Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association (VHPBA), is the oldest pipe band association in the world, having been established in 1924. In the present day, it is a state branch of the Australian Pipe Band Association, and exists to support Pipe band
s in Victoria
, Australia
.
gathering in 1924, Drum Major Lew Zilles OAM ED, broadcast the intent to form a group for coordinating Victorian pipe band affairs. In a meeting at Geelong
, on the 12th of April that same year, the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association was formed. It was the first of its kind, anywhere in the world - predating even the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
.
Initial efforts were focused on ensuring fair competition, including the election of knowledgeable, impartial judges and creating the competition rules. Unintentionally, the VHPBA had also become the national leader on all pipe band issues, and not long after its inception, had members from New South Wales
, South Australia
and Tasmania
, in addition to the many Victorians present.
However, as the pipe band scene in Australia grew in the 1950-60s, associations were formed in other states. Toward the end of this period, it was realised that a national identity to oversee the organisations and coordination of a standardized ruling system was needed. Though only representatives from New South Wales and Victoria attended the meeting that formed the Australian Federation of Pipe Associations, all six states joined shortly after its founding.
Though the national body was responsible for communicating between the organizations, each individual member, including the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association, retained control over its own state. This worked well for the next thirty years, until in the 1990s it was felt that the state associations needed to become branches of an amalgamated entity. Thus, in 1997 the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association became the Victorian Branch of the Australian Highland Pipe Band Association, and was renamed Pipe Bands Victoria.
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
s in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
After nearly seventy years of Highland musical contests in Australia, it was at the MaryboroughMaryborough, Victoria
-Education:Maryborough has three schools:*Highview Christian Community College*Maryborough Education Centre Years Prep–12*St Augustine's Primary School Grades Prep–6-Music:...
gathering in 1924, Drum Major Lew Zilles OAM ED, broadcast the intent to form a group for coordinating Victorian pipe band affairs. In a meeting at Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
, on the 12th of April that same year, the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association was formed. It was the first of its kind, anywhere in the world - predating even the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association was founded in 1930 as a governing body to oversee pipe band competition and to promote and encourage the development of pipe band culture throughout the world....
.
Initial efforts were focused on ensuring fair competition, including the election of knowledgeable, impartial judges and creating the competition rules. Unintentionally, the VHPBA had also become the national leader on all pipe band issues, and not long after its inception, had members from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, in addition to the many Victorians present.
However, as the pipe band scene in Australia grew in the 1950-60s, associations were formed in other states. Toward the end of this period, it was realised that a national identity to oversee the organisations and coordination of a standardized ruling system was needed. Though only representatives from New South Wales and Victoria attended the meeting that formed the Australian Federation of Pipe Associations, all six states joined shortly after its founding.
Though the national body was responsible for communicating between the organizations, each individual member, including the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association, retained control over its own state. This worked well for the next thirty years, until in the 1990s it was felt that the state associations needed to become branches of an amalgamated entity. Thus, in 1997 the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association became the Victorian Branch of the Australian Highland Pipe Band Association, and was renamed Pipe Bands Victoria.