Day 2 - Ipswich & Edmund Rice Performing Arts Centre, South Brisbane

After a long awaited sleep, day 2 is starting to feel much more realistic. 7 hours sleep over 48 hours turned our first full day in to a blur, although the welcome we received from the people at Brisbane City Temple was enough to keep us going. Today we were heading towards one of the new cities of Queensland, Ipswich. I must say that as a Norwich City supporter, having to write a blog about my time in Ipswich is not something that I would usually enjoy. Fortunately Ipswich in Australia is a beautiful place and it's been an easy task writing this. 

By 10am we were already in to our first concert at the City of Hope church. This was a new church that has been established in recent years after a flood swept through the area causing devastation. 
This morning was an informal concert and originally set up as a concert for school children, however the audience ended up being a little more senior but we were very well received and our light repertoire was well accepted by all who were there. Kevin Coates provided a new addition to our program for the day, with the Post Horn Gallop which got the audience joining in to the familiar tune of Matilda.
Food is a regular on tour so we were soon on to our lunch stop, the Brookwater Golf Club in the newly developed city. After a lovely meal we had chance to enjoy to beauty of the grounds with a possibility of seeing kangaroos. Unfortunately I didn't see any in the surrounding area but it has been said that wild animals can be found on the inside of the tour coach. 

Our day continued by holding a masterclass for some of the students of a local school. They sat in on our rehearsal for half an hour before they performed for us as a sextet. It was a great opportunity for us to see some of the musical ability in and around the area. Steve then worked with them and helped with their musical development. Once again it was time for food and we headed off for BBQ at Kangaroo point. The food was lovely but the view as the sun went down over the Brisbane River and the city landscape was amazing, it was a lovely way to spend our time before the first major evening concert of the tour. 
There was a lot of excitement at the venue as we prepared to go on stage and that excitement continued throughout the night. 700 people in the audience, some with army background and some not - A perfect opportunity to witness through our music. The program finished with two encores of Toccata in D minor and Praise. A wonderful end to a great day. Ipswich Australia, you have done well. 

Written by Staff Bandsman Chris House