Port Fairy Citizens Band were saddened to learn of the passing of ex player Gary Hommelhoff, Brass Band member for over thirty years.
Gary was a consummate musician, brilliant instrumentalist and later an outstanding conductor. He was a pivotal member of the PFCB competing in VBA and interstate contests, and playing first cornet when PFCB won the 1980 National D Grade championship.
In 1984/1985 Gary served in dual roles as President and Bandmaster of PFCB, and as a conductor demanded high standards of fellow musicians. Long-time friend, fellow workmate and band contemporary, Dennis Lemke (present band member) recalls Gary’s focus on dynamics and technique, traits which underpinned future conducting achievements.
Later, daughters Lynn and Elise joined the PFCB, a proud occasion for Gary and wife Roslyn.
Gary later joined Warrnambool City Band and was a member of triumphant 1992 National Championships D Grade winners.
Port Fairy Citizens Band acknowledges the significant and influential roles Gary served and recognize his contribution over many years as an outstanding musician.
Present PFCB members extend sincere condolences to wife Rosalyn, daughters Lynn, Gaye, Elise and families on the passing of Gary.
Russell Thomas, President, PFCB July 24, 2023 I had the privilege of having Gary mentor and inspire me for many years in the Warrnambool City Brass band. A gifted teacher and musician. Forever remembered and never forgotten.
Peter McKinnis July 23, 2023 Gary was a formative influence in the college and in many teenage lives. The school band in the 80s and 90s provided a wonderful stage for building life long friendships and timeless memories. The crowded, stinking hot North Tech portable produced an amazing band that landed accolades and awards across the school banding scene in Victoria. I want to take this time to thank Gary for his passion and vision for all that music could be in the lives of budding musicians. We will miss you Hommy!
Andrew Philp July 18, 2023 What an amazing man you were Gary…so dedicated to educating young people musically on so many different levels. The amount of your time, energy, drive and vision that you invested in the students of Warrnambool College was amazing and you have left an incredible music legacy that has spread far and wide through many generations.
Sincere condolences to your family.
Annette and Patrick Laskowski
Annette Laskowski July 17, 2023 RIP Gary. I fondly remember playing with you at Warrnambool City Band, the chats we shared about all things brass,your wise counsel and quirky and brutally honest sense of humour. I’ll miss those times, more so now as I get older. Rest easy mate.
Nathan Sheppard July 14, 2023 I’m an old schooler. Student of Me Hommlehoff’s from 1986 to 1989. He was a brilliant music teacher and life mentor. It wasn’t always about the music. It was about the relationship between you, him and whatever was going on in your life. The hardest decision I ever made as a teenager was choosing what was ultimately the classes that formed the foundation of my career and attending class with him. I grieved for years. He was a kind man and good man. My love to his family and the students who got as much from him as I did. Vale.
Mathew Chandler July 14, 2023 Farewell, Hommie. I feel incredibly lucky to have gone through the Warrnambool College band program during your time. Thank you for creating such treasured school memories. I can still smell those tubes of ‘coffee and milk’ you would use in your office! They take me back to feeling warm and safe; I would skip class on the pretence of helping you out, but really I just wanted to be around you. Your sometimes gruff exterior couldn’t never hide your warm and caring heart.
Rest in peace. Love and sympathy to Rosalyn and family, and all who are grieving.
Carly Moorfield July 14, 2023 My heart goes out to you Gaye , i think your Dad would have been great to chat with i am happy he was with you and family for a good innings. Take care.
Les Martin July 13, 2023 Vale Gary
You plucked a couple of Port Fairy kids out of the primary school recorder consort performance at St Johns and had us ready to join the concert band on day 1 of year 7! You must have been short on numbers in 1988 but it was fun!
And so began many years of late drives back from band practice. Never the quickest or most direct route back to Port Fairy, but always made more comfortable by the obligatory hot chips from Red Rooster on our way out of town. Thanks Gary, for always believing in us. Never forgotten. RIP
Andrea Tippett July 12, 2023 Thank you for teaching me how to do the best I can with what I have now and believing.. or insisting.. that I can do better than I think I can. You were a pivotal part of my school life and remain a wise and humourous voice directing me at certain points with the steely stare followed by the small smile of a milestone recognised. Rest in peace.
Gabrielle Lanman July 12, 2023 Thank you for teaching me how to do the best I can with what I have now and believing.. or insisting.. that I can do better than I think I can. You were a pivotal part of my school life and remain a wise and humourous voice directing me at certain points with the steely stare followed by the small smile of a milestone recognised. Rest in peace.
Gabrielle Lanman July 12, 2023 Thank you Hommy for the incredible memories and opportunities you created for so many Warrnambool College band kids. You saw each of us individually and pushed us to achieve great things collectively. Thank you for teaching me the concept of musicality. A truely inspirational and formative teacher. Warts and all.
Maree Brennan July 12, 2023 My sincere sympathy to Rosalyn, Lynn, Gaye & Elise on the passing of Gary, a man of many special talents.
Patricia
M.P. Riordan July 12, 2023 I’m still in awe of the time and energy, passion and talent Gary devoted to the bands at Warrnambool College. He knew each of his students as an individual performer with strengths and weaknesses, and with his charisma, sometimes harsh criticism, occasional but heartfelt praise and always his sense of humour, he motivated us to strive to achieve our potential. He will not be forgotten, as his teachings live on in his students and theirs.
Anna Berry July 12, 2023 I have so many great memories of my time in band. Hommy expected a lot from us and we had some great achievements. He knew how to get us to not just play the notes, but to play with feeling. It was so much fun beating fancy private schools in competitions. I married one of my band mates (Stefanos Koroblitsas) and now our daughter is having piano lessons. Thank you Hommy.
Danielle Koroblitsas (Philpot) July 12, 2023 Gary was a gifted musician who inspired his students to excel. Winning the International Band Festival in 1997, was just one example – and due to Gary’s dedication.
In the words of our daughters, ex-students of Gary:
He was a great man who contributed so much to so many young people’s lives; many of whom have gone on to become professional musicians. What a great legacy.
Merrilyn and Peter Crabbe
Peter Crabbe July 12, 2023 Vale Gary Hommelhoff – my first trumpet teacher.
I dont know when I first wanted to play the trumpet, but early 1993 at Warrnambool College, Gary showed me how to make my first sound. By early 1994, that sound was whated I wanted to make for the rest of my life.
He was a task master, a support, there to kick me in the bum when I needed it. More than that, he was a mentor. A man who during the next few years had the greatest impact on my life, outside of my parents.
Gary saw all the students in the music program as his ‘quasi kids’. During times of crisis he was there with a supportive word or word of wisdom. He was there to celebrate success, and during my time in the program I was lucky to be involved in much success…. National Band Championships, Sydney, Generations in Jazz, South Street and Melbourne School Bands Festival to name a few. A large amount of credit is to go to Gary and his ability to get absolutely everything out of the young people under his guidance.
Gary influenced so many young people at Warrnambool College. This was never more evident than upon his 65th birthday and retirement, Gary was treated to a surprise with so many of his students, friends, family and colleagues packing in to the Warrnambool College Hall to celebrate. Many wonderful stories were told, from his days as a footballer and time as a teacher, specifically his refusal to stick to the annual Music Program budget.
For me, Gary’s most selfess act was sending me to another teacher in year 12. There was never any ego with his teaching, it was always about what was best for his student. Looking back, that is precisely what was needed at the time. For that, for your guidance, for your wisdom and friendship, I am eternally thankful.
Rest in peace Gary.
Condolences to Rosie, Elise, Lyn, Gaye and family.
Richard Linton July 12, 2023 Remembering Gary’s dry sense of humour, love for his family and his musical passion.
Condolences to Dear Rosie, Lyn, Gaye and Elise and your families
Lynda Tieman July 12, 2023 Thankyou for the wonderful memories playing cornet and trumpet along side of you and the many jam sessions we shared. You were a fantastic mentor to me, you had so much passion and enthusiasm for music, very talented and excelled in everything that you did that overflowed into everyone that you met, taught, guided, encouraged and supported.
Condolences to Rosalyn, Lynn, Gaye, Elise and family.
Glenn Hamilton July 12, 2023 Hommy, you always had the passion and enthusiasm to bring out the best in each and every student, including myself. You built my confidence and a reason for myself to come to school each day. Hommy was deeply committed which was seen in the success of each generation he taught. May the music and his legacy live on. R.I.P Hommy.
Bronwyn Castles July 12, 2023 Sincere Condolences Gaye Lyn Elise and families. A gentleman Gary, may you now Rest in Peace.
Shelley
Shelley Coffey July 12, 2023 Heartfelt thanks for our wonderful teacher, Gary, for all the care and attention he has shown generations of students. He brought us together in a little portable on the boundary of the school, and then in an auditorium that was itself a testament to the musical culture he had built, and we thrived. Not that there weren’t days when we frustrated him no end! But his grace, commitment, wry humour, and vision carried us all forward. He will be remembered always with deep gratitude.
Kylie Crabbe July 11, 2023 Please accept my deepest sympathy to the family a former team mate and friend ,Jimmy Murray
Jimmy Murray July 11, 2023 Our heart felt sympathy to
Rosalyn Lynne Gaye & Elise
on the loss of your husband
and father.We have many happy
memories of our neighbour Gary
May he rest in peace
Brian Jan and family
Janice Willey July 11, 2023 Thankyou for sharing your love of music with all of us in the band program. It’s more than half my lifetime ago now, but those times remain a huge formative influence in my life. Warts and all.
Cathy Brimblecombe July 11, 2023 Hommy, your legacy lives on in the many, many kids you taught who still find joy in playing music. You taught us more than you’ll know, and all who were lucky enough to play in the school band with you up the front, are richer for the experience. I find myself telling my own kids, word for word, the things you taught me! RIP
Sarah Fairbank July 11, 2023 Thank you Hommy for giving us bands students the best days of our school lives. You made such a huge impact on so many. All those trips from port fairy to the old school band room and back listening to your passion for music, complain about everything and trying to justify why all the cows had their head into the wind were just some of the conversations. RIP
Sarah Handby July 11, 2023 Lynne my deepest sympathy in the passing of your beloved father. Cherish the memories
Ali xxxx
Ali Tebb July 11, 2023 ‘Hommy’ was a loyal, true friend whose involvement in music education was immeasurably beneficial to dozens of young musicians who spent time in his bands. Thank you for the years that I knew you old mate. Yours is an ongoing legacy.
Gavin Franklin July 11, 2023 Condolences to Rosalyn and family on the passing of Gary
Kevin Spencer
Donna July 11, 2023 Sincere condolences to Lynn and all the family.Tough days,thinking of you.
Loretta O’Brien July 11, 2023 Gary was a wonderful teacher and a leader. He was always kind. He wanted the best for us – and knew when to push us, and when to ease off. He gave so many of us a safe place in the band. This – and his own skill as a conductor – turned a bunch of country kids into some of the best bands in the country; he believed in us when we didn’t know how to believe in ourselves. Gary was a defining influence in my life, and I’m sure many others. Thank you for everything.
Matthew Wood July 11, 2023 Memories of the very happy times remain Gary. Condolences to dear Rosalyn and families.
Joyce Brown July 11, 2023 Thanks Gary I will always remember you. You were a great teacher with lots of passion and enthusiasm. You helped me fall in love with playing the tuba and performing in different ensembles. I used to love coming up to the old music room in the tech school for lessons, band and for timeout during VCE. It has been great over the years talking about music, life and family with you. Condolences to your immediate family.
Jason Campbell July 11, 2023 Thankyou being a great teacher.
I always remember the most important thing you taught me. That is, great trumpet players always play effortlessly. Your dedication to improving your students is very rarely surpassed.
Rest in peace.
Craig Bartlett July 11, 2023 Dearest Dad. Miss you every minute…
Gaye cherry July 11, 2023 Thank you Hommy for giving me something to love during my high school years. You were such an amazing conductor who truly got the best out of a group of country kids. You opened the world to me and most of my favourite school memories were either on the stages in NZ or Sydney or on the bus after a competition when you played us our taped performances and we got to hear how amazing you helped us sound! I’ll never forget you and I treasure our many chats and reminiscences as we bumped into each other in Port Fairy. Rest in peace Hommy xx
Jo Keane July 10, 2023
