…….OUT
OF THE BLUE
Western
Australia Police Pipe Band
The Western Australia
Police Pipe Band is renowned for making a lot of noise…or
should that be music. It seems unusual then to use the term ‘quiet
achievers’ when discussing the band but that’s exactly
what they are.
The band now has its
sights on the holy grail of piping, the grade one World Pipe Band
Championship title staged in Glasgow, Scotland.
Since its inception
in 1966 the band has released six albums. It has appeared at the
world famous Edinburgh Tattoo (viewed by over 100 million), won
the Pipe Band World Championships (grade two) 1998 in Scotland
and 2001 USA Open Title. They have even starred on the silver
screen! I could go on but you get the picture. This is one serious
band.
The band is made up
of 5 police officers and 10 public servants, who spend approximately
50 per cent of their time in roles supporting frontline policing.
Those roles include ballistics, DNA, Kiara Police Station and
police communications. There is a strong focus on ensuring the
band is an active contributor to core policing objectives.
Membership has an international
flavour with players from New Zealand, Scotland and the United
States teaming up with local and interstate talent. Musicians
within the band ranks boast between 10 to 20 years playing experience
apiece and most are competent on more than one instrument.
Acting Pipe Major Mr
James Cowie said the band was going back to Scotland for a second
consecutive tilt at the title.
“Although the bands success in competition arena has been
encouraging this is the ultimate test of our abilities and the
culmination of years of hard work,” he said.
With
this goal ahead of them, the band now turns its talents to the
fundraising game. CD sales make up the lion’s share of the
funds required, along with proceeds from band concerts performed
in their spare time. It heads country in the next two months for
a whistle stop tour of Geraldton, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie before
heading off to Bonnie Scotland. Travel and accommodation costs
for all overseas trips made by the band are wholly paid for by
band members and the Pipe Band Supporters’ Association.
