Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust
25 April, 2019
Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust drumming tutor David Clark (left) and bagpipe tutor Alasdair MacKenzie with the Craig Hendry Memorial Shield awarded to the Grade 2 top band at the Otago/Southland championships in Dunedin in February. Photo: Petrina Wright
About the organisation/community group
The Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust was set up 10 years ago to provide piping and drumming programmes to individuals associated with Invercargill schools, organisations and pipe bands in Southland.
Its tutors also teach the City of Invercargill umbrella of pipe bands, which are widely recognised as some of the best in New Zealand.
The programmes were helping to rebuild part of Invercargill’s, and therefore Southland’s, heritage.
In recognition of its contribution, the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands Association has awarded the hosting rights of the prestigious New Zealand Championship to Invercargill in 2020.
What the grant went towards
Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust received $50,700 from the ILT Foundation to assist with operational costs associated with providing drumming and piping tutorial programmes.
The ILT Foundation has supported the trust since its inception 10 years ago.
What the grant means to the organisation/community group
“It means we can keep [the trust] running. Without the ILT, it wouldn’t happen,” Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust chairman Murray Fraser said.
“It just keeps us alive.”
Funding continues to support piping success on the international stage. Read more…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/115517264/pipers-passion-takes-kiwi-band-to-next-level