General News
15 June, 2024
King's Birthday gong for musical maestro
Horsham's Don Papst, 90, has never looked for rewards for doing what he loves best - playing music.
But now he's been honoured with one of the country's highest rewards and can add the letters OAM after his name.
Mr Papst, who has played at about 6000 functions over many decades, received the Order of Australia Medal in Monday's King's Birthday Honours.
Music, Don Papst admits, has been his life. A tally of volunteer hours would be impossible.
And come the first Saturday of the month he is still to be found with his keyboard and band Key Change - with musicians Ian Lehmann, Maureen Lehmann, Steve Ellis and Robyn Koschitzke - in their usual spot at Haven Market. He's clocked up about 20 years doing that.
Then there's the monthly dances in Hamilton Lamb Hall which raise money for cancer research. and upcoming sing-alongs at Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village with pianist Bernadette Delahunty adding to the countless dances and weddings he's played at.
The list of instruments he plays includes the keyboard, harmonica - he has 28 different ones - piano accordions in various sizes, trumpet, saxophone, mandolin and the melodica, a handheld reed instrument with a small keyboard.
Don Papst's dad, who played the side drums in Horsham Pipe Band, encouraged his 10-year-old son to join.
"I was given a chanter, a type of woodwind instrument used for bagpipers to practice," he said.
He has a rare musical gift. He plays by ear, doesn't read music, can adjust to any key and has mastered a variety of instruments.
At 16 he played harmonica in an Amateur Hour talent show in Horsham Theatre in front of about 600 people, taking third place.
Soon he was filling in at events which starred noted Horsham entertainers, including pianist Roma Carlson and tap dancer Le Smith, and played harmonica at fund-raising functions and dances, deb training session and balls.
A former mechanic and school bus, coach-trip and taxi driver, Don and wife Valmai, who died in 2022, had five sons.
He now has eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Sons Trevor and Russell live in Horsham and Andy in Gippsland. Two sons, Ray and Greg, died of cancer.
"My grandchildren and now even the great-grandchildren are learning instruments or can sing beautifully," he said. "I have been very blessed all my life."