The National Council comprises delegates from each Pipe Bands Australia state branch in addition to the Principals of the Australian Pipe Band College disciplines.
National Council
New South Wales
AInsley Hart’s involvement with Pipe Bands dates back to 1978 when he started practice chanter instruction at school. An active pipe band career spanning more than forty years has seen him play with a number of New Zealand, Scottish and Australian bands and culminated in appointments as Pipe Major of two Grade 1 bands.
Ainsley was involved for many years with the New South Wales Pipe Band Association. In this role he championed grass roots piping and drumming initiatives at the national level across a variety of issues and activities.
Following a number of years as a small business operator Ainsley took up an appointment to the Knox Grammar School Pipes and Drums in 2010. It’s a position that he still holds and one in which he has met with remarkable success, taking the band to a 2016 Grade 4 Australian Pipe Band Championship win. Still an active competitor at the top levels of solo piping, Ainsley remains a regular competitor at most Australian benchmark competitions.
Ainsley’s thirty five years of business experience and tertiary qualifications in business have allowed him to bring invaluable leadership and management experience to the role of PBA President. Ainsley’s relaxed and affable manner belies his keen intellect and a burning desire to see the Pipe Band movement grow and flourish.
We’re still compiling everything there is to know about Bill. Check back later!
Queensland
We’re still compiling everything there is to know about Nick. Check back later.
Darin has been a piper since the age of seven, learning with Jack McCandlish and playing with the Blue Bonnets Pipe Band, Wynnum RSL Pipe Band, Queensland Police Pipes and Drums before he became a founding member of the Queensland Highlanders (2001 Grade 2 World Pipe Band Champions).
Darin joined the Emmanuel College Highlanders Pipe Band at the University of Queensland after their merger with the Highlanders in 2016, and has also played internationally with the NZ Police, Auckland and District, and Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band, and had solo competition success for many years, including a placing at the 2000 Festival Interceltique du Lorient.
Darin was previously a Vice Chairman for Pipe Bands Queensland, and is the current Treasurer.
South Australia
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Tasmania
Michelle started drumming in 2017 and is Drum Sergeant and Treasurer of St Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band (SACPB), Secretary of Pipe Bands Tasmania and Assistant Secretary of Pipe Bands Australia. Michelle competed with SACPB at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in 2019 following a 3-week concert tour of Scotland.
We’re still compiling everything there is to know about Nick. Check back later!
Victoria
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We’re still compiling everything there is to know about Chris.
Western Australia
Stuart started his piping journey at Scotch College in WA. In 2001, he started playing with Fremantle Sailing Club Pipes & Drums. Stuart was elected as Pipe Major of FSC Pipes & Drums in 2011 and continues in this role today. Stuart started playing in Perth Metro Pipe Band in 2015 and competed with the Grade 4 band at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2018. He continued as Pipe Major of the Perth Metro G4B Pipe Band in 2019.
To inspire more pipers to enter the pipe band scene, Stuart started a bagpipe tuition business named Perth Bagpiper in 2021. This capitalises his previous teaching experience in both small classes, private lessons and training pipe bands.
After achieving his Advanced certificate in Rules & Administration, Stuart has been Contest Supervisor regularly in West Australian band and solo competitions. Stuart also holds the Events portfolio in WA, coordinating all piping & drumming events in WA.
Stuart utilises his Masters of Communication in Public Relations and current business experience to bring fresh ideas to the pipe band scene. He is passionate with his piping and enjoys teaching at the grass roots, running pipe bands, coordinating state run events and being an active participant in national pipe band issues.
We’re still compiling everything these is to know about Daniel!
Australian Pipe Band College
Originally from New Zealand, Scott was taught by Pipe Major John Downie of the City of Auckland Pipe Band. After completing a Bachelor of Marketing and Management, Scott relocated to Edinburgh playing with Drambuie Kirkliston Pipe Band for a competition season.
In 1998, Scott returned to Perth, Western Australia to take up a full-time position with the Western Australian Police Pipe Band which included competing and winning Grade 2 at the 1998 World Bagpipe Championships.
In 2001 Scott relocated to Sydney and took on the role of Pipe Major for St Mary’s District Band Club Pipes and Drums and, later, The Pipeband Club. During this time the band made a steady rise back to Grade 1 over a period of six years, a journey that included winning the Grade 2 element of the 2006 Australian Championships and Grade 1 of the 2008 and 2010 coupled with two third places in the 2006, 2007 Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championships.
In 2013 Scott commenced as the Pipe Band Coordinator at The Scots School Albury and has led the group to its first Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo appearance in 2017 in addition to overseas tours of Kuala Lumpur, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Ireland and Scotland. Scott is the driving force behind the band’s local and international success. Under his leadership the band won the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships, the Champion of Champions title as well as the Scottish Championships – all while performing in 26 shows over 20 days at the band’s second Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo appearance.
Dean Hall picked up a pair of drumsticks at the age of 11 and has never put them down!
Introduced to the art of pipe band snare drumming by his father, Robert Hall—himself a drummer with the City of Box Hill Pipe Band in Victoria, Australia—Dean was first taken along to band practice one evening. Instantly captivated by the snare drum, he began lessons under the tutelage of Leading Drummer and teacher Philip Howell.
Dean progressed rapidly, entering solo competitions and steadily moving up through the grades until reaching Grade 1. He then joined the City of Melbourne Pipe Band under the direction of Leading Drummer Brett Staley.
After gaining years of competition experience, Dean moved to Warrnambool, where he took on his first role as Lead Drummer and teacher of the local Grade 3 pipe band under Pipe Major Donald Blair. During his tenure, he worked with students ranging from absolute beginners to advanced players. Within three years, the band was promoted to Grade 2, and Dean’s corps won the Grade 2 State Drum Corps title.
During his time with the Warrnambool Pipe Band, Dean’s passion for teaching snare drumming grew. He developed a deep desire to contribute to the art by raising both skill levels and awareness of pipe band snare drumming.
In 1990, Dean rejoined the Grade 1 City of Melbourne Pipe Band—this time as Lead Drummer. He was responsible for teaching drummers across multiple grades (4, 3, and 1). During his time in Melbourne, he also played as a guest drummer in 1993 with the Victoria Police Pipe Band under Leading Drummer Paul Turner, performing at the now-famous Ballymena Pre-Worlds Concert.
In 1994, Dean migrated to Dublin, Ireland, and joined the St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band under Leading Drummer John Keogh and Pipe Major Terry Tully. When Keogh retired, Dean was invited to take over as Leading Drummer. He ensured the band’s continued presence at the World Championships in Scotland, helping to grow the drum corps from two snares, one tenor, and a bass drummer to a competitive size of six snares, two tenors, and a bass.
St. Laurence O’Toole later merged with another local band, St. Joseph Clondalkin. As part of this transition, top drummer Stephen Creighton joined, and Dean handed over the role of Lead Drummer to the more experienced Creighton. During this period, the corps won the All-Ireland National Best Drum Corps prize in two successive years and regularly competed against some of the world’s top drum corps.
Following his time in Ireland, Dean moved to Sydney, Australia, where he took on the role of Head of Drumming at The Scots College, teaching up to 150 students. His commitment to teaching and his experience at the highest levels of pipe band drumming have made him one of the most respected figures in the drumming community.
Rob joined the Rats in 1961 as a learner drummer. In 2014 in conjunction with the APBA College Victorian Drumming Panel Role he produced the VCE “Highland Drumming” list of works book for students wishing to study Pipe Band Drumming in the music program.
Tony commenced his Pipe Band career learning the snare drum when he joined the Tasmanian Irish Pipe Band in Sep. 1961. Over the years, he worked his way up to Drum Sergeant and then to Drum Major. Until the Band closed up in 1976.
From there moved to the Hobart Highland Pipe Band (later City of Hobart Highland PB) and soon became Drum Sergeant. Around 1990, he undertook to sit for the Advanced Level Drill and Dress certificate examination and passed. It was also at that time that he became Drum Major.
Only a few years later, the incumbent VP D&D moved to Queensland and Tony took over the reigns.
In 2009, Tony transferred to the Tasmania Police Pipe Band as a full member, after having spent a few years as a guest player with the Band. From there he was soon elevated to Assistant Drum Major and appointed full Drum Major in 2014.
