After several weeks of phone calls and faxes to Canada and Germany, talking to the TV stations, radio interviews, arranging visits for the band and working with our sub committee the day finally arrived when our visitors were to arrive in Sydney.

Tony Flatman and myself drove to the airport to welcome the band. On arrival we found that the flight would be 45 minutes late so we had a cup of coffee and then made contact with the bus drivers John and Robert. Finally the flight arrived and the passengers started to emerge from the terminal. We held up our "MARBURG BAND" sign but the last of the passengers departed with no sign of the band - had they missed the flight or consumed too in much beer on the flight and fallen asleep? Eventually some members of the band found us and advised that a couple of the instruments had been damaged on unloading and the rest of the group were delayed sorting this out. Then eventually a smiling Wolfgang and the whole group came down the ramp to throw their arms around us and exchange greetings. Here at last! When we saw the huge amount of luggage and equipment they had the bus drivers looked at us and we at them and exclaimed "how are we ever going to fit it all on the busses? However with typical German efficiency it was soon loaded and we were ready to head for Campbelltown . Tony decided to return on the bus and direct them to the Band Centre and so we were on our way.

On arrival at the Centre it was great to see all our members eagerly awaiting their arrival and ready to greet them. After a short welcome from our president Bev we introduced our guests to their hosts and everyone was soon on their way home for a good night's rest. And so began an exciting and most rewarding four days. The band manager Wolfgang, his wife Elka who was the director of the wind orchestra and their eleven year old son Bastian were my guests and I soon had them comfortably set up in the main bedroom. After a beer and a quite chat it was off to bed to bring to a happy conclusion day one.

Up early for breakfast when we settled for cereals, toast and coffee before heading for the Band Centre to commence day two. We were late arriving as I had taken my guests for a quick tour of Camden on the way. I don 't think Wolfgang was too impressed with my casual approach (good old A ussie "she'll be right mate" style) but soon all was forgiven and we headed for Gledswood. Heather Arnold, Jenny Wishard, Michell Berthold, Heather, Robert and David Pollard joined us as we were given morning tea and damper, a tour of the homestead, sheep shearing demo and boomerang throwing. Our guests seemed to gain great pleasure from the boomerang throwing with several members purchasing their own and spending much time discovering their newfound art. A very nice baked dinner was then served before an inspection of the winery complete with a lasting. I think 'Jet lag" must have caught up with Wolfgang at this point as he kept forgetting whether his last glass of wine was only his first. It was then time to reboard the busses for the return trip to the Band Centre.

Wolfgang and their treasurer drove with me to Camden to exchange traveller's cheque at a local bank. They wanted to obtain lots of ten dollar notes for distribution to each member but the bank was unable to supply such a large number at short notice so they settled for larger notes. We then visited the Civic Centre to meet the Manager and check over the facilities before heading for the Band Centre.

On arrival at the Centre Elka had the instruments unpacked and the band set up for the rehearsal. After the tremendous build-up I had given the band in newspaper articles and radio interviews I had horrible thoughts of the band being a very mediocre group. However, imagine my delight when they struck up their first note and I knew that this was a band that would thrill the concert audience. It was interesting to see the large euphonium/ba ritone section they had, particularly the baritones (or Bb horns) with the distinctive bent bells which I had seen in so many of the bands in Europe. As our members arrived preparations commenced for the BBQ and social which was to follow the rehearsal. It was great to see our members getting behind the preparations and mixing so well with the visitors. Victor Grieve who had been engaged to accompany the visitors on their Australian tour then arrived and made contact with the group. An impromptu concert by the visitors appealed to me very much when they adjusted the levels of their beer bottles to the right pitch and played a tune by blowing the bottles like flutes. I could imagine myself testing out dozens of instruments until I got just the right pitch. With the social coming to a very successful conclusion it was home again to conclude day two.

Next morning I got up a little earlier to cook sausages and eggs as I felt they needed something substantial for their day in the city. I decided to accompany the band on their trip to the city and help show them some of the sites. First stop was the Opera House where they were able to also view the bridge and harbour and take many photos. It was then off to Darling Harbour where they changed into uniform and prepared for the lunch time concert by the waterside. The sun was now out to provide a beautiful setting and in spite of it being a week day there were many people about to listen to the concert.

After lunch they were give the afternoon to enjoy the city at their leisure. I took a group of about twelve for a ride on the monorail to visit the tower. The visitors were very excited with the view from the tower and expressed what a beautiful city it was. As we worked our way back to the busses the opportunity was taken for some souvenir shopping. Our bus drivers then decided it would be good to return via the Homebush Olympic site and let the visitors have a quick look at the venue. It was 8.30 before we arrived

Morning came only too soon but I staggered out early to cook breakfast and transport my guests to the Band Centre. We called at the takeaway and as promised the picnic lunches were all ready and provided at a reasonable cost. The busses left on their trip to the mountains and I stayed at the Centre to copy the concert programmes before returning home to prepare for the evening concert Michelle Berthold, Robert and I arrived at the Civic Centre after lunch and set up the stage ready for the evenings performance. With not much time to spare I showered and dashed to the Band Centre to collect my guests on their arrival from the mountains. I was shocked to receive a call on my mobile from Rachel Berthold to say that Bev's guests had accidentally been dropped off at Bringelly but she was unable to contact Bev. Not to worry I would sort it out when I reached the Band Centre. How wrong I was for when I arrived at the Centre I found to my horror that ten members were waiting for transport instead of just my three guests. It turned out that some members who should have been dropped off at Bringelly had missed the drop. I then decided to take a load back to Camden and return for the remainder. However, as I could not fit everyone in I phone David to come over for the others. Wolfgang was concerned that he would not be at the concert venue early enough so took some of the second group to the takeaway for dinner while awaiting my return. I dropped Wolfgang and his group off at the Civic Centre and returned home to find Heather and Robert had arrived and organised dinner for everyone. And so off to the concert.

In spite of all the telephone calls I had received about the concert it was a wonderful surprise to see a capacity audience arrive for the concert The Centre manager advised me that 500 seats had been set and all were filled by the time the concert commenced. Our band opened the programme with a short selection of suitable music before intermission . Then the moment came for the Mayor of Camden to introduce the Marburg Wind Orchestra under the direction of Elsa Thursar- Eichelbeck. The wind orchestra presented an excellent programme of contemporary band music captivating the audience with their fine playing. While the Big Band were setting up several of the band performed an interesting rhythmic slapping routine which had the audience captivated. The Big Band gave a very tight rendition of popular swing and jazz items concluding with a fine tenor sax solo by their director Jurg Eichberger. All members of both bands then gathered on stage for the grand finale. As the players were getting ready, presentation s were exchanged between both groups and the scene was set for the finale. I conducted the 100 musicians in Sousa's march "The Washington Post" while Elka conducted the closing item "Deutsdimies ter Regimentsmar sch". This last item brought the audience to their feet calling for more to which Elka responded. It was a wonderful evening from which we have received glowing reports from people fortunate to have been present - what a fitting conclusion to what had been a most memorable visit.

When we finally tidied up after the concert Paul Waterhouse and Robert brought their guests to my home for a few beers to wrap up the evening and unwind. With my guests and Vic Grieve present we had a house full but with the frig well stocked we were set for a great party. I think we must have toasted every solo of the concert with a "Proust!" and a few rounds of " Im prosit "but it was a great night (read morning) of conviviality with our friends.

With a few sore heads we loaded the bags after breakfast and headed for the Band Centre for the last time. When the time come to board the busses I 'in sure there was hardly a dry eye among us as we said 'Auf wiedersdien! " It had been a wonderful visit resulting in many firm friendships being forged and an experience I'm sure we will remember for a very long time.

To conclude this report I 'd like to say how pleasing it was to see our members get right behind this project and to receive so much pleasure from the experience. The whole four days went without any major hitches and this was a tribute to the members of the sub committee who works so well on the arrangements . I have spoken to Wolfgang and received a fax from him since their return and he is fall of praise for the way in which they were looked after during their stay with us. An invitation has been extended to us to pay a return visit to Germany in a couple of years so get in line everyone.