Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: Central Coast locals star in Scottish spectacular
More than 1500 musicians and performers will electrify the stage at this year’s The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney — the biggest staged in the event’s 69 year history.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than 1500 musicians and performers will electrify the stage at this year’s The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney — the biggest staged in the event’s 69 year history.
This year’s REMT will include 100 highland dancers, 11 military bands, 40 Scottish fiddlers, a 40-strong choir and 40 precision marchers from more than 14 nations.
The Scottish spectacular will bring a mix of music, ceremony, military tradition, theatre and Celtic folklore set against a full-sized replica of Edinburgh Castle when it is held at ANZ Stadium from October 17-19.
Dave Tanare, of Umina Beach, and Steven Tripp, of Charmhaven, will take to the stage for the historic performance. They share what the REMT means to them:
Steven Tripp
Next month’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney I guess began when I was 11 years old. Bagpipes and Scottish culture was a part of our family heritage as we always looked forward to watching the Edinburgh Military Tattoo every New Year’s Day on the television.
My mother’s family had emigrated from Dundee, Scotland in 1927 and settled into Newcastle to start a new life and raise their family.
My great grandfather Jim Webster had learnt to play the pipes from a young age growing up in Dundee and he and his brothers continued this tradition with the City of Newcastle Pipe Band.
Jim Webster enlisted with the Army and was a member of the 2/30th Battalion that was captured at the fall of Singapore.
It was during this time that he lost his own personal set of pipes and while a prisoner of war at the infamous Changi war camp he was handed a set of pipes by the Gordon Highlanders Regiment who were stationed there before the war.
It is these pipes that I continue to play after he handed them over to me to continue the tradition.
To take these pipes back to Scotland in 2017 as a member of the New South Wales Police Pipes and Drums was an unbelievable experience I never dreamt possible and to be doing it again in 2019 in front of family and friends will again be a memorable experience I could not have imagined.
Dave Tanare
In October this year, I will be performing as a drummer with my band, the NSW Police Pipe Band. The band was established in 1946 by Commissioner William John MacKay. This is why we wear the MacKay tartan. The band consists of retired members of the NSW Police as well as musicians from the broader community.
We perform at Police Attestation Parades at Goulburn Police Academy as well as official State Functions including an invitation by the Governor to perform at Government House.
We also represent the NSW Police force on Anzac Day march in Sydney every year.
We travelled to Scotland in 2017 and performed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and are looking forward to performing there again in 2021 where we will be celebrating our 75th year.
I started with the Parramatta Police Citizens Boys Club Pipe Band on 12th May 1973 at the age of 10. I have played in some of Sydney’s premier ‘A’ grade champion pipe bands including Sydney Thistle Highland Pipe Band and St Marys District Band Club Pipes & Drums.
In 1988 at the Bi-centenary Australian Pipe Band Championships, I took the Bass Corps of Northern Suburbs Pipe Band through to win first place. I perfected my alto/timpani drumming with Dysaght & Dundonald Pipes & Drums in Scotland 1986.
I have written and illustrated my own tutorial book and have taught at workshops with almost every band in NSW since 1985. I have achieved successfully on the solo competition circuit as a tenor and bass drummer, from beginners through to open grade over a period of twenty years of solo competing.
I have performed in about five Tattoos previously and I personally find them to be a rewarding experience. The excitement of performing in an arena with thousands of people in the audience is exhilarating enough and feeling the emotions of the audience as they are moved by the whole spectacular is an experience which is very difficult to explain.
We will march on with the bright flood lights, which show up every bit of detail as we march through the majestic Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop behind us.
The mood is set for the musicians and entertainers to impress the crowd with colour, impressive uniforms and military precision. It’s a thrilling experience to be part of this prestigious pageantry. There is a unique variety of performers entertaining the audience from all parts of the world.
An enchanting production of world class here in Sydney for the audience to enjoy. From the spectacular fanfare and the Massed Pipes and Drums at the start, with entertainers from New Zealand, Indonesia, France, Belgium the United Kingdom and many more places, this is an entire moving experience even including a fireworks display. The lone piper in the finale at the solemn part of the show will certainly have the hairs on the back of your neck tingling.
Come along and be part of this wonderful experience.
Tickets start at $79, book online.