About Bill McInnes
My Story
Bill McInnes participated in intake number 2/54 of the Australian National Servicemen’s call up. On return from Service, Bill returned to work on the family’s dairy farm.
When Bill marched in the 1955 ANZAC Day parade he was so impressed by the music and presentation of the Kyogle & District Pipe Band he decided to join and that’s when the musical journey began.
Bill travelled with the Kyogle & District Pipe Band to compete twice at the Maclean Competition and often piped at local ANZAC Day Services and the occasional wedding or funeral.
My Story Cont.
As their lone Piper, Bill performed for the North Coast of N.S.W Branch of the Rats of Tobruk Association for a number of years.
In 2005, Bill shifted to Brisbane and was introduced to the National Servicemen’s Association Memorial Band by Les Jenkinsen, a NASHO Band member who had recently purchased a property in the Kyogle district.
That is when Bill had the occasion to meet the then Drum Major Dales Whyte. At that time Bill only knew two tunes and they had different settings but in time Bill worked hard at chanter practice on the tunes with Ian Millard’s excellent tuition to whom Bill will always be grateful to.
My Story Cont.
Bill commenced playing with the band in 2006 and his first ANZAC Day parade with the band was in 2010.
There are a number of milestones in Bill’s time with the band he is proud to share. Some of the special events included performing at the Nasho’s Canberra War Memorial, the Concert tour of Western Queensland and the first two trips to perform with the band at New Caledonia. Bill also performed at the Avalon Beach and Toowoomba Tattoos as well as the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
“Who would have thought that retiring at 70 one could have such a great time and make so many friends.”
“Who would have thought that retiring at 70 one could have such a great time and make so many friends”.
Bill McInnes
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A living, musical memorial to those called to National Service in Australia
