HAWKESBURY ’ S FINEST ...
Is there a doctor in the house ? Sure is , in the shape of master drummer , and drum and percussion instruments repairer , Dave Egan . He ’ s renowned in the music game as the Drum Doctor . Photo : Kathryn Johnston . by Greg Martin
Each time I believed I had a lead ( paragraph ) for this article , Dave Egan kept unveiling yet another aspect of his life which had your writer rethinking . Again , and again ! The interview with Dave was prompted by a report that he was a dynamic drummer , one of the most highly respected in our country .
During the course of our interview , the 60-year-old revealed he has played the drums in orchestras at a plethora of celebrated live shows such as Cats , Starlight Express , Beauty and the Beast , Godspell and Miss Saigon .
On three occasions , post high school days , he returned to the classroom to further his education . As a musician ? Nope ! After completing his School Certificate at Lewisham Christian Brothers , over the ensuing three decades the highly respected muso went back to school to improve his skills set .
Straight out of school he gained a Diploma in Horticulture at the Ryde School of Horticulture , in the mid-80s Dave completed a panel beating course at Blacktown TAFE and 20 years later , a fitting and turning course at Mt Druitt TAFE .
From 1997 until 2004 , he was an airman with the Royal Australian Air Force ’ s Air Command Band which was based at Richmond RAAF Base .
Just prior to enlisting in the RAAF , Dave kicked off his own business , repairing drums and a whole range of percussion instruments such as the timpani , xylophone , vibraphone , marimba and glockenspiel .
An occupation he returned to after being demobbed , adding to his skills set by completing that fitting and turning diploma complements of the RAAF ’ s innovative Soldier On Pathways reeducation program .
Already renowned in the music game as “ Drum Doctor ” – he could bring any drum back to life – those fitting and turning skills , plus the panel beating skills , plus his great knowledge of musical instruments , ensure his Rhythm Restorations workshop at his Ebenezer home is always humming .
Did I mention that throughout most of his working life , Dave has imparted musical knowledge at numerous schools , that he loves restoring historic cars , is a long-time member of the Enormous Horns band , and is still performing regularly today ? Of course I hadn ’ t , but there you go ! The Egan family was based at Dulwich Hill where Doreen and her husband Pat , raised their three children , Brian , Christine and young Dave .
Dave says he can remember drumming as a three-year-old .
“ One day Dad , for some reason which still escapes me , brought home a big kettle drum and drumsticks ,” Dave recalled .
“ I forget what happened to the drum , but I kept the sticks and as I got older when Christine and Brian played their
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