Western Australia Centenary 1929 Band Contest

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Obverse: Relief swan on a map of Western Australia, a star and PERTH inscribed below the swan. The words WESTERN AUSTRALIA CENTENARY 1929 inscribed in the outer circlet with a chased scroll at the top with a ring.

Reverse: Stamped at the base are the maker’s hallmark GWM and 9CT. Event and recipient details are hand engraved.

As part of the Western Australian Centenary celebrations a Band Contest was held in Perth from 25th September to the 2nd October 1929. The event was run by the Perth sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers’ League. Sixteen Bands from metropolitan and country Western Australia as well as the Eastern States took part. There were various grades of competition and over 400 bandsmen in the contest.

Most events were held at Carnival Square at the bottom of William Street in the city, where a temporary amphitheatre was assembled to accommodate a crowd of around 4,000 people. The event for the Diagram March was held at Perth Oval on Sunday, 29th September and was witnessed by 13,000 people.

Bill Gummow, a member of the South Australian Band Champions Holden’s Motor Body Builders Band, played tenor horn. Holden’s Band placed second overall in the contest, and to help defray the considerable travel costs for the touring party of forty, they performed at several functions during their stay in the West.

Gold medals were awarded to the winners of each section and silver medals to second place. It was reported in the West Australian on 14th September 1929 that 60 medals were made for the event. Jewellers John T Ferry and George W Meldrum are credited with producing the medals.