Pipe Bands S.A

Pipe bands in South Australia date back to the late 1800s,with one of the earliest mentions made of the Caledonian Pipers’ Band (now known as The Pipes & Drums of the Royal Caledonian Society of S.A). After the Second World War, Adelaide pipe bands belonged to the (Brass) Bands league, while some pipe bands in the South East of the state were affiliated with the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association.

South East Pipe Band Centre
In 1954 Angas Leggett called a meeting of local bands in the South East of South Australia. The meeting, held in Penola on the 30 June 1954, attracted a total of twenty eight people representing the areas of Tarpeena, Mt Gambier, Penola and Naracoorte.
Topics discussed at this meeting included, the need to create more public interest in pipe band contests, common rules for local contests, and forming a band association in the South East. This meeting paved the way for the establishment of the South East Pipe Band Centre (SEPBC).
At a second meeting on the 21st July 1954, the South East Pipe Band Centre formally established, and adopting the Victorian contest rules and creating local by-laws.

Bands at this meeting were:

• Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band
  
• Blue Lake Ladies Pipe Band
  
• Tarpeena Highland Pipe Band
  
• Naracoorte Highland Pipe Band
• Penola & District Caledonian Pipe Band, and
  
• Millicent Caledonian Society Pipe Band.

After approaches to Adelaide and the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association, a general meeting held on the 4th February 1955 decided to proceed without affiliating with either body. It was noted that Adelaide did not appear to have a functioning association, and the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association were not prepared to assist.

South Australian Pipe Band Association
On the 21st September 1960 a proposal to change the name to the South Australian Pipe Band Association and become an incorporated entity was put to the meeting. The first meeting of the South Australian Pipe Band Association was held on the 28th September 1960 at the Caledonian hall in Penola, where it was decided to affiliate with the Australian Federation of Pipe Band Associations. Incorporation occurred on the 1st November 1960. In 1961 after discussions between Messrs F. Collins, President, A. Turnbill, Secretary of the SAPBA, and Adelaide band representatives, the Adelaide bands merged with the South Australia Pipe Band Association.

The Adelaide Bands were:

• Adelaide University Regiment
• Adelaide Highland Pipe Band
• Adelaide Irish Pipe Band
• Heather Girls Pipe Band
• Mt. Barker Caledonian Society Pipe Band
• Port Adelaide Caledonian Society Pipe Band
• Port Adelaide Girls Scottish Pipe Band
• Port Pirie Pipe Band Royal Caledonian Society Pipe Band, and
  
• Whyalla Pipe Band.

First President of this new association was Frank Collins, who was followed by Ewen Masson, Greg Gordon, Don Patterson and Rosemary Tully. Rosemary being the first female president of a pipe band association in Australia.

Administration Structure
Operation of the SAPBA was conducted with a State President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer. The organisation consisted of two groups. A central group, looking after bands in Adelaide and to the north of the state held monthly meetings, while a South East group looked after bands south of Tailem Bend in the South East of South Australia and held quarterly meetings. Each group operated with a chairman, who was vice president of the state association, a secretary, a treasurer and two committee members. This was known as the executive, and together with two delegates from each affiliated band, conducted business arising at group meetings. Minutes of meetings were distributed to member bands and an annual general meeting was held alternatively between Adelaide, and a town in the South East of South Australia. ie. Mt Gambier/Naracoorte.

Australian Federation of Pipe Band Associations
The inauguration of this organisation in 1960 as a forum for contest rules for the Australian Pipe Band Championships, and the rostering of this event to the state pipe band associations, eventually changed in 1981 to incorporate the adoption of the federation’s contest rules for all Australian contests.

Administration structure
The organisation was administrated by a President, Secretary and Treasurer and two delegates from each state association and the principal of Piping, Drumming, Dress & Drill and Rules & Administration. A conference was held bi-annually, with the venue initially rotating among the state pipe band associations, to finally, a venue based on a cost effective basis.

The following associations were involved:

• South Australian Pipe Band Association Inc.
• Victorian Highland Pipe band Association Inc
• New South Wales Pipe Band Association Ltd
• Queensland Pipe Band Association Ltd
• Western Australian Pipe Band Association Inc.
• Tasmanian Pipe Band Association Inc.

Australian Pipe Band Association Inc.
In 1993 the bi annual conference of the AFPBA considered the concept of merging the state associations into one national association. This occurred in 1997 after a unanimous vote, and the federation passed its duties and responsibilities over to the new body. The structure decided on was an incorporated body having a branch in each state. The same geographical areas as previously handled by the state associations.

Administration Structure
The governing body is known as the Council, and comprises a President, Secretary, Treasurer, two councillors from each branch and the four principals of Piping, Drumming, Dress & Drill and Rules & Administration. Day to day management of the association is conducted by a committee that comprises the President, secretary, treasurer and two committee members, one being a principal of the college.

Australian Pipe Band Association Inc. SA Branch
In 1999 an Annual General Meeting of the South Australian Pipe Band Association Inc decided to apply to form the South Australian branch of the Australian Pipe Band Association Inc. This Branch took over the daily responsibilities and duties conducted by the SAPBA Inc. The APBA Inc SA Branch also conducts a branch of the Australian Pipe Band College responsible for setting, maintaining and improving standards in all aspects of pipe band activity. South Australian Pipe Band Association Inc. This body still exists, however it does not conduct the day to day affairs of the pipe band fraternity.

Administration Structure
The structure changed to be similar to the APBA Inc. SA Branch. It has a President, two vice presidents, and a secretary/treasurer. Meetings are held as required.