hard to obtain, let alone uniforms.... ...the more affluent Rosewood Band, some ten years later, in smart uniforms, awaits the arrival of State Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, and the vice-regal party at Rosewood railway station (photo)." Kerry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Buckley" <flutefan@australis.aunz.com> To: <AUS-QLD-SE-Germans-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 11:33 PM Subject: Kretchmar's Band > Hi everyone, > I have just found out that a number of my MULLER ancestors were in Kretchmar's Brass Band, a well known German band in the 1800's and into the early 1900's in Toowoomba. Does anyone have information on this band or know where I might find some. I am particularly interested in a photo of the band in the early 1900's. > > Chris Buckley > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=702&sourceid=1237 > > >

Chris & Kerry, Fred KRETSCHMAR, who founded the band, was my Great Great Grandfather. My aunt mentions the following in her diary... In 1869 Fred found employment in a brass band that travelled around the country playing at races and other sports meetings. In one celebrated incident the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, who had been on the loose since September 1863, held up Fred's band at Bonno Bonno Gap whilst they were on their way to the Tenterfield races. Thunderbolt had the bandsmen play tunes whilst he beat time with his revolver - before lightening them of their wallets. Thunderbolt took 20 quid from one of the players, Wirth. The group pleaded that they were poor men who had to work hard for their money. Thunderbolt told the men that if he, Thunderbolt, was successful in holding up the winner of the Tenterfield Handicap, Wirth should call into the Warwick Post Office were he would find his money waiting for him. As it turned out, Thunderbolt was successful in robbing the winner, and he kept his promise to Wirth!... A band, known as Mullers, was formed about 1876. During the late 1870s Fred became this band's Bandmaster. In 1878, in response to an invitation to compete with his band in the Queensland Championships in Brisbane, Kretschmar's Band won the Band Championship of Queensland. Members of the band were - Bandmaster Fred KRETSCHMAR, George JASSE, Gustav, Wilhelm and Henrich MULLER, George FARR, Harry and William GROTH, Harry KROME and August WINTER, with George BREMNER as Drum-major... During the 1880s the Toowoomba bandsmen joined forces with bandsmen from Warwick to form the Headquarters Band of the 4th Regiment. Fred was again made Bandmaster. The band, consisting of twenty-two members, made an imposing sight in their gray uniforms and white helmets... To thank Fred for all his work for the community a "Frederick Benefit Concert" was held in 1896. It commenced with a torchlight procession, including Kretschmar's Band and the Fire Brigade through the streets of Toowoomba. Fred was asked to present a cornet solo, which was well received by the large and appreciative audience. After the short interval a Mr J BAIN took a flashlight photograph of the audience. (This photograph is in the Darling Downs Gazette which is available on microfiche. I thought I had a copy of it - but can't lay my hands on it. I'll have to print it again.) Fred was presented with a purse of sovereigns by the appreciative townspeople... In 1898 Fred formed and was Bandmaster of a mounted band. The band often rode their horses carrying their instruments to Brisbane to take part in parades and processions as well as taking part in local events. In order to have their hands free to play their instruments on horseback the bandsmen controlled their horse's reins with their feet. Kretschmar's Toowoomba Band was very popular and the most efficient in the colony. Fred was often hailed as the best cornet player in Australia. This band became the Mounted Infantry Band towards the close of the 19th century. Fred became one of the outstanding names in band music throughout the state and the mounted infantry band was his brainchild. Kate (his daughter and my Great Grandmother) spoke proudly of weddings where her father's band played the bride to the church and later entertained at the reception... In 1901 Fred's mounted band lead the procession through Brisbane when the Duke of York (later King George V) and Duchess toured Australia at Federation. The Duke and Duchess arrived in Australia on 4 May and left on 7 June. The band was so appreciated they were asked to travel to Adelaide by steamer to play for the Duke and Duchess once more... Fred, Ambrosius (Fred's father) and George JASSE were the genesis of brass band music on the Darling Downs. As in most Australian colonies, the band movement began in earnest with the defence and military forces. Fred joined the first volunteer corps formed in Toowoomba shortly after his marriage and served for 40 years as an administrator and as a Bandmaster in civilian and military bands until he was invalided in 1916. His band, Kretschmar's Band, springing from small beginnings in the 1870s, introduced brass band music to many thousands of people in many parts of southeast Queensland. The bandsmen had to purchase their own instruments and defray all their own travelling expenses, but came together in a common love of music and the pleasure of presenting that music to others. Hope this helps your research. Sandra Searston ssearston@vtown.com.au scs@st-ursula.qld.edu.au (work)