Most Campbelltown residents would know of the popular local pipes and drums band.
Actually, the truth is that most of us have had the pleasure of listening to them in action over the years.
Anzac Day dawn services, citizenship ceremonies, the Fisher’s Ghost festival parade, you name it, this wonderful band has been there performing.
But until last night we did not know that the Ingleburn RSL and Campbelltown Community Pipes and Drums, to give it its full name, is much more popular on a bigger scale than we ever imagined.
Given the microphone at a civic reception by the Mayor of Campbelltown Darcy Lound, the band’s pipe major Peter Jakobsson said locals Duncan and Grace Lister and Helen and Arthur Bick founded the group in 1976.
Five years later he joined the band himself, he told the audience.
The oldest “member’’ of the group is a base drum which was brought into the Campbelltown arts centre for last night’s 50th anniversary celebration.
And then Mr Jakobsson revealed how this humble Campbelltown pipes and drum band was in such demand it had performed not just across Australia – including the Black Saturday march in Melbourne – but overseas in Japan as well as guests of sister city Koshigaya.
“That included performing in a 3,000 seat auditorium, along with a 60 piece orchestra,’’ he said.
“It was more than 20 years ago, but it’s one of our best memories.’’
Mayor Lound thanked the band for their contribution to the Campbelltown community over half a century.
“Absolute pleasure to celebrate our fantastic pipe and drums band and their incredible achievements over five decades,’’ he said.
The federal member for Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander was also effusive in his praise of the band.
“We’re very lucky to have had you as part of our community and I thank you for your wonderful contribution to Campbelltown,’’ Dr Freelander said.
