The following appointments have been made in accordance with the Rules of Pipe Bands Australia.
National Secretary: Dr John Ralph. John has been playing for more than 30 years and for the past 22 years has been pipe major of St Andrews Caledonian, Launceston, guesting with bands in several states and competing and performing overseas at events including the World Pipe Band Championships and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. John has been a a Director of Economic Development Australia Ltd, on the executive committee of the Alumni for a community leadership development organisation; a director of a not-for-profit organisation that was formed to produce a Military Tattoo for a bicentennial event and on the management committee of a state sporting organisation.
National Management Committee: Rod Smith. Rod has been a member of pipe bands for more than 40 years, beginning with Moorabbin with a journey that has included City of Glasgow, Queensland Police, City of Nunawading, Western Australian Police, City of Invercargill, pipe major of Queensland Highlanders and currently holding that position with City of Ipswich where a successful learner program has been established. Rod’s professional career includes banking industry, retail administration management and the Queensland Government gaining experience in stakeholder management where he has been nationally recognised as the leader of operations in Queensland of the National Intelligent Access Program which involves GPS tracking of heavy vehicles to deliver productivity and efficiency gains for the transport industry whilst delivering compliance assurances for road owners and managers.
Principal Rules and Administration: Phil Weber. Following consideration of the majority recommendation from the retiring Principal Jamie Forsyth and eligible vice-principals, Phil Weber has been appointed to the position. Phil has previously assisted Jamie on several rule projects and has developed a national contest result platform that had been in final trials prior to COVID-19 restrictions put a temporary halt to competitions across Australia. Phil is a player with Canberra Burns Club Pipe Band and a key organiser of the annual Canberra Highland Gathering.
Pipe Bands Australia again expresses with gratitude and appreciation to Steven Patterson who stepped down as secretary after being first elected in 2015 due to health and business challenges. Likewise, the same gratitude and appreciation is extended to James Cowie who stepped down from management committee due to business and family commitments and Jamie Forsyth whose focus on challenges of professional, business and personal that have been heightened by COVID-19.
