A GAWLER East man has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) after a lifetime of supporting music in the local region and across the state.

Bruce Raymond, 74, was one of 710 Australians on Monday who were presented with the prestigious award as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

The musician, teacher and conductor received the award for his services to music, particularly brass bands.

Mr Raymond said the award was an honour which caused him to reflect on his life and achievements.

“Music is the food for life,” he said.

“Music has been my whole life, right from the start and has featured right through everything I’ve done. I don’t think I’ve had a break from it.

“I’ve been so lucky. This award is a credit to all those people that I’ve worked with.

“That’s who it belongs to.”

During his career in music, Mr Raymond was Trinity College’s director of bands between 2007 and 2019, a former National Band Council of Australia board member, Kensington and Norwood City Band musical director and a former head of brass at the South Australian Department of Education.

Currently, he serves as the musical director and conductor of the Tanunda Town Band, has been the Adelaide Carols in the Park’s musical director since 1996 and is the South Australian Band Association president.

Mr Raymond said many members of his family were musicians and shared their passion with him from a young age.

“I grew up in the Salvation Army and had a tremendous grounding where my family were all musicians,” he said.

“My father was always playing the euphonium. When he was out I’d pick up his instrument as a little three or four-year-old and play the euphonium.

“It was always a fun thing for me because my father made it a fun thing.

“Music is not only a great creative outlet, it is also good for the brain – it’s really its own language.”

As well as his achievements in music, Mr Raymond was an Adelaide Rotary Club member from 1992-2007 and an honorary member from 2007-2014.

He was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow, one of Rotary’s highest honours, in 1999, and also received a Melvin Jones Fellowship from Burnside Lions Club.

Mr Raymond was also an accomplished footballer, starting on the wing in Sturt Football Club’s fifth-straight South Australian National Football League premiership win in 1970.

“There’s many highlights. I’m passionate about community music, in particular brass and concert bands,” Mr Raymond said.

“I’ve been very lucky to have a lot of national wins with South Australian bands, particularly the Kensington and Norwood band and Trinity College’s senior band.

“Music is my love and passion, because that lasts a lifetime.”