Fifth International Tattoo

Julie Asher
The Southland Times
January 22, 2002

AN Invercargill pipe band is the headline act at the Australian Federation Tattoo, in Ballarat, Australia, this weekend.
City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band pipe major David Pickett said it was the fifth international tattoo the band had been invited to play in.
They had been in the Edinburgh tattoo twice (once in Scotland and once in New Zealand) and to Victoria and Nova Scotia, in Canada.This was the first time the band had all its expenses paid, Mr Pickett said.
"This is the first time people have paid to get us from here to there. In most cases you have to get there and they look after you when you get there." While there was no pressure to raise money there was still a huge amount of work in being at the tattoo, he said.
The members of the band had been practising right through the Christmas and New Year period while most others were able to enjoy their holidays. As well as participating in the opening and closing ceremonies, they had a 10-minute solo spot where they would do a selection from the Pipin ' Hot show, Mr Pickett said.
That was a long solo section compared with the Edinburgh Tattoo when they had just over 3 minutes.
When the band returned there would be no resting on their laurels.
The National contest is in Napier in March and practising for that would be the next priority.
A CD the band released before Christmas had sold out the first 2000 copies and more had been received this week. Five hundred copies were sent out the day they arrived.
Pipin ' Hot was the biggest selling CD in Southland in December.
It looked to hold its position this month, Mr Pickett said.