January 20, 2016
Former Wondai Shire Mayor Percy Iszlaub will turn 90 on February 3 … and on Saturday, February 6, he’ll be holding a public party to celebrate.
The party will take the form of a free concert at the Wondai Diggers Club in Mackenzie Street, kicking off at 2:00pm and concluding around 4:00pm with afternoon tea.
Percy has been playing tuba with the Wondai & District Band for 74 of his 90 years, and he’ll be joined on stage by other band members.
Nambour’s Sunshine Band – long time friends of the Wondai group – will also be coming along to play, including one tuba player who recently won an Australian award for his musicianship.
Percy said he’d been thinking about the best way to celebrate the milestone birthday for some time.
“The usual way is to have a function at a cafe or restaurant but that limits the numbers who can attend,” he said.
“I wanted as many people in the community who could join me to be able to take part, so I thought a free concert might be the best way to go.”
Percy said he believed his 74-year membership of the band was probably a record of some sort, but he always enjoyed playing music and never found performances a chore.
During the concert, South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and local sports guru Russell “Skippy” Exelby will be putting in an appearance to say a few words.
“I hope as many people as possible come along to help us celebrate,” Percy said.
“It should be a really great day.”
