Companion Comment

President’s  Second  Annual  Report      March 2007

This is the conclusion of our first full year of activities that has had some highs and lows. We have had numerous parades during the year but  fell at our  first major hurdle, we were unable to contest, despite all the efforts of our executive to get membership of the OSBBA and NZBBA they wouldn’t  let us in so attempts to go to Roxburgh for the Otago-Southland and to Dunedin for the Nationals came to nothing. The situation hasn’t changed we are still outcasts.

 We have sourced more instruments from Singapore so are in the happy position of having a few spares. A used marching bass drum was bought from a local pipe band and it has been put to good use, we don’t have a drum kit as such, and an application for funds to purchase same has been unsuccessful. We have lodged several fund applications to organisations like the Invercargill Licensing Trust  the Community Trust and the Southern Trust but have had no satisfaction so far.

 Playing members is hovering around 18 with 8 active supporters.

 Playouts started with the Crankup Day at Edendale and the Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Queens Park. We put on a concert in the Baptist Church in April playing the music we were to play at the Otago Southland  Centre contest had we managed to get entry.

It was our first playout in our new uniforms the handiwork and result of many hours put in by Lyn on the sewing machine, and smart and comfortable they are.

We managed to get entry to the Wellington Centre and sent a team of 5 young players and 5 adults to their centre contest in May and they performed very well and bought home some prizes. We played at Rowena Jackson on the 29June and were given a great reception.

 Despite the best efforts of the Coatsworths we were not allowed to contest at the Nationals at Dunedin in July, a group of us went up to front the members of the organisation and distribute flyers during the Street March.

 Pipin Hot was our big event for the year with 3 shows in August proceeded by many nights of rehearsals. Sarah and John travelled south to join us and increase our playing strength. It was a very well run professional show and a privilege to be part of it. We played 4 tunes with the pipe band.

 We travelled by bus (Les) to the Blossom Festival in Alexandra on 23^rd September and it was another great day out, we played at Wachner Place on Labour Day for the occasion of steam train coming down from Dunedin with 400 people on board and Rowena Jackson for another concert on the 9^th November. 

Santa Parade was cancelled, weather unsuitable, after Mort went  to a lot of trouble to prepare his low loader trailer for us. We played carols at Vickery Court 29 November and Peacehaven  6^th December.

Carolling proper around the streets  of Invercargill began on the 3^rd December and continued to the 18^th, again a mixture of weather some very good nights others windy and wet. Over $3000 was collected which made it all worthwhile.

Special thanks go to Franks Timber for the use of his truck for the carolling and to Dave Conner of Zenith for the use of a room for practise during the year.

 An approach was made to Mayor Tim Shadbolt and he was asked to be the Society patron  he graciously accepted and came along to meet with the band in September.

 In November Alan Brown resigned as the band conductor effective 18 December 2006. We are working to secure another conductor but in the mean time our thanks to Alan for his contribution to the band  to John Perry for his help conducting whilst we find another conductor

Finally a special thanks to my friends on the executive VP Steve, secretary Linda and treasurer Lyn for a job well done. Looking back it has been a long hard year.

Bill Blakie

President.