Australia Highlanders Pipe Band

Australia Highlanders Pipe Band
Established	1956
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Grade	1
Pipe Major	Danny Boyle
Drum Sergeant	Alistair Boyle
Tartan	Australia Highlanders
Notable Honours	Winner, Australian and South Pacific Pipe Band Championships: 2006; Finalist - World Pipe Band Championships: 2006, 2007 & 2009
Website	www.aushigh.com

The Australia Highlanders Pipe Band is a grade one pipe band, based in Nunawading, Victoria, Australia. The band has been successful in the Australian competition for numerous years, and was placed 11th in the final tables of the World Pipe Band Championships in 2006. The band is led by Pipe Major Danny Boyle and Drum Sergeant Alistair Boyle, and is a member of the Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association.

History

The Nunawading Pipe Band, as it was then known, started in 1956. After three decades of local competition, the band ventured abroad to New Zealand, where they won the 1989 national championships in grade two. Under a year later, Nunawading also received first place in the Australian and South Pacific Championships, which earned their promotion to grade one. After several years in this division, the band took another overseas trip, this time to the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. In the home of the Great Highland Bagpipe, the Australian contenders placed 18th. While this was a commendable effort, the band went into decline for much of the decade, until it was taken over by Danny and Alistair Boyle, the pipe major and drum major, in 2001. After this changeover, Nunawading went from grade three to grade one in the space of a single season. To fill the void left by regrading, and make space for an influx of new members, a second band was created. Nunawading No. 2 competes in grade four to this day. Nunawading again travelled to New Zealand in 2003, and placed 2nd, closely following another Australian band. Not to be deterred, the band attained a 19th placing in the world championships in 2005.

New Era

In February 2006, the band changed its name to Australia Highlanders for marketing reasons. In August the band returned to Scotland finishing 4th at Bridge of Allen and also the World Championships where it qualified for the grade one final for the first time finishing 11th. With an overall win at the Australian and South Pacific Championships later in the year, it was seen that the exceptional performances can still be expected under the new name. The 50th Annivsery year of the band remains its most successful year to date.

In 2007 the band travelled back to Glasgow again for the World Championships. Again qualifying for the grade one final finishing 13th.

2008 saw the band release their second album entitled 'without fear'. The band travel to Northern Ireland finishing 3rd in the Ulster Championships. The following week the band would fail to qualify for the final at the World Championships. The band would also lose out to The Band Club at the Australian and South Pacific Championships later in the year finishing 2nd.

In 2009 The band returned to Northern Ireland again competing at the Ulster Championships. A week later the band again qualified for the final of the World Championships finishing 14th.

The band decided not to travel to Scotland for the World Championships in 2010 due to financial strains. The band is committed to returning to Daylesford and the entire local season in the build up for the 2011 World Championships in Glasgow.

External links

• Australia Highlanders Pipe Band