Piping down

By Lilly O’Gorman
THE City of Casey Pipe Band could have made its last public appearance on Anzac Day, with an emergency meeting being held next Wednesday night to discuss the future of the Berwick institution.
The group of volunteers has been a fixture at local events including Anzac Day services, Australia Day events and the Berwick Highland Gathering for the past 30 years, but due to dwindling numbers, it is almost certain the band will fold.
Secretary Cherrie Hutchinson said the band had only six members, with many aged between 50 and 70 and looking to retire.
One young member aged just 13 and learning to play the drums, will now have his career cut short.
She said as there weren’t any experienced players willing to take up positions in the band, it was almost certain the emergency meeting would result in its closure.
“It is quite sad,” Ms Hutchinson said.
“I think most people are feeling a bit down about it all. I think it will be a great loss to the community, especially since two of our members play at every citizenship ceremony for the council. It has been a big job.
“Because we haven’t had the members to go out and do a decent job, we’ve knocked a lot of jobs back. “I’ve been in the band almost 20 years, and so has my daughter. I was looking to leave the band at the end of the year, but we have only got about four pipers, two drummers, and there are just not enough members to keep it going.”
Ms Hutchinson said the band needed experienced players to come on board, as it would take three to four years for new players to learn the bagpipes from scratch.
“I would stay for another 12 months if we could get members,” she said.
City of Casey Director Community Development Sophia Petrov said that that the council highly valued the contribution local groups made to the Casey community and supported a number of performing arts groups including the Casey Pipe Band.
The council did not comment on whether the council was aware the club had been struggling for membership.
According to City of Casey Connect, the band originated in Springvale in the early 1970s and moved to Berwick in 1982 under the new name Berwick and District Pipes and Drums
Continued financial support from the council saw its name change to the City of Berwick Pipes and Drums and later to its current name City of Casey Pipe Band.
Each Citizenship Ceremony held in the City of Casey has a piper in attendance. Over time, the band has participated in many community, competition and fund-raising events all throughout Victoria.
The special meeting regarding the future of the band will be held on Wednesday 9 May at 7.30pm at Barry Simon Reserve, Endeavour Hills.