Following Terry’s return to the Band the Committee thought the Band should also appoint a new vocalist but Terry didn’t think the band was good enough! and set himself a goal of six months to get the Band to a high enough standard.

There followed a period of greater stability but work was still hard to come by. The Band experimented with running its own dances in its own hall and later at a variety of other venues; the Rolleston Community Centre (2000), the Freeview School hall (2001) and the Shirley/St Albans Club. None of these ventures were profitable however as the band had to pay for the advertising and in some cases, supper, but at least it kept the band playing. From 2006 Sunday ‘Tea Dances’ at the Richmond Working Men’s Club, which generously made its sports hall available free of charge on a Sunday afternoon/evening, were more successful. The Club advertised these as part of its weekly programme and allowed us to charge at the door for revenue. This arrangement lasted until 2008 when the Club required the room for other purposes. The band then moved its Sunday dances out to the Kaiapoi Club but the distance made it hard to attract a worthwhile crowd.

From the beginning of this period with the first dances being held in the band hall, a database has been kept and maintained of ‘Friends of the Band’ comprising people who like to dance to the band or just listen and enjoy the music. Email and postal mailouts to this group keeps them informed of public engagements and help to maintain interest. The list has now grown to over 150 of mostly couples as well as print and radio media and dance clubs.

It was 2003 before the band took on a dedicated vocalist although several had tried out. Ora Lefebvre brought a great deal of pizzazz to the band with her rich voice and exuberant character. Her presence augmented the vocal contributions of Terry and of Michael Brathwaite (aka ‘Ritchie Venus’) the band’s rhythm guitarist who excels in Elvis renditions. Sadly Ora left the band in 2008 to travel and eventually re-settled in Auckland.

The Band planned a grand charity ball to celebrate its 40th year in 2004 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. It was intended to showcase the band as well as raise funds for the City Mission. Although the event went ahead it was not well attended. A more successful highlight of the Band’s 40th anniversary year was the nomination of Terry for a Civic Award for services to music which was presented at a Civic Reception at the Town Hall.

2006 saw the first of Christchurch’s Big Band Festivals - a series of musical events featuring three Christchurch big bands, of which Mainland Big Band was one, plus out-of-town bands from the West Coast, Nelson, Dunedin and even Australia. The highlight of the festival was, and remains, the Big Band Ball which featured up to six bands and which attracted a large crowd. The Festival became an annual event until disrupted by the earthquakes of 2010-11. They resumed under different direction in 2012.

In 2007 the band hall once again become the subject of the band’s attention. It was suggested that the Band apply for a grant from one of the community trusts for a makeover. One band member, Maree Parr, who had experience in such areas prepared detailed plans and costings and all her hard work was worth it. The Band received a grant of $50,000 from the Canterbury Trust in May 2008 enabling a complete refurbishment including stunning new kitchen from Alvista interiors (Stan Ainsworth), new appliances, new curtains, upgraded toilets and vanities, interior painting and repair and painting of the window frames. A further grant was applied for and received for new seating in 2008.