Busy Anzac Day for Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band

[Downunder Kilt]

April 25 is Anzac Day in Australia and this year we spent the day with a favourite pipe band, the Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band, as they played at 3 Anzac Day parades and services. In almost every Australian town there is a memorial to those gallant men and women who have stood up when called upon. In everyone of theses towns, or suburbs of towns, where there is a memorial, and whether there is a dozen people or or thousands, at sometime on Anzac Day there will be a service. Below there are some photos of three of those parades and services.
The first parade and service of the day was at the central Victorian town of Castlemaine, where about 2000 attended the parade and service





The Drum Major of the Band, together with the second bass drummer provided the Catafalque Party at the Cenotaph

Speeches by the heads of the local RSL and Council were made but those that impressed me the most were those made by the two head students of the local high school. They, very eloquently, explained what Anzac day meant to them and made in clear that it did not glorify war but is a time to say thanks to ordinary people who did what they had to do.

[Downunder Kilt]

No sooner than the Castlemaine parade and service was completed, the band loaded up and went over to a small town, called Campbells Creek where about 120 people were gathered for a small parade down the main street to the local primary school where a service was to be held.




The band was then able to have a couple of hours rest as the next parade and service was not due until 3.00pm
Next stop was a smal town on the other side of Castlemaine, named Harcourt, where about 60 members of the local community duly assembled at 3.00pm for their parade and service.

[Downunder Kilt]

As can be seen from the previous posts, it doesn't matter how many people attend the parade or service on Anzac day here in Australia but, wherever there is a memorial someone will front up and say, thanks mate.

[Grizzled Ian]

G'day DK,
I hope you watched Landline on ABC1 at midday today, because one of the articles focused on the importance of ANZAC Day in rural and regional communities, and the story came from - Castlemaine and Harcourt. Look out for a repeat, or iview if you know how to do that. I wondered about the story of the feather-bonneted catafalque party - thank you for answering the question.
Although I live near Newcastle, I spent ANZAC Day in Canberra, where the choir I belong to is engaged by the War Memorial to sing at the Dawn Service and the later National Service. Friday's Canberra Times front page had a photo of Cpl Ben R-S VC reading at the Dawn Service, behind him were uniformed members of the RMC Duntroon Band, and behind them the Australian Rugby Choir in our black jackets, and I'm the bearded gent at the left-hand end of the shot. One of the choir members lives in Peeler Place, named like many streets in that area of Canberra after VC winners.
So, no kilt for me on ANZAC Day: not until the next day, when I wore my Cameron of Erracht weathered, first to Lake Burley Griffin where I had a lot of mates competing in the Aust Masters Rowing Championships, then to Parliament House for a heritage tour with My Good Lady (MGL).
Cheers, IR

[Blupiper]

Your second Harcourt photo is a beaut! Is Castlemaine the same town in the song "Wild Colonial Boy?" Thanks for the great shots.

JMB

[Downunder Kilt]

Bluepiper, I think the Castlemaine in the song "the wild Colonial Boy refers to Castlemaine in County Derry Ireland. As can be seen from the first 2verses of the song, he was born in Castlemaine, but at age 16 he left his home for Australia's sunny shores
Verse One

There was a wild Colonial Boy,
Jack Doolan was his name,
Of poor but honest parents,
He was born in Castlemaine.
He was his father's only hope
His mother's pride and joy,
And dearly did his parents love
The Wild Colonial Boy.

Verse Two

At the age of sixteen years
He left his native home,
And to Australia's sunny shores
A bushranger did roam.
They put him in the iron gang
In the government employ,
But never an iron on earth could hold
The Wild Colonial Boy

It is rumoured that he did some of his bushrangering in the area though

[Downunder Kilt]

Thanks for the heads up on the Lateline segment Grizzled Ian, I went to the ABC website and found the segment. A good story in my opinion.
Link to story for those interested
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/conte...3/s3746808.htm

[Jock Scot]

Thanks chaps.


"Lest We Forget"

[ThistleDown]

Thanks.

[ThistleDown]

DK, I have a copy of the letter written by the late Mackintosh to the Castlemaine Band in the early 50s, thanking them for selecting the Clanchattan tartan (they referred to it as Mcintosh Chief). It is so good to see them wearing it more than sixty years later.

Rex