Mount Barker Highland Gathering - 1973

This was the very first competition entered into by the band. A lot of hard work was put into preparation, mainly because of the need to perfect the "Quickstep Course", which was a mystery to players who had never ventured into the pipe band competition world. The end result was very gratifying, because the band won the Grade III event against all the odds for a first-time entrant.

It is interesting to note that this contest was perhaps the first major step in the path that led Peter Toole to a career in pipe band drumming. He later enlisted as a regular soldier in a Scottish regiment, and went on to become the senior drum major in the British military pipe band world. Of the eight pipers involved, six were still actively playing pipes a quarter of a century later (1998). Only Bob Soang and Robert MacCullum drifted away from the hobby.

Our Pipers:

Jim Smith, Angus Massie (sen), Angus Massie (jun), Malcolm Massie, Paul Odegaard, Robert MacCullum, Robert Soang, John Robertson.

Our Drummers:

Sides - Mark Shipway, Robert Toole. Bass Section - Max Jarvis, John Odegaard. Drum Major - Sam Campbell.

Our tunes:

Quickstep - The Dundee City Police Pipe Band.

Selection - Mrs MacDonald of Dunach.

Results:

First in Grade III out of 7 bands

The winning bandsmen after their successful debut.

Standing (L to R): Robert MacCullum, Angus Massie(sen), Paul Odegaard, Malcolm Massie, Jim Smith, Sam Campbell,

John Robertson, Max Jarvis, Mark Shipway, John Odegaard, Bob Soang.

Kneeling (L to R): Angus Massie(jun), Robert Toole, Peter Toole.