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Historic accounts of
Ballarat recognise that bagpipes were an early form
of entertainment on the Ballarat goldfields. The large migration of miners to the Ballarat Goldfields in the gold rush of the 1850s resulted in a large and passionate Scottish community in the area. By 1880, there was a Pipe Band in Ballarat. It is believed that this Band eventually became known as the Ballarat Highland Pipe Band, although historical evidence is scarce.
The Ballarat Highland Pipe Band had a rich and proud
tradition which spanned the best part of a century.
It would be almost impossible to document all of its
achievements, but the band hall displays many
indications of the band's success, history and development, including
Honour Rolls for World Wars I and II.
The Band was successful in Grade One under Pipe Major
Duncan McLennan and Pipe Sergeant Bill Spicer, who took
over as Pipe Major when Duncan went to Melbourne. During
this time, Bill Williams became Pipe Sergeant and Jack
McGregor served as Drum Sergeant. Our ranks boasted
members of the calibre of Col McDonald.
The Ballarat Ladies Pipe Band with the help of Lou Zillies
played in Grade Two in the early 1950s. We still have
one member of the Ladies Band playing with our current
band.
In the early
1980s, the Ballarat Ladies amalgamated with Ballarat
Highland and continued under the Ballarat Highland name.
The Ballarat
Scottish Pipe Band was formed in the early 1950s under
Russell Kerr's leadership. Russ was well known in the piping arena and led the Ballarat Scottish to many
successes. Due to illness, Rob Kerr took over in 1970
as Pipe Major and lead the Scottish.
There is a great tradition of playing within the Kerr
family. The Pipe Band is very proud of Rob's son, Anthony,
who progressed through the Ballarat Scottish Pipe Band
and went on to win three world championships as a member
of Simon Fraser University Pipe Band - Canada. Rob's
son-in-law Adam Quinn also played in two of those victories.
In 1993, it became apparent that the two Bands could
not survive without amalgamation. The amalgamation breathed
new life into bagpipes in Ballarat. The City of Ballarat
Pipe Band, as it was known at the time of amalgamation,
became a new dynamic and exciting piping organization.
Our Band is very family-oriented. A great majority
of our learners and playing members come from eight families.
As the University
of Ballarat Pipe Band, we wish to contiue our proud Scottish
traditions for many, many years to come.
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