Kirsty Macnicol
The Southland Times
July 25, 1998

THE City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band has been granted New Zealand representative status for its tour to Scotland next week.
The band leaves on Thursday to take part in the Edinburgh Military
Tattoo and world pipe band championships.
Drum major Neale Smith said it had always been the band's intention to represent Southland and New Zealand with pride.
"Now to be asked to do that as an official representative is certainly a
great honour and will no doubt heighten our determination to do well."
The representative status was granted by the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands Association in recognition of the role the band will play as ambassadors for New Zealand while in Scotland. It also extends to the competition arena where it will be the only New Zealand band contesting the grade two championship at the world championships, in Glasgow, on August 15.
Meanwhile, pupils at St Patrick's School in Invercargill were treated to a taste of the tattoo music at their assembly yesterday.
Piper Trevor Morton, a year four teacher at the school, took his bagpipes along for the children to hear and answered questions about the tour.
His own class was already quite knowledgeable about the trip, he said.
"They certainly know where Scotland is anyway," he said.