Pipers share 40-year bond
Four Southlanders have returned to the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships after winning at the event 40 years ago.
Ann Robbie, Warren Haggerty and Garth Smith, of the ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band, and Quinten Wylie, a member of the Hokonui Celtic Pipe Band, were all in the Invercargill band’s No 2 band that won in Hamilton in 1980.
One of Robbie’s memories was missing out on the welcoming-home celebrations at Invercargill Airport because the band’s flight from Christchurch was cancelled.
‘‘We got home at 1.30 in the morning,’’ she said.
The two-day championships in Invercargill began yesterday at the Queens Park cricket ground.
Today’s street parade, on Kelvin St and Gala St, involving 49 bands, begins at 9am with competitions continuing in the afternoon. Section winners will be announced between 4.30pm and 6pm.
‘‘It’s exciting for the four of us to be competing again,’’ Robbie said.
‘‘Some [pipe band] people, as they get older, have health issues and can’t compete. Others can’t because of work or family commitments. ‘‘
Haggerty, Robbie and Wylie are also band tutors.
Robbie said she practised every week and usually piped at one or two funerals a week.
‘‘I’ve played at over 600 funerals and find it an honour and privilege to do that. I play at Anzac services and other community events.’’
Meanwhile, Haggerty hadn’t spoken to former Southlander Jim Cordell for 40 years when they met up yesterday.
Cordell lived in Riverton and played for the Waimatuku Southern Scenic Highland Pipe Band and the ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band before moving to Brisbane 15 years ago.
Cordell and his sons, Ben, 15, and Oliver, 17, are playing in the Brisbane Boys College Old Collegians Pipe Band at the championships.
‘‘Playing here [in Invercargill] with my two boys and seeing my old friends from years ago is amazing,’’ Cordell said.
‘‘I worked in oil and gas [in Southland] and that took us to Brisbane.’’
Every year Cordell, his wife Nicolette and their sons return to Riverton to visit family and friends.
‘‘It’s exciting for the four of us to be competing again.’’
Ann Robbie