About Greg Paterson
My Story
Greg Paterson remembers visiting various Highland Gatherings in and around Brisbane, including at Davis Park South Brisbane during mid 1970’s as a child with his father.
It was this exposure that led to his love for music of the Great Highland Bagpipes, and he has many fond memories sharing the spectacle of the Pipe band gatherings with his Dad.
Born in Victoria in 1962 then moving to Brisbane in 1968, Greg played AFL Football and was also involved in Surf Lifesaving so didn’t have the time to pursue learning to play the bagpipes.
My Story Cont.
At age 39, married and with 3 sons, Greg decided that he wanted to learn how to play the bagpipes and set a goal of playing the tune Highland Cathedral at his 40th birthday celebrations.
He was lucky enough to live in the same suburb as Lynn Stuart & Bill Smail, two accomplished pipers who agreed to tutor and help Greg achieve his birthday goal.
Subsequently, Greg joined their band, Clan Stuart Pipes and Drums and enjoyed the family environment provided by the band and piping fraternity at the time. Greg, and eventually his wife, participated in the Band for several years.
My Story Cont.
One of Greg’s most memorable piping moments was when he & his wife Karyn travelled to Edinburgh Scotland In 2005 to participate Pipefest.
This event was a fund raiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care seeing over 8,000 pipers & drummers from all over the world participating in a march into Holyrood Park Edinburgh located behind Holyrood Palace where they then formed into a Massed Band to play.
In 2010, Greg and other members of Clan Stuart were invited by the Pipes & Drums National Servicemen’s Memorial Band to participate in the dedication of the National Servicemen’s Memorial at the National War Memorial in Canberra. This was especially meaningful to Greg as the Band led the 2500 strong ex National Servicemen which included his father.
Returning to Clan Stuart for a couple more years Greg found he could not put the time into the practice required to be an effective part of a competition band and decided to join the P&DNSB full time.
Like many of the current members of the P&DNSB, Greg did not serve in the Armed Services, however he wholeheartedly enjoys the community events that the Band supports and was part of the Band that toured the Outback for the Flood Relief concert series in 2015. He believes the P&DNMB participation in many military memorials and community events is a credit to all Band members and is something they should be proud of.
With his administrative background within football & surf clubs, Greg soon became involved in the Band’s Committee serving initially as Vice President, and currently as President and Pipe Corporal.
Greg believes the most valuable aspects of learning to play the pipes and being part of pipe bands are the friendships and fun times he has gained along the way; this is something he says he will always cherish.
"I believe the most valuable aspects of learning to play the pipes and being part of pipe bands are the friendships and fun times I have gained along the way; this is something I will always cherish".
Greg Paterson
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A living, musical memorial to those called to National Service in Australia