Camp Duckadang - 2002

On the 6th and 7th of July 2002 the Lockyer Valley Celtic Pipe Band hosted a Seminar/Workshop at Camp Duckadang. The aims of the weekend were to:-
1. Increase knowledge and skills in all aspects of pipe bands 2. Meet and socialise with members of other bands. Members of the following bands attended the weekend:- Bundaberg, Kingaroy, Caboolture, Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Celtic Pipe band. Approximately 45 people of various ages and skills attended. Participants enjoyed tuition covering piping and bagpipe maintenance, drumming and drum maintenance and dress and drill.

Following are testimonials from the many participants who complete feedback forms:-

Piper/Caboolture & formerly of Maryborough
"Thoroughly enjoyed myself and found the pipe maintenance session by Tom informative particularly his system of tuning and measuring drones. My main complaint is my own short coming, years of involvement with tractors and farm machinery has affected my hearing. Perhaps we could have been worked a bit harder, but I will certainly come again

Piper/Bundaberg
The tutoring of the mechanics on Saturday was more valuable to me in one session than I have received since I've started piping 5 years ago. The session was relaxing and bonding. The demonstration on Saturday night showed us just how good the sound of good maintenance on pipes. The late night piping was brilliant. Saturday morning sessions were to become more efficient in discipline in start, stop, pipes and marching. The tutoring was excellent.

Piper/Tenor Drummer/Drum Major/Bundaberg
First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend and wish we could have more time, but we have jobs and school tomorrow. To Tom and Johnsie - Thank you for your patience, time and understanding. If we have improved on our playing in such a short time with you guys, imagine the improvement in everyone's playing on a more permanent basis. To the drumming tutors - Thank you also, I wish I could have spent a bit more time with Mark K to pick up on a few more tips and techniques. To David Booth - Thank you again, and again. I wish I had more time for tuition. Many of the commands I had never been shown and now feel a little more confident with these now. I would very much like to see more workshops similar to this one and will be endeavoring to get something organized before the end of the year. Many, many thanks.

Piper/Toowoomba
I found it very interesting learning how to tune the drones with a "tuner" From a band that has somebody else doing all the tuning - it was actually a lesson that I hope I can pass on to our band (especially knowing what the readings are supposed to be!) Thanks for the effort - thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Piper/Bundaberg
Congratulations, Lockyer Valley, for the inspiration and follow through of conducting this weekend retreat! It has been a great time - even after 42 years (on & off) of piping, there was still so much to learn!! Tom McG is a good teacher! For isolated regional bands this is a truly wonderful experience - to learn, to mix with others, and just to add another dimension to being in a Pipe Band. For young players and learners I think this is especially important. A band may only have 1 or 2 youngsters - for them to see others in another band and compare themselves with others their age rather than with people their parents' age is a valuable and encouraging experience. The emphasis on discipline got my vote - I was beginning to think it had died out with the previous generation of bands. The choice of venue was perfect, the cooks excelled themselves, our hosts & hostesses from Lockyer Valley seemed to have thought of everything, and the tutors are to be commended for giving us their time. I'm so glad I didn't give in to my earlier inclination to pull out of this weekend. I now have a renewed perspective on piping in band work. Thanks to all.

Piper/Caboolture City Highlanders
First rate venue; first rate tutors. The session on instrument maintenance was very worthwhile - had not had such a detailed explanation before. Congratulations to Lockyer Valley Celtic Pipe Band for organising the event, and THANK YOU to all the Tutors. The event should be repeated, possibly varying the venue so other bands can take advantage.

Piper/Bundaberg, Kingaroy, Maryborough, Hervey Bay
An excellent weekend. Many thanks to all concerned. More, More, More!!

Tenor Drummer/Lockyer Valley
I found this camp very worthwhile. The help that was freely given was wonderful. Meeting other band members was great. The men that gave up their time to help others are a real credit. I know that we cannot thank them enough for all of the valuable help that they gave to everybody.

Piper/Bundaberg
I found the weekend very worthwhile. The tuition was great. I learnt lots of valuable things about my pipes and my playing techniques. I found the pipe maintenance and tuning sessions particularly helpful. The tutors were wonderful. Their very friendly attitudes made the workshop very relaxed and pleasant. The opportunity to make new friendships and consolidate old friendships was a great aspect of the weekend. I think we should do it again - soon. A BIG THANK YOU to - The Lockyer Valley Celtic Band for organizing the Retreat, and A BIG THANK YOU to the tutors for giving their valuable time to help other pipers and drummers.

Piper/Bundaberg
On the weekend of the 6th & 7th of July the LVCPB held a workshop (Piping & Drumming) at Camp Duckadang. Members from Bundaberg Pipe Band were invited to attend along with other Bands from country towns. The information and instruction that was presented will be very helpful to us in the future. I am positive that our Band and members that were here today will be adopting these new ways and ideas. I was shown how easy it is to tune up a Band in a lot less time that has taken me before. This was displayed by the LVCPB. Tom McGirr has been an asset to this band. Hopefully these workshops will continue. A big thanks to you guys, Tom, Johnsie, John, Mark,Buzz & David. Thanking You.

Piper/Caledonian Bundaberg
Tom, from the point of view of a novice the weekend was productive & worthwhile because: 1. the information provided on maintenance and set up for the pipes, 2. the interesting products to help with playing. From the point of view of the group it was wonderful to meet other pipers and interact with them. Future - it would be nice to improve the standards of the bands and a Questionnaire about the next class/gathering would perhaps be helpful and it would give an idea about the scope for further classes. Regards

Piper/ Lockyer Valley Celtic Pipe Band
I thought that the seminar was a great experience for me and also I learnt a lot about the bagpipes. Overall, I had fun doing & listening to things.

Piper/ Toowoomba
I've had a lot of fun and learnt a lot in the area of pipe maintenance and mechanics. This weekend has been very beneficial and I say THANKS to all the tutors and organisers.

Piper/ LVCPB
This weekend has been a very learning experience for me. Tom McGirr and Andrew Johns have shown me a lot of beneficial information on the care and maintenance of my pipes. How to tune them, and other little helpful hints in playing. Their dedication and willingness to help people from their wealth of knowledge is a credit to them. I highly recommend this sort of activity to all pipers and something that should occur more frequently.

DRUM/MAJOR INSTUCTOR D&D
I felt that this camp was the first step in the right direction. I am only sorry that it took a band to start instead of the Q.P.B.A. The organization and tutoring was well run. My congratulations to the Executive of the Lockyer Valley Pipe Band for putting it together. I feel that participating bands get a lot more out of it than attending branch meeting. I got a lot more out of it and feel that it is better for me to put my time and effort into this sort of effort. WELL DONE.

Piper/South Burnett
I found this weekend to be enjoyable, informative and friendly. A good base for a learner like myself. The evening was terrific.

Piper
I have really enjoyed myself. The food was great. Company was EXCELLENT - still is.

Piper/LVCPB
It was a pleasant weekend. The tutors did a 1st class job and more seminars should be held in the future - maybe when the weather is warmer! It would have been good to have more bands involved.

Piper/Kingaroy
Weekend was fantastic. Tutors were great, down to earth. Weekend should become annual event. We should book for another weekend now. Maybe twice a year - but same area.

Piper/ Scots PGC College
The seminar was really good. I learnt a lot. The tutors were very helpful and patient. Please do it again!!

Piper/LVCPB
The camp was a wonderful success! I believe this is because 1. All players - pipers, drummers and pipe major learned the finer points of their area of skill. I spoke with many people who expressed an excitement about hearing/learning information presented in a well 'broken down' back to the basics level. 2. The weekend was a social bonanza! When members of 5 (five) bands from across rural SE Queensland got together it was as though they had known each other for years. Really well done! This could revitalize piper bands!!!!

Piper/Guinness Drinker/LVCPB
We proved we have a product and that there is a need for it. Lorraine helped in a great capacity to bring it together as well as the great tutors. Hoping it continues and the knowledge that can be brought to us all carry on. Hopefully the participation bands will keep in closer contact and the friendships expanded on.

Piper/LVCPB
I feel it was a very worthwhile weekend lots of information. It was wonderful to have such great tutors to give their time to help and all with a smiling face. It was also great to meet up with other bands members. And it was great to have a party at the end of night.Thank you so so much Tom, John ,Andrew, Mark ,Buzz & David.

Piper/Kingaroy
The weekend at Camp Duckadang was a terrific success as far as I am concerned. The information imparted by Tom McGirr was /is invaluable. This sort or seminar should be undertaken on a regular basis.

Drummer/Toowoomba
Many thanks for a great weekend, I am sure that all who attended will agree with me. I found the instruction to be of a high standard and most useful to me both at the basic level and the more advanced level that we got on too. It is a good idea to have two instructors so that different levels of ability can be taught at the same time. I would think that at a future weekend the syllabus may be a bit easier to preplan as the instructors will have a good idea of the standard of the players. It may be a good idea in future to have a bit longer actually playing as a band all together, this could even be planned in to become part of the evening activities. I hope this has given you some feedback and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Drummer/LVCPB
I feel the only thing that could have improved the weekend was to have started it on the Friday afternoon/evening so that we could have gotten off to a bright and early start on Saturday and learnt even more. There didn't seem to be enough time to fit everything in. (or maybe it was just that I wanted to soak more up - information that is). Some things that I have been trying to learn seemed to click into place on the weekend and didn't seem so daunting after all. It was an amazing atmosphere that was relaxed and friendly., and all of the tutors were extremely approachable. Everyone was there for the same reason - to learn something and meet other people with the same interests. What a hoot. If I could do it again in a month I would and, if I was asked to co-ordinate another seminar I would probably do that too because the total sense of pride when it succeeded is a feeling that made it all worthwhile.