Tom Paulin - The Success Story

In 1982 a 'young' principal cornet player toured Australia with the Grimethorpe band- his name was Tom Paulin. Tom immediately realised how much he liked Australia. No less then 2 years later, in the midst of the famous miners strike, Tom successfully applied for residency in Australia. In 1985, Tom and family moved to Melbourne. What was to be a move for "maybe a couple of years" has, so far, been extended to 20 years!

Tom left the UK with the understanding that there would be a job for him upon arrival. However, this wasn't to be the case ("which is whole different story in itself", says Tom). This did not deter an obviously very determined young man. Within a matter of weeks, Tom had a job as an instrumental teacher in one of the local schools.

Leading up to his move to Australia, Tom was extremely busy as a player with Grimethorpe. When I asked Tom about his expectations of banding in Australia at the time and how he coped with the obvious change in standard and intensity, he quietly suggests that it was in some ways a relief to have left behind some of the pressures associated with being in a principal position in one of the top UK bands. He was certainly fully aware of the standard of brass banding in Australia compared to the UK at the time.

In 1985, the then Preston Band (now Darebin) were the band fortunate to have the initial services of this talented and proficient cornet player. However - not for long! Tom made the move across to Hawthorn in 1986 and remained Principal Cornet with them for 6 years.

By the early 90's, it was again time to move on. This time it was a move from a playing position to one of 'leading from the front', literally. Tom renewed his links with Preston by becoming its Musical Director. The band during this phase performed very well and achieved numerous contest successes. However, in 1994 it was time to move on again - this time to Kew as their Musical Director. (All of these bands are in Melbourne, so geographically, there was no change for Tom).

Whilst with Kew, Tom began what was to become an historical stretch of leadership. I must hasten to add, however, the UK band movement were able to lure Tom back in around 1995 when he ventured back to conduct Mt Charles in Cornwall. But the Australian way of life won out again - Tom was back on our shores within 6 months! So there was this small distraction..then back to Kew. Soon after moving to Kew, as well as the senior band, Tom began taking Kew Youth Band which subsequently became Kew Brass, and more recently Boroondarra. Even though he stopped taking the Kew senior band much earlier, it was only late last year that Tom ended his time with the youth band, after 9 years, due to the pressures of having two bands. Two bands ? you might ask - the second one being the hugely successful, current National Champions - Hawthorn.

In 1998, Tom moved back to Hawthorn as a player. By the following year, he was 'in the middle'. Tom has remained the musical director of Hawthorn since 1999 and has led them to be arguably one of the best bands in Australian brass banding history. News from Tom just to hand at the time of writing this article is that he has only just resigned from Hawthorn and will not be taking them to the Nationals this year.

Those who have knowledge of the banding scene in Australia already know that it is virtually impossible to earn a living from brass bands in Australia. For Tom, this has not been a problem as he has certainly carved a very successful teaching career for himself - at primary, secondary and tertiary level.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment for Tom has been an awakening to the level with which the politics of the administration of the brass banding movement in Australia negatively effects its progress. (An opinion which is also shared by several of the people I have interviewed in recent months). Tom believes, amongst other things, that there needs to be a refocus on the education of brass players within the existing education structures in order for the movement to become more progressive. A similar comment, Tom says, was made by Ray Farr when he was visiting Australia back in 1982! There also needs to be more importance placed upon the suitability of the personnel appointed to positions of leadership and power within the brass band administration system so that the appropriate level of knowledge and skills can be brought to the movement in order to develop the progress of banding. "Expertise needs to be channelled in appropriate directions", says Tom.

Further, Tom feels very strongly about this, there needs to be fewer restrictions placed upon bands in terms of their membership and who they can or cannot play at contests, both registered and so called 'permit' players. The State bodies, in general have too much power over individual bands - and even then, it varies from State to State with lack of consistency within the nation as a whole. Such control can only have negative effects upon the progress of the banding movement.

And then there is MARCHING!!!. Oh dear. Tom still can not come to terms with having marching practice interfere with a Nationals rehearsal schedule!.....and having the principal cornet player being dictated to by a drum major - !@@#*??

Some other aspects of Australian banding may perplex visitors to our wonderful shores. Tom points out that members having to pay their own way to go to contests is very rare in the UK. The level of sponsorship and financial support is much lower, in general, here than in the UK.

Whilst on contesting, the playing draw of bands at some contests in the UK is not determined until the day of the performance. In Australia however, the draw is printed in a program and released well before the performance day. Tom thinks this system could surely be improved to increase contestant confidence.

All of that aside!!, to people interested in coming out to Australia, Tom wishes to reassure you that the lifestyle is great! He is certainly more relaxed and life is less intense for him. The bands are of quite a high standard and Tom has been particularly impressed with the performances of several of the Queensland bands in recent years. Also, "the people in the bands are fun to be with"...so... get on over here!!

One of Tom's favourite cities in Australia is Brisbane, so favourite in fact, he is moving there in the coming few months. Brisbane will be the focus of the next article - Brisbane is Best - coming soon. The Kennedy brothers, Howard Taylor, Steve Ridler, Samantha McIntyre and Paula Russell who have all come from the UK (or Ireland) and have made Brisbane their home will put forward their stories and opinions on Banding in Oz.