Biography - City of Casey Pipe Band Inc

Biography

Biography - City of Casey Pipe Band Inc

The City of Casey Pipe Band originated in Springvale in the early 1970s, as the Springvale Pipe Band, and wore the MacDonald of the Isles Tartan. Faced with waining support, but new interest being shown by business and community leaders in Berwick, the Berwick and District Pipes and Drums was formed in May 1982.

In recognition of the support given by the then Berwick Council and its sister cityship with Berwick-upon-Tweed on the eastern Scotland/England border, the Hay Tartan, being the district's tartan, was adopted by the Band.

After a very substantial fund-raising effort the Band made its official public debut in November 1982, with a complement of 32 members.

Permission was granted by the then Berwick Council for the Band to use Council's Coat-of-Arms, which, at the time, was the only organisation, other than Council itself, enabled to do so and now holds some historical significance with the change to the City of Casey. This logo is on the Band's glengarries and also displayed on the bass drum, while the new City of Casey logo is the Band's tie pins.

A tradition established at that time also sees each Mayor of the City of Casey hold the position of Band Chieftain.

1986 saw the first Berwick Highland Gathering, organised conjointly by the Narre Warren Rotary Club, Berwick Council and the Band, with sponsorship from local businesses. This event is held annually and was relocated from Narre Warren to the more shady venue at Akoonah Park, Berwick in recent times.

Continued financial support from the City saw a name change to the City of Berwick Pipes and Drums and, in recent times, City of Casey Pipe Band, to reflect the continuing support of the City.

Each Citizenship Ceremony held in the City has a piper in atendance. Over time, the Band has participated in community, competition and fund-raising events at locations ranging from the City of Casey to Maffra, Pakenham, Dandenong, Portsea, Northcote, Geelong, Ballarat, Daylesford and Bendigo, including engagements in and around Melbourne.

Playouts have included historic re-enactments, Agricultural Shows, Melbourne Cup, Grand Prix, torch-light parades, street marches, Anzac parades and with members playing for weddings, promotions, birthdays, parties and funerals. Attendances at local community events and those organised by the City of Casey are voluntary to encourage continued support and membership growth.

The Mayor of the City holds an annual Mayoral Charity Concert and the 2002 and 2003 concerts had the Band playing jointly with the Cranbourne Lions Concert Band and the Berwick Regional Concert Band. These performances eventuated from the instigation of Arts & Cultural initiatives within the City which fostered closer liaisons between groups throughout the local arts and cultural community.

In recent years Band members have participated in the massed pipes and drums at the Federation Tattoo each Australia Day weekend at Bendigo in 1999, Morwell in 2000 and Ballarat between 2001 and 2004. Over time various members have participated in the Edinburgh Military Tattoos as social members of the Rats of Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums.

The Band is affiliated with the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association and the Australian Pipe Band Association (Victorian branch) and members attend State Council meetings.

Every attempt is made to keep the band family oriented by including family members at playouts, fund-raising events and inviting them to become committee members. The Band is always on the lookout for new members whether they are experienced players or beginners and also supplies tutors for pipers and drummers.