Band History


		GRAFTON DISTRICT SERVICES CLUB PIPE BAND Band History
	Home Calendar News Contact Us History Photo Gallery Links Members Area Admin Area	Previous Pipe Bands in Grafton Grafton District Caledonian Pipe Band Grafton District Caledonian Pipe Band formed in 1949 with Pipe Major being Hugh Stewart. The band adopted the Maxwell tartan in honour of the Chieftain of the Grafton Caledonian Society. First official appearance of the band was in 1951 at the 4 th Annual Highland Gathering held at the Grafton showground. In 1952, "Pipe Band Week" was held with fund raising appeals launched by the mayors of both Grafton and South Grafton . The band continue to perform until it disbanded in 1972. South Grafton Ex-Services Club Pipe Band Also known as the South Grafton Pipe Band. Formed in 1950 by Mr Tom Scott. By 1953, this band was associated with "C" Company of the 41 st RNSWR and the name of the band had changed to the Argyll Pipe Band. The band wore the Red Scott tartan. It was a family band with at one stage 8 Scotts, 3 Sheppards, and 2 Lothians involved. This band was known for its long marches. In 1955 during the Jacaranda Festival, they marched from Walkers Hotel along Skinner St ( South Grafton ) to the Post Office Hotel, to Bent St , over the bridge and down Prince St to the Showground. This band went into recess in 1973. Grafton District Services Club Pipe Band At the instigation of Hugh Miller, President of the Grafton District Services Club, a meeting was held on 12/12/1973 regarding the formation of a pipe band for Grafton. The Hunting McInnes tartan was adopted for the band and the first practice under Pipe Major Chas Rochow was held at Fisher Park on 14/1/1974. First public performance was at Anzac Day 1975 sans uniforms! First march in kilts was at Jacaranda 1974. Pipe Major - Chas Rochow, Drum Major - Neil Morris, Chieftain - Hugh Miller. The band has been in continuous existence since 1974, supporting events on the Clarence and attending gatherings and festivals at Tamworth, Armidale, Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Stanthorpe, Mullumbimbi, Maclean and Coffs Harbour . Some Highlights Across the Years: 1980 Playing for the MacLennan Clan Chief, Chevalier Ronald MacLennan's visit to the clan gathering in Grafton. 1995 Vanuatu Tour to participate in Vanuatu 's 15 th Independence Day celebrations as guests of Grafton's sister-city, Port Vila. On the Saturday night the band marched and played around eight kilometres of roads around Port Vila acting as a rallying point to bring the locals into the town for the celebrations. On the Sunday morning the band played at the raising and blessing of the flag and took part in the march past after the official speeches. The band later played at the President's cocktail party and then attended the Prime Minister's ball as guests. 2000 Olympic Torch Parade 2001 Embarking into pipe band competition - both full band and mini-band. Ongoing success of the band's current pipe major, Alastair McInnes in solo piping competitions. 2005 Celebrated 30 years in existence with a dinner at the Grafton District Services Club. Many previous band members and supporters attended the evening and enjoyed a trip down memory lane! 2006 Opening of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Memorial Park, Grafton. The band led the parade and participated in a moving ceremony to unveil the new memorial. 2007 Grafton Bridge 75 th birthday celebrations. The band played on a fishing trawler which led the flotilla of boats under the bridge to the official ceremony on the river bank at South Grafton . At one stage, Grafton Pipe Band and Maclean Pipe Band managed a massed band play from two different boats!