APRIL PAGE ANZAC DAY IMAGE MONTAGE

Transcription

1 APRIL PAGE ANZAC DAY IMAGE MONTAGE SOME CANDID SHOTS - ANZAC DAY COURTESY MEMBERS FB ALSO BAND PHOTOS - COURTESY OF NBN TV & NEWCASTLE HERALD Livestream MEREWETHER BATHS - MACKERELS OPENING 2017

2 APRIL Page 2. FROM PIPE BANDS AUSTRALIA Hawthorn takes crown April 9, 2018 Congratulations to our new Australian champion pipe bands - Hawthorn in Grade 2 receiving the Michael Stubbings banner, Foundation New Zealand Youth in Grade 3 the Ewen Masson banner, Knox Grammar in Grade 4 the Anthony Sell banner and Scotch College Melbourne juvenile the Greg Gordon banner. The 2018 championships hosted by Queensland branch and conducted in partnership with Brisbane Boys' College celebrated the growth in Australia's juvenile band scene and development of bands in the grades showing that Australian pipe bands are building a strong foundation for a new era in performance and engagement for our home-grown pipers. World-accomplished pipers and drummers living in Australia are at the forefront of developing an exciting new generation of players across school and community bands and this is evident in high entries again for the juvenile band championship that has risen in standard over recent years. These young players are now also joining the ranks of our graded bands with firm foundations being laid, taking a shape that is growing our movement through increasingly consistent local participation and performance standard. The PBA live steam was watched from around the world and will be uploaded to youtube shortly. Special thanks to Tim Kelly for the live stream and our commentator Tyler Fry who took this initiative to a new level. During the finale, Pipe Major Ian Lyons of Moorabbin played the lament in memory of top grade drummer and school band tutor Kelly Wagener who passed away suddenly earlier in the week, Michael Stubbings and all pipers and drummers who had passed away since the last championships. Among the Hall of Fame inductees at the championships was Pipe Bands Australia chieftain RJK (Bob) Semple OAM BEM, aged 97, who received a special salute from the massed bands. Other inductees present were Nat Russell GC OAM, Tony Sell and Sam Young. Representatives of the Maryborough Highland Society, hosts of the diamond jubilee year championships in 2020, also attended....for FULL RESULTS SEE BELOW Championships BRISBANE CHAMPIONSHIPS - PDF 2018 MASSED BANDS

3 APRIL Page 3. VALE - BRUCE McRAE. THE PASSING OF A GENTLEMAN It is with sadness that I acknowledge the passing of BRUCE MccRAE, a former friend - that was well known to so many long serving members of the Pipe Band " Family ". It has been advised that Bruce, late of Wahroonga, and later at the RSL Anzac Retirement Village, Narrabeen, passed away peacefully on Thursday 12th April, 2018, aged 94. Bruce s pipe band career included being President of the NSW Pipe Band Association for a number of terms and also as a judge for dress and drill / drum majors. He was also a very good friend of our late friend and Drum Major.. Alan Christie. Bruce commenced his piping career as a pupil of Willie McComb and was a member of Scots College Pipe Band. He was a piper in a number of pipe bands including Lithgow Highland Pipe Band as well as Auckland Scottish Pipe Band and was Drum Major of Parramatta Caledonian, Lakemba Caledonian and Hornsby RSL Pipe Bands. He was also a member of the 2/17 Battalion Pipes and Drums for eight years. He was indeed someone that was always available to assist wherever he could. I tell the story of Bruce - who was someone that always was a gentleman of Pipe Bands. He had that happy knack of becoming a friend and confidante of most people he met. In the years after he was active in the adjudicating ranks, he loved nothing more than re meeting and re greeting folk that he knew at the many pipe band contests. It was nothing then, some time later... to get a "candid photograph" of yourself in the mail - from a recent or even an event months earlier... no letter or note... just something on the back... to say... "hello" and take care. His funeral was held on Friday 20 April (Editor - Ron Ferrier)

4 DECEMBER Page 4. APRIL Page 4.

5 APRIL Page 5. RON S BLOG - STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN. Reading the article and review of the new digital chanter, shown elsewhere in this PBNE, brought back memories of an experience a Tasmanian friend of mine and I had in Jakarta Indonesia. Some years I was fortunate enough to have been invited to Adjudicate Drumming at The South Eastern Asian Quintette Championships in Jakarta. Actually, I judged there 4 times ( 4 years ) and in fact competed with a group from Wingham Services Club Band once. To explain more; the contest was open to groups of players, world wide and was limited to 3 Pipers, 1 Basic and 1 Snare Drummer - Total of 5 players. During my period - I experienced groups from North America, Australia ( Qld; NSW; WA ) Hong Kong, Japan & UK ) A group from The Scots Guards was there on one occasion) I will leave for another day a full outline of what made up the complete Indonesian experience. On this one trip - after the contest and with the "activities" behind us, it was time to fly home, and we found ourselves at the airport. My Tassie Piping mate had with him, an early version of a set of Electronic Bagpipes in a small size pipe box, that at that time also contained the speakers. During Customs Inspection, the question was put to him, with a gesture and pointing - seeking to know what was in the pipe case. "Bagpipes!! Bagpipes!! Music!!" He was made to open the case - and when he turned on the power - it emitted a rather loud continuous Bass Drone Sound. I saw the two police - standing there with sub machine guns, jump back about two feet and it appeared likely they were going shoot it up... Wouldn't that be something to see - News Headlines - "Bagpipes Machined Gunned at Jakarta Airport" but when he then started to play some jigs on the instrument - staff and public came from every area and were jigging around to the music with great gusto and big smiles everywhere. Yes - the pipe box passed the test and we flew home...and hereby able to tell the story. Of course - as I always conclude I provide this information for those who might be interested. Ron C. Ferrier Ron C. Ferrier, OAM, Editor Bydand / Website / Patron, Life Member / Past President and D/Sgt CITY OF NEWCASTLE RSL PIPE BAND Inc.

6 APRIL Page 6. NOW THAT S A GREAT LOOKING BASS DRUM HEAD Team Elite SOLD OUT of the 2018 AUSTRALIAN PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS