Father and daughter in tune at Tattoo show

The Royal Brisbane Military Tattoo’s Brisbane show became quite the family affair for the Barkers of Albany Creek.

Lance Corporal Imogen Barker’s family had booked tickets for the Tattoo at Suncorp Stadium before discovering she would be playing in it.

The trumpeter’s musician father Bill then found out he would be playing alongside daughter Imogen in the ADF combined military band.

A third-generation member of the Army Band’s brass section, LCpl Barker joined more than 1100 musicians and dancers from 13 nations at last month’s event.

The former Albany Creek State High School student said performing to her home crowd was a career highlight.

“I’ve grown up in a musical family, so it’s like a dream to do something as huge as this,” LCpl Barker said.

“And it’s not a common thing for a father and daughter to be doing the same job, let alone in the same show – I think that’s why it’s so special.

“It really is a pinnacle event and to be able to do it in Brisbane, amongst the calibre of international performers like this, it really is an honour.”

LCpl Barker joined the Army Reserve band in 2018, French Horn in hand, straight out of school where she bugled the last post and reveille on parades at Albany Creek State High.

Her father, Musician Barker, joined the Army band in 2010 after a long career performing in community bands and teaching music.

His father served in the National Service and later the 25th Battalion band in Toowoomba.

“My dad talked it up – as I suppose I have with Imogen – and was always very proud of his service, so it was always something I knew I would do,” Musician Barker said.

“The fact we have the same interest in Army and in music is really special. As a parent, it’s a pleasure to see she has taken to it and enjoys it. And now she out-ranks me.”

Musician Barker said the best part of the job was the cumulative result of each band member’s passion and teamwork.

“These are people who have been working at this profession through their whole lives, who have worked in community bands and gone through auditions,” he said.

“They weren’t just created as Army musicians when they went to Kapooka.

“People enjoy listening to a band, so imagine being in among that and part of it, creating it and seeing the enjoyment as well.

“The thing is, we’d do it without an audience and still enjoy it because we love what we do.”