About Ian Millard
My Story
In 1951 Ian Millard learnt to play the bagpipes at 13 years of age. Ian’s tutor then was a Neil MacKenzie whose family formed the Clan MacKenzie Pipe Band in Bulimba, Queensland.
When he was 16 years of age, Ian’s parents then moved to the opposite side of Brisbane where he had the occasion to join the Brisbane Thistle Pipe Band. Ian then continued as a playing member with Brisbane Thistle for a number of years.
In 1957 Ian was called up by the nation to commence National Service. This was a busy time for Ian balancing both study commitments and his duties resulting in his musical participation taking a back seat with his priorities for a few years.
My Story Cont.
Ian’s passion for music remained however and in 1978 he was appointed Pipe Major of Brisbane Thistle, resigning from that position in 1979 when he became the piping instructor/band master for the Brisbane Boys College Pipe Band.
Ian retired from that position in early 1989 due to work and family commitments.
Ian did not play bagpipes for the next ten years and it was only when he was contacted by the late Dales Whyte, the founder of the National Servicemen’s Memorial Band, (P&DNSMB) in the latter half of 1999 that Ian took the bagpipes up again.
My Story Cont.
It took Ian at least one year to start to regain his playing skills, however those skills returned and Ian came back with a renewed focus on music.
Around about 2004, following the resignation of the then Pipe Major of the P&DNSMB, Dales Whyte approached him and then John Arnfield, to take on the role of Pipe Major.
Initially both John and Ian individually declined, but Dales was persuasive and when an offer to co-jointly perform the role of Pipe Majors was made, they both accepted.
This arrangement continued until 2017 when John resigned from the Band.
Over the years, Ian has performed at a wide and varied range of band engagements from formal occasions to community performances entertaining a wide and diverse audience.
Out of all the significant events Ian had the pleasure to participate in, with the P&DNSMB, perhaps the most notable for Ian was in 2010 when he led the band in a parade of over 2,500 ex National Servicemen up the Main Avenue to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Ian was further honoured to be nominated and to perform the role of Lone Piper at the Dedication Ceremony at the National Service Memorial.
A special time for Ian was also in November 2015 during the “Centenary Of ANZAC” when he participated with the P&DNSMB performing a Drought Relief Concert Tour through outback Queensland, to boost morale and entertain outback communities.
During that tour the band travelled by minibus and performed at 19 concerts over a 9 day period, both lunchtime and at night, in Miles, Charleville, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Emerald, Clermont, Moranbah, Blackwater, Biloela, Monto, Gayndah and Goomeri.
Due to continuing personal commitments Ian subsequently stood down from the Pipe Major role in 2018. Ian continues to support the Band and is still considered an important band member who anyone can approach to seek advice and counsel.
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A living, musical memorial to those called to National Service in Australia