At our last concert of 2025, Peter and Ruth McIntyre’s 50 years of continuous membership with Mitcham City Brass was recognised by Mitcham City Brass and the SA Band Association. They were presented with SABA Fellowship Awards (for an individual who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution of high quality to banding in South Australia), together with a special award from Mitcham City Brass, acknowledging their incredible service.

Their story with Mitcham City Brass goes like this…

On 18 November 1975, complete strangers, 13-year-old Peter McIntyre and 10-year-old Ruth Deer (now McIntyre) both went along to Mitcham City Band rehearsals to join their local brass band as juniors.

This year celebrates Peter and Ruth’s remarkable fifty (50) years of continuous service with Mitcham City Band Inc (or Mitcham City Brass as today’s band is more commonly known as). During this time, they met, dated, became engaged, married, raised three children, and now have two grandchildren—with another on the way. Throughout these five decades, they’ve not only played their chosen instruments with Mitcham City Band but also taken on numerous volunteer responsibilities behind the scenes, contributing greatly to the organisation and success of the band’s activities within the Community.

Ruth and Peter’s passion for music and community banding is evident in their longstanding involvement with Mitcham City Band, where they have also played a vital role in preserving the band’s history by rediscovering important documents and photographs. Their efforts have enriched the band’s legacy and strengthened its ties to the broader community, demonstrating a genuine passion for enhancing the lives of others through both professional and voluntary avenues.

Ruth and Peter display empathy and encouragement – qualities where they are constantly finding ways to foster inclusion and positivity throughout Mitcham City Band and the banding community.

Ruth is an accomplished flugel horn and cornet player and has performed voluntarily with Mitcham City Band throughout the last 50 years. In addition, she has undertaken the following voluntary roles on our Committee:

• Chairperson – 2025
• Vice Chairperson – 1988
• Secretary – 1998, 1999, and 2000
• Assistant Secretary – 1984
• Treasurer – 1990, 1991, 1992, and 2010
• Committee Member – 1980, 1983, 2000, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024
• Band Librarian – 1980, 1981, 1982, 1995, and 1996
• Social Committee Member – 1980, 1981, and 1982
• Property Officer – 1987, 1993, and 1994
• SA Band Association Delegate – 2023, 2024 and 2025

Ruth has never been afraid to help out wherever there’s a need – most recently leading the band as Drum Major at both the 2025 Adelaide Anzac Day Parade and for Adelaide’s Combined Band at the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant. She can always be found selling tickets at front of house or serving afternoon tea at our Concerts and Festivals. Ruth excels at supporting both young musicians and newcomers, playing a key role in our band’s development and helping establish our second band, the Mitcham City Brass Academy.

Peter is an accomplished brass player and has performed voluntarily with Mitcham City Band throughout the last 50 years on Cornet and Euphonium
In addition, he has undertaken the following voluntary roles on our committee:

• Drum Major – (for 37 years) from 1988 to current
• Deputy Drum Major – 1980, 1982, 1986, and 1987
• Chairperson – 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015
• Vice Chairperson – 1980 and 1991
• Committee Member – 1983 and 1988
• Deputy Musical Director – 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1990
• Junior Band Musical Director – 2004
• Property Officer – 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2024 and 2025
• Band Librarian – 1989
• Social Committee Member – 1980, 1981 and 1982
• SA Band Association Delegate – 1980, 1981, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2001
• SA Band Association Executive Committee – 1980 and 1981

During the late 1970s and early 1980’s, Peter was a member of the Secondary Schools Concert Band and also participated in bands for various musical stage productions in Adelaide. In 1990, Peter was also a part-time member of the Band of the SA Police, and with them proudly represented South Australia, performing at the Royal Tournament (Earls Court London) and the Edinburgh Tattoo (Scotland).

In addition to all of the above, Peter is always lending a hand whenever needed – packing our percussion instruments and transporting the band’s trailer to performances, keeping track of all of our instruments and property as well as our go to Mr fix it.

Ruth and Peter both actively promote community banding throughout South Australia, having participated as delegates representing Mitcham City Brass, and served on the Executive of the South Australian Band Association at various times.

Not even the Covid pandemic could stop Peter and Ruth from representing their band on Anzac Day. Rather than playing their instruments with Mitcham City Brass as would normally occur at the Colonel Light Gardens RSL Dawn Service, they organised a spontaneous, socially distanced ceremony at their local reserve. Neighbours were invited to reflect on the meaning of Anzac Day from their driveways. This gesture truly embodies Peter and Ruth’s commitment and dedication to representing Mitcham City Band and brass banding in the community.