By Molly Magennis
West Footscray’s Edward Perati has been awarded a medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community through music.
Mr Perati’s passion and commitment to music is clear, having been a member of the Western Region Concert Band since 1978, a life member since 2004, and now the president. He is also involved in SingWest, and sits on the choir’s sub-committee.
The talented clarinet player said he was chuffed to be awarded the honour.
Mr Perati said he loves the sense of camaraderie the Western Region Concert Band elicits, as well as the volunteering aspect the band presents.
“I came in as a member of the band and then as happens when you become embroiled in a thing that you really believe in … you end up becoming a membership officer and president and then all of a sudden you’re part of the whole establishment and its purposes and goals,” he said.
“There are many, many volunteer organisations in our country which are all really important. Ours is life saving in the sense that it gives other people a purpose within music, because otherwise, and that’s the reason our band was formed in 1977.”
As for why Mr Perati is so passionate about music, he said the simple answer: It’s just a part of who he is.
His deep passion for the subject and longing to know more even led him to doing a music degree.
“It’s really hard to say why [I love music so much], I don’t know, probably just the way I’m wired,” he said.
“To be able to get some 30 or more people together to work on the one piece of music, and all be on the same page as far as the goal and the aim of being able to perform that piece of music……it is something that you just can’t get in any other aspect of life.”
