Caroline Lucas
The Southland Times
November 14, 1997

INVERCARGILL drum major Neale Smith's ultimate dream for the past few years has been to take part in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
He never really thought it would happen _ until last week when the City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band received an invitation to play at the prestigious event.
The 20-strong band has less than nine months to raise funds for the trip.
The band had already confirmed a trip to Invercargill's sister city,
Kumagaya, in Japan in January and had about eight contests, including the nationals, before the August tattoo in Scotland, Mr Smith said.
"This has put the band in a really challenging situation to finance the trip and the only way it can go is if the money is raised.
"But those mountains shall be moved," Mr Smith said.
Tentative plans had the band performing every day except Sundays during the event, which will run from August 7 to 30. It would do two performances on Saturdays.
"It will entertain a live audience of over 200,000, and a television
audience in excess of 57 million during its time there."
Mr Smith said just one other New Zealand pipe band had performed at the event during the tattoo's 50-year history.
"It's all way beyond realism . . . it's just incredible."
Mr Smith said next year's fundraising would include a concert in
Invercargill in June or July.