May 2005

It has been a long time between newsletters and for this I apologise and I will endeavour to rectify this by keeping more up to date with the going ons of the band.

Since the last newsletter the band was kept very busy with engagements last year but this year to date we have been accepting less band turn outs due to members being busy with other commitments and work.

Another factor being the fact that younger members of the band are growing up and have part time work and sporting commitments to increasingly take up their time.

The band now parades on average about once or twice a month and is still performing well, ANZAC Day the band played for the Laidley RSL. for the first time and was very well received with members and the RSL very happy with the day and all having a good day.

A somewhat small band played at the Toowoomba Tartan Day earlier in the year and despite small numbers the band played very well, thanks to those who made the parade and especially to Betty and Alex who had a lot of pressure on them on the day and played exceptionally well and confidently, Betty was that excited about being complimented on her playing by John that she had a rush of blood to the head and started giving away free beer.

Most of the band were able to make it to the Glen Innes Celtic Celebrations and as soon as arriving in town the younger members were abducted and whisked away to play in a local Caravan Park where from all reports they entertained well and have already been booked for next year.

Saturday morning I arose with the dreaded fear of how our reeds were going to perform, remembering the problems of the previous year with all the moisture problems and reeds going from bad to worse each time the band played.

We were greatly surprised as this year the reeds just seemed to go from strength to strength and the more we played the better they were starting to sound, the Street March went well and the band played the Manx National Anthem for the flag raising.

We then proceeded to the Festival site and played during the day leaving mid-afternoon to go back to the school to have a practice for the evenings concert which was something very new for the band.

The concert was the highlight off the weekend with all members thoroughly enjoying the experience and the band playing so well that we had to fend off members of the public who swooped on the band at the end of the evening heaping praise on the performance.

Thanks to John for his compeering on the night which I’m sure helped the audience warm to the band and also made members more relaxed and get a lot more enjoyment out of performing.

All in all another great weekend in Glen Innes and already we are looking to return next year, special thanks must go to members of the Glen Innes band for the hospitality they extended to the band and lets hope it is not until next year that we meet up again.

Since the last newsletter the band has run several more very successful Retreats at Duckadang, although the last being somewhat down on numbers because of St. Paddy’s Day celebrations falling on the same weekend and some regulars unable to attend because of prior band commitments.

To date we have not had a bad Duckadang and they keep going from strength to strength and the accolades afforded the band because of their endeavours just still keep coming.

Also last year members interested in band contests joined with some from Kingaroy to form the Queensland Country Pipe Band.

The band was formed to give those wanting to compete a chance to do so as neither band had enough members to do so on their own.

The parameters of the band changed very fast after forming and we now have members from all over QLD. ranging from Townsville, MacKay to the north as well as from Wynnum and Brisbane.

The exercise has been very successful with the band competing well since MacLean in Easter 2004 on, although last weekend at Kingaroy we possibly put on our worst performances ever, but one must remember that where other competing bands meet each week or sometimes twice a week we are very limited in the times we can get the Country band together for practices, although we could make a little bit more of an effort before the QLD. Champs at Ipswich in August.

Younger members in the band as well as two slightly older members of the basic section are now regularly competing in solo events and quite successfully with Aaron and Frazier having successes at Kingaroy. I think the one to watch in the future will be Jenny, with a little more attention to fingering she will be beginning to stand out from the others in a very short time.

Well until next time which I promise will not be as long as in the past practice hard and practice well and catch you all soon.

 

Andrew Simmonds leaves the band to attend university in Brisbane and is living in the hall of residence with all the other students.

After he has been there for a few months Peter, another piper in the band goes to visit him.

“ How do you get along with all the other students ,” he enquires.

“ Peter,” he replies, “they’re such terrible noisy people. The one on that side keeps banging his head against the wall and wont stop. The one on the other side just screams and screams all night.”

“ Oh , Andrew,” says Peter, “How do you manage to put up with such awful neighbours?”

“ Peter, I do nothing, I just sit here quietly , playing my bagpipes.”